THEGAYUK

Tag: Grindr

All the latest breaking news on Grindr. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Grindr and the LGBT+ community.

  • This man is bringing a class action against Grindr for allowing racial discrimination

    “A breeding ground that perpetuates racism against gay Asian Men”

    A man is planning to sue the gay dating app, Grindr, for racial discrimination and is looking for co-plaintiffs across the US’s fifty states so that he can bring a class action.

    In a statement released on social media, Sinakhone Keodara, the CEO and founder of the Asian Entertainment Television company says that Grindr allows “white gay men to write in their profiles ‘no Asians’, ‘not interested in Asians’: or ‘I don’t find Asians attractive’,” which he says, leads to people feeling “offended, humiliated, degraded and dehumanised” by the app.

    Keodara says that anyone who is considering joining him must be a paying customer.

    In 2018, Grindr became fully owned by the Chinese gaming firm, Kunlun Tech Co.

    The dating app OKCupid recently analysed sexual racism among 1m of its male site users. The company found that compared to black, Asian or minority ethnic users, white users got more messages. White users were also found to be less likely to reply or match with users of a different race to themselves, and more likely to question interracial marriage.

    Recent research from Australia also found that 15% of gay men on the dating app Grindr included sexual racism on their profiles. This was more likely to be the case if the profile user was white, and if the user held broader racist views.

  • The Grindr Killer: “What went wrong here was that the net which should have caught him was full of holes. He was able to slither out and kill again, time after time”

    The Grindr Killer: “What went wrong here was that the net which should have caught him was full of holes. He was able to slither out and kill again, time after time”

    Beyond ‘The Grindr Killer’: What the Stephen Port case tells us about gender, sexuality and hierarchies of victimization in the Twenty-First Century

    Stephen Port

    Professor Elizabeth Yardley, criminologist at Birmingham City University

    In November 2016, 41-year-old Stephen Port was convicted of the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor. He is one of only 50 people in England and Wales to receive a whole life sentence, meaning that he will never be released from custody and will die in prison.

    Port was named ‘The Grindr Killer’ by the tabloid press because he accessed many of his victims through the Grindr dating app. Much of the media coverage of the story and the subsequent popular interest in the case focused upon this new way that killers and sexual predators could access their victims. Indeed, I have researched the use of social media by killers for several years now, exploring how homicide perpetrators use Facebook[i] and exploring the meaning of homicide confessions posted on social networking sites[ii]. However, focusing upon these elements can sometimes distract us from some of the bigger and more pressing issues – issues that are not new and are intricately woven into our social fabric. Exploring contemporary attitudes to gender and sexuality and confronting the stubborn persistence of homophobia in our culture are all crucial to understanding what enabled Port to cause as much harm as he did.

    Having met his victims on Grindr or dating sites, Port drugged and sexually assaulted them. He used a substance called GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) or the similar GBL (gamma-butrateactone). Port’s callous disregard for the lives of his victims is shocking. He did not care whether they lived or died.

    After killing 23-year-old fashion student Anthony Walgate on 17th June 2014, Port left his body on the path outside his flat, putting a small bottle of GHB in Anthony’s pocket. He lied to the police and said Anthony had taken the GHB himself and he’d moved his body outside because he was scared they would think he had killed him. Port received a short prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.

    Just over two months later, Gabriel Kovari – who worked in a London shop – was murdered by Port. Kovari was Port’s flatmate of only two days. On 25th August, Port administered a fatal dose of GHB and assaulted Gabriel. Port told friends that Gabriel had just walked out one day and he didn’t know where he had gone. On 28th August, Gabriel’s body was found propped up against a wall of the churchyard in the ruins of Barking Abbey, close to Port’s home. Gabriel had a bottle of GHB in his pocket. His phone was missing. A dog walker discovered his body.

    A few weeks later, 23-year-old chef Daniel Whitworth was Port’s next victim. Port and Daniel had agreed to meet on 18thSeptember. Having killed Daniel, the following day, Port deleted his account on the dating site and carried his body to the grounds of Barking Abbey, leaving him close to where Gabriel had been left. Daniel was found by the same dog walker who discovered Gabriel. Again, a bottle of GHB was found in Daniel’s pocket and his phone was nowhere to be seen. With Daniel’s body was a note that stated he had taken his own life because he felt guilty for killing Gabriel Kovari. Port was trying to blame an earlier murder on his latest victim.

