In the April/May issue, this column was “What is Grindr doing to us,” exploring positive and negative affects of using it and similar hookup apps. This issue, lets talk about how ways that Grindr is helping the LGBTQ community stay safe and healthy.
Grindr has established Grindr for Equality, and The Equality Spotlight, Grindr’s “video series highlighting the incredible work being done by Grindr for Equality and LGBTQ+ organizations and activists around the world.” Grindr for Equality is celebrating 10 years as a champion of the health and rights of queer people globally. Grindr also began allowing users to add two new tags in their profiles.
One person working on this with Grindr is Nicholas Diamond, MPH (Master of Public Health), who, according to his LinkedIn profile, “specializes in law, policy, public health, and strategic marketing and communications, bringing a decade of international experience at academic medical centers and nonprofits.” According to Diamond, “DoxyPEP is a breakthrough. Condoms still matter, but Grindr is turning education into action with in-app features in its Sexual Health Practice section, ’I’m on DoxyPEP’ and ‘Condoms’ as profile tags. Queer and Trans people are leading the charge in STI prevention.”
These initiatives rolled out on March 11. The tags are currently available only in the U.S. So far, the DoxyPEP tag has over 100,000 users. Grindr already had been using tags for PreP and HIV status. Diamond said, “This is education. These tags are a conversation starter. We hope to empower users to learn more about sexual health, and to have conversations. There are so many materials available. And Grindr has over a million users. Queer and Trans people often have a difficult time talking about sex with their healthcare providers and partners, although they have always taken care of themselves.”
According to the Massachusetts Department of Health and Social Services, “DoxyPEP, also known as Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, refers to taking an antibiotic after sex without a condom or other barrier protection, to prevent bacterial infections like syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.” It does not, however, reduce the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, herpes, or mpox. The use of condoms can help prevent these.
Diamond said, “This is a new tool. We need to educate ourselves. Learn more. Talk to our doctors. Use the tags. Start a conversation.
“Sixteen years ago, this app revolutionized the very way queer and trans people meet. We want to be instrumental in giving queer and trans people ways to meet and to have sex, but also ways to lead healthy sexual lives.”
Hookup apps like Grindr are tools. Depending on how the user employs these tools can determine if the experience is good and healthy, or not. Grindr is making available ways to ensure a positive experience and a healthy outcome, if we choose to use them.