    Stephen Port
    CREDIT: met police

    At the time, local media reported that police were not looking for suspects in the deaths of Gabriel and Daniel, describing their deaths as unusual and confusing but not suspicious. Nor were they linking Anthony’s death to them.

    Just under a year later, 25-year-old forklift truck driver Jack Taylor would become Port’s fourth and final murder victim. Port killed Jack after meeting him on 13th September 2015. The following day, Port deleted his account and took Jack’s body over to the same churchyard where he had left Gabriel and Daniel. In Jack’s pocket, Port left a bottle of GHB, a tourniquet and some medical wipes.

    “What went wrong here was that the net which should have caught him was full of holes. He was able to slither out and kill again, time after time”

    It was not until October that the Metropolitan Police’s homicide and major crime command took over the case and arrested Port in relation to all four deaths. The Met also referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (now the Independent Office for Police Conduct) because of what they termed ‘potential vulnerabilities’ in how police responded to the four deaths. This investigation is still ongoing.

    How did Port get away with murder for as long as he did? I would argue that this had very little to do with his ability to avoid getting caught – indeed he came onto the criminal justice system’s radar very soon after killing Anthony Walgate. What went wrong here was that the net which should have caught him was full of holes. He was able to slither out and kill again, time after time.

    The police response

    Port could have been stopped earlier in his killing cycle and unfortunately, this has a ring of the familiar about it. Dennis Nilsen, convicted of killing six men between 1978 and 1983 but suspected of killing at least twelve, also came within the police’s grasp. Douglas Stewart walked away with his life after an encounter with Nilsen in 1980. Nilsen had tried to strangle Douglas, who went to the police, showing them the red marks on his neck. Nilsen knew exactly what to say when challenged by officers, denying Douglas’s claims and saying the two had had a ‘lover’s tiff’. At the mention of homosexuality, the police lost interest. Nilsen would go on to murder several other young men. A similar but fatal incident occurred in the USA when one of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims escaped – only to be returned to Dahmer’s apartment. By the police. The following is a transcript excerpt from Milwaukee Police Communications[iii]:

    Police Officer: Intoxicated Asian naked male. (Laughter) Was returned to his sober boyfriend. (More laughter)

    Dispatcher: 10-4 64 and 65.

    Police Officer: 10-4. It will be a minute. My partner is going to get deloused at the station. (Laughter).

    Port is one of several serial killers to have targeted gay men. Dennis Nilsen. Peter Moore. Colin Ireland. Jeffrey Dahmer. The man charged with the murders of several men in Toronto’s Gay Village[iv].

    “These killers all benefited from the fact that their victims belonged to a stigmatised social group”.

    These killers all benefited from the fact that their victims belonged to a stigmatised social group. This stigma permeated – and continues to flow through – a range of social institutions not limited to the criminal justice system. These victims belonged to a social group who didn’t matter as much as others. There was less sympathy for them. They were less worthy, less deserving of a thorough and rigorous investigation. The gay men targeted by serial killers are often additionally vulnerable because they have left home, are in need of a roof over their heads and have lost contact with their families and friends. Many of Dennis Nilsen’s victims fitted this profile and several remain unidentified to this day. They were once someone’s son, someone’s friend. Port’s victims were different, they had not runaway, they had jobs, families and friends. People noticed their absence and reported them missing. The gay rights activist Peter Tatchell has drawn attention to the importance of social class as well as sexuality in this case.

    If four young middle-class men had been murdered in Chelsea, police would have probably made a public appeal much sooner and mounted a far more comprehensive investigation. In contrast, the murder of low-income gay men in working-class Barking was treated very differently. Whether conscious or unconscious, police officers stand accused of class and sexuality bias[v].

    Criminologists have a concept for this – it’s called hierarchies of victimization[vi] – where people are not treated equally when they become the victims of crime based on assumptions made about them because of their socio-demographic characteristics like gender, sexuality, social class, age and ethnicity.

    Unfortunately, in the cases noted above, the criminal justice system provides us with several examples of homophobia at its worst. It’s a sad fact that over 50 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales that we are still seeing gay men let down by the very institutions that should be there to protect us all. They are still not receiving the justice they deserve. And that is just not good enough.

    [i] Yardley, E. and Wilson, D. (2015). Making Sense of ‘Facebook Murder’? Social Networking Sites and Contemporary Homicide. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 54(2), 109-134.
    [ii] Yardley, E. (2017). Social Media Homicide Confessions: Stories of killers and their victims. Bristol: Policy Press.
    [iii] Milwaukee Police Communications transcript, 2.00AM., May 27, 1991. Cited in Egger, S. A. (1998). The Killers Among Us: An examination of serial murder and its investigation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, pp 256-7.
    [iv] Bruce McArthur has been charged with many of these homicides.
    [v] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/24/stephen-port-murder-inquiry-homophobia
    [vi] Greer C (2007) News media, victims and crime. In: Davies P, Francis P and Greer C (eds) Victims, Crime and Society. London: Sage, pp. 20-49.

  • Grindr user destroys body shamer in the most glorious way

    Here’s a lesson on how to deal with haters.

    CREDIT: ©-livrakv-Depositphotos

    Body shaming can be so harmful, especially when a message with someone criticising your looks or your size lands in you inbox. This one Grindr user, however, managed to put one teen in his place in the most loving, yet sassy way possible after receiving a message which told him that if he “worked out” he’d be really attractive.

    Here’s a lesson on how to deal with haters.

    “I really don’t care”, starts the message, “what a closeted teenager thinks of my looks

    “But I hope you realise that lots of your fellow queer folks struggle with body image issues and eating disorders of all types and it’s messages like this that compound those issues.

    “With this attitude, you’re going to actively harm people in our beautiful community.

    “Think about that next time you send something like this.

    “Also, I can probably deadlift four of you”.

    We salute you oh sage one.

     

  • 50+ dating terms every gay guy needs to know

    50+ dating terms every gay guy needs to know

    You’re checking out his dating profile and suddenly you come across an acronym you’ve not heard before… we’re here to help you navigate the shorthand world of gay hookups.

    420

    This is all about pot and the smoking thereof. This guy is probably into smoking weed. So if you see someone who has 420 written in their profile this is what it means!

    Alevels

    A-Levels. This all about anal sex… and the willingness to do it. Don

    Age Play

    Age Play is about the guys who like to age up or age down. Guys who take part in age play might like to wear nappies/diapers – or go the other extreme and use Zimmer frames

    ASL

    Before pictures and GPS on apps, it was common to start a chat conversation with ASL, which means Age, Sex Location. Thanks to smartphones and gay dating apps, location and sex are pretty much-taken care of, however, you might still need to ask his age, if that kind of thing is important to you.

    ATM

    Ass to mouth. Yep, penis in butt and then in your mouth. Nothing to do with cash machines.

    BTM / BOTTOM

    You might be asked whether you’re a top or Bottom. “Bottoms” or “Vers bottoms” are guys who generally take or receive the D. They are the ones who get penetrated. Tops or Vers Tops are the ones who do the penetrating. Vers are those guys who like it both ways. Guys who don’t like penetrative sex are called “sides”.

    BDSM

    BDSM is the broader term for bondage, dominance, discipline, submission, sadism and masochism. He likes whips, chains and all sorts of sub and dom play.

    BB / Bareback

    This is anal sex without the use of condoms. Previously Bareback / BB sex was seen as extremely risky, however, due to the invention and availability of PrEP, bareback sex is safer from an HIV point of view, however, BB sex can lead to other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

    BBC

    Potentially offensive, so use with caution, but it derives from porn which has black men with big cocks.

    Bear

    Bears are guys who are generally thicker and hairier – a bit like a bear. There’s a whole community and they even have their own flag. How well do you know your pride flags? Take our quiz here.

    Bondage

    Part of the BDSM world. This is about being tied up – and not in an officey, phone-call type of “tied up”. Actual ropes or straps can be used – or failing that his tie or even electric cords. It’s all good.

    Boy Next Door, BND

    BNDs are younger guys who are a typical build, height and looks. They may be geeky or they may be jocky. Check out their pictures for more details.

    BS

    As in not into bullshit.

    Candle Play

    Some guys love the feel of candle wax dripping on their nipples/chest/stomach/cock.

    CBT

    Cock and Ball Torture. Some guys are into having their junk tortured and there’s a whole host of toys out there to help you out if that is your thing. They could include chastity devices, which makes it impossible to touch your D or even ejaculate.

    Chemsex

    Chemsex is where drugs and sex come together, which isn’t always a good idea, especially as some drugs can make a person take risks that they wouldn’t normally take sober.

    Cut / Uncut

    Cut is for those guys who don’t have a foreskin, whilst uncut is for guys who are still intact. Across Europe, most guys are still intact, whereas in North America many guys are circumcised. Of course, some religious people are circumcised such as Jewish and Muslim men.

    Chastity

    Chastity is abstaining from sex and sexual contact.

    Daddy

    Where to start, some guys love the daddy mantle some guys HATE IT, so be careful before you ascribe “Daddy” to someone. Generally, guys over the age of 40 could be considered “daddies”.

    Discreet

    This guy might not be out or maybe in a relationship with another person so therefore discretion is everything to him. Usually you’ll see something like “DL” in his profile.

    Dirty

    This guy goes beyond the dirty mind. He likes actual dirt, like urine or poop. This isn’t for everyone. Guys who like watersports might use WS to indicate their preference on dating apps.

    Dom / Dominant

    This doesn’t have to mean topping during anal sex, a bottom can be dominant too. It means that this guy is one who likes to take charge.

    DP

    Double penetration. Yes, that’s two cocks up your bum. Not for the faint-hearted and probably only for someone who is experienced. He’ll probably need quite a bit of prep time.

    Edging

    Edging is where you play with your dick but then stop just before you bust a load. Some guys can do this for hours. Ultimately leaves you very horny – and potentially giving you a crazy big money shot.

    E play/ Stim / Electrical Play

    Plugin and plug up. This guy likes electrocution, but don’t be licking any plug sockets. This will be low-voltage play.

    FF

    This is all about Fisting. Either just run of mill fisting or fist fucking. You can let guys know whether you’re active (the one doing the fisting) or passive (the one being fisted).

    Flogging

    Whips do it for this guy. He likes to be flogged – which means whipped.

    FWB

    Friends with benefits. It’s when you don’t go the whole hog and become boyfriends, but buddies who suck each other off… now and then… or all the time.

    Hanky Code

    Back in the olden days, guys used to display their sexual preference with hankies hanging out the back of their pockets. There was an entire colour-coded system which let people know what you were into, from Vanilla to full-on fisting. Check out the list here.

    HMU

    This simply means, Hit Me Up – as in give him a call or a message.

    HNH.

    The first H stands for Horny, the second stands for High – so this is probably a guy who likes to have sex whilst high on pot.

    GGG

    Good Giving and Game. This is for sexually evolved guys who know that being a good lay means that everyone is happy.

    GPS

    Some apps use GPS to display your location and how far other guys are from you. Grindr became known as the first gay dating app which successfully used GPS locating, bringing local guy after local guy to your yard. Modern technology huh!

    JO

    Means Jerk off, not a typical British English way of saying, wanking or masturbation – mutual or otherwise.

    Limits

    Do you know yours? This about knowing what your sexual limits are and communicating them to your potential partner.

    MMF

    Basically a bisexual threesome, with two guys and one gal.

    Neg on PrEP

    This means that since his last test, this guy is HIV negative and is on PrEP meaning that you can have bareback sex with a greatly reduced risk of contracting HIV.

    NSA

    No strings attached, not the National Security Agency.

    Poz / Positive and undetectable

    This guy is letting you know that he has HIV but is on anti-HIV medication. People living with HIV who are on treatment for 6 months and with an undetectable viral load can’t pass on HIV to an unprotected partner.

    Otter

    A guy who is hairy, but slimmer than a bear or a cub. He may have the appearance of an otter when wet… apparently.

    S&M also written S/M 

    Sadomasochism This guy gets pleasure from giving or receiving pain or humiliation.

    PnP

    This stands for Party and Play – generally speaking drugs play a part in this guy’s sexual activity. Sometimes also referred to as chemsex. Make sure you keep safe during PnP often drugs can make people take risks with their sexual health, due to lowered inhibitions.

    Piss

    This guy is into watersports and not the sort that you can do on the ocean. He’ll be into guys pissing on him or him pissing on you. Either way, if you’re not into the urine thing, you might want to make this known at the start. This is part of the “dirty” community who like to play with body fluids that aren’t salvia or cum.

    S2R

    Send to receive. He’s basically saying you got send some picture his way if you want some of his. Could be face, cock or ass pics. You might need to be specific.

    Side

    Guys who don’t like or do anal sex are sometimes referred to as “sides“. If he has this in his profile he probably doesn’t identify as a top or a bottom.

    Sub / Submissive

    This doesn’t have to mean bottoming or anything to do with penetrative sex, it’s guys who like to be dominated during sex.

    Switch

    A Switch is one who likes both being dom and sub and switching it up.

    SSC

    Safe, Sane and Consensual

    Slave / Master

    This guy is looking for you to fill a role, the slave (submissive) or the master (dominant). Which will you go you for?

    Safeword

    When things are getting a bit freaky in the bedroom it’s good to know there’s a “safe word” that one of you can use to make sure whatever is happening comes to a full stop.

    Top

    This is the guy who does the penetrating, i.e. puts his dick in the other guy’s butt. Guys who don’t like being tops or bottoms are called “sides”. They’re into BJs (blow jobs), mutual masturbation and frottage (rubbing yourself against others).

    Twink

    This is a type of guy defined by his lack of body and facial hair, slim body and youthful appearance – think Bel Ami porn boys and that’s pretty much a Twink.

    UEqualsU

    Undetectable Equals Untransferable. It means that a guy with HIV who has an undetectable viral load cannot transfer the HIV virus to you. Being undetectable happens when someone is managing their HIV with antiretroviral drugs.

    Vers

    A vers guy is a versatile guy, this means that he likes anal sex both ways, topping and bottoming. Although he might have an overall preference, like Ver Top or Ver Bottom. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

    WS / Watersports

    This guy is into pissing on you or having you piss on him. This is part of the “dirty” community who like to play with body fluids that aren’t salvia or cum.

    Looking for a new gay chat site to join? Check out our very own social network for gay and bi guys just like you

    Have we missed any out? Let us know in the comments below.

    ** This article has been amended from its original to update information on PrEP. 

  • Grindr defends sharing user HIV status with outside companies

    Dating App, Grindr has defended itself after apparently sharing users’ health data, including HIV statuses.

    Chinese owned hook-up app, Grindr has said that it has been “unfairly singled out” after it was discovered that potentially sensitive data about its users was shared with two app optimising companies, Apptimize and Localytics. These companies monitor how users interact with apps and make suggestions on what could be improved.

    Data that could have been shared include HIV statuses as well as the last date tested. Grindr has said that the most sensitive information was encrypted and that the information used by the two companies has not been passed onto advertisers.

    A Norwegian campaign group, Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research, said that HIV status information was linked to information shared with the two outside firms.

    We’ve been singled out

    Grindr’s security boss, Bryce Case later told US news site Axios that the goal of sharing the data sharing with third-party companies was to improve the app for users rather than sell their data.

    Mr Case said, “I understand the news cycle right now is very focused on these issues

    “I think what’s happened to Grindr is, unfairly, we’ve been singled out.”

    A statement released by the firm, said, “Grindr has never, nor will we ever sell personally identifiable user information – especially information regarding HIV status or last test date – to third parties or advertisers.

    “As a company that serves the LGBTQ community, we understand the sensitivities around HIV status disclosure. Our goal is and always has been to support the health and safety of our users worldwide.” 

    It is understood that Grindr has stopped sharing information with Apptimize. It is now in the process of “winding down” work with Localtyics, according to the BBC.

    “Second Data Scandal”

    Gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, said that the potential exposure of users’ health status was “shocking”

    He said,

    “Allowing private companies access to the HIV status of Grindr customers is as shocking as it gets and can only add to the anxieties experienced by gay and bisexual men with HIV.

    “This is the second data scandal involving Grindr in a week and its users will not be reassured by this latest development.

    “There are still 72 countries in the world that criminalise homosexuality and even more have governments that actively persecute LGBT+ people. Security breaches could be exploited to make arrests and by homophobic vigilantes to make violent attacks.

    “Grindr and similar app providers must urgently audit their data security measures, come clean about any issues and fix them immediately.

    “Data protection is the new frontier in the battle for human rights. Software companies that cater for LGBT+ people arguably have a special responsibility, given the potentially risky countries that many of their users live in.”

    The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it was investigating.

  • Grindr has blocked you from seeing who blocked you

    Grindr has officially blocked you from seeing who blocked you.

    Goodbye to C*ckBlocked

    Information held about you is now being blocked from your view after Grindr patched a bug which allowed users to see who had blocked them.

    Now when a user visits the https://blocked.ongrindr.com/ website they are met with a user message which reads, “Goodbye C*ckBlocked. The first and only way to see who blocked you on Grindr. The API that provided for the data was patched by Grindr on March 23rd, 2018”

    However, if you’re in the UK, you still have certain rights to see information a company holds about you, which could mean any data that is held on your profile, which is not actually viewable by you through the app’s interface. Thanks to the Data Protection Act, if you really wanted to see what information the company holds about you, you can put in a request.

    New Ownership

    Grindr was wholly bought by a  Chinese gaming company earlier this year, meaning it is not under the LGBT ownership anymore.

    In 2016 Grindr’s founder Joel Simkhai announced that he had sold 60 percent of the dating app to the Chinese gaming firm Kunlun Tech Co. The remaining 40 percent has now been snapped up by the same firm in a deal thought to be worth $152 million.

    The initial purchase of just over 60 percent was thought to be worth $93 million.

  • How to find out who blocked you on Grindr

    If you’re wondering who has blocked you on Grindr, there’s now a simple way of checking out.

    You’ll need to do these steps in an Internet browser. There is no way to do this inside the app.

    1. Firstly you need your login Email and your password, there will be a chance to change your password if you’ve forgotten it.
    2. Log on to https://blocked.ongrindr.com/.
    3. Enter the email address you signed up to Grindr with and then enter your password.
    4. If you need to change your password there’s an option to update.
    5. Once logged in you’ll be able to see who has blocked you.

    This is what the Blocked On Grindr front page looks like

    If you’re concerned about data,  Trever Faden who created the website gives these reassurances,

    “Luckily, someone finding out that you blocked them on Grindr isn’t a huge security vulnerability, as much as it is an awkward conversation waiting to happen. That said, when you block someone on Grindr, you do assume that information will stay somewhat private.

    “Sometimes that is unfortunately just an assumption, as we’ve seen with data breaches in the past at companies like Ashley Madison.

    “All of this data is safe, until it’s not, which, in my opinion, just means that if you really want to keep a secret–don’t send it through the internet.”

  • You can now find out who blocked you on Grindr

    This is not going to be pretty.

    There’s now away to find out who blocked you on grindr

    You can find out who blocked you (the bastards) on one of the world’s biggest gay dating apps. The program is called C*ckBlocked, created by a user, Trever Faden. You can find it here.

    It’s free to access online and all you have to do is put in your Grindr username and password.

    When someone blocks you that data is stored by both users – the blockee and the blocker (bastard).

    ALSO READ: 5 Dating App Etiquettes You Must Do

    ALSO READ: The 10 Most Popular Gay Dating Apps on Android

    Speaking to Queerty, Trever offered this security and data advice:

    “Luckily, someone finding out that you blocked them on Grindr isn’t a huge security vulnerability, as much as it is an awkward conversation waiting to happen. That said, when you block someone on Grindr, you do assume that information will stay somewhat private.

    “Sometimes that is unfortunately just an assumption, as we’ve seen with data breaches in the past at companies like Ashley Madison.

    “All of this data is safe, until it’s not, which, in my opinion, just means that if you really want to keep a secret–don’t send it through the internet.”

    So if you’re finding that you’ve been blocked by a bunch of people maybe these are the mistake you’re mistaking.

  • Dealer who used Grindr to sell Chemsex drugs jailed for nearly a decade

    Dealer who used Grindr to sell Chemsex drugs jailed for nearly a decade

    A prominent ‘Chemsex’ scene drug dealer, who used the hook up app, Grindr to set up parties and sell drugs to its users, has been sentenced to nearly a decade in jail for possession with intent to supply Class A and C drugs.

    Angelo Jardim, 49 (11.12.68) of Landor Road, SW9, who is originally from Portugal, was arrested on 15 September, 2017 by officers from Lambeth after intelligence suggested his property was being used to deal drugs.

    Officers carried out a raid of his property and seized Class A drugs and around £13,000 in cash. He was arrested on suspicion with intent to supply.

    During the raid, officers found Jardin had access to another address on Voltaire Road, SW4. They carried out a raid on this property and found large quantities of Class A and C drugs.

    He was charged on 15 September, 2017, with six counts with possession to supply Class A, B and C drugs.

    He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesdayy, 20 February 2018 and was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 20 February to nine years and ten months in jail.

    PC Francis Stanton attached to Lambeth Proactive unit, commented: “Jardim was a prominent member of the Chemsex scene; organising parties and selling drugs to a large amount of men he met of the dating app, Grindr.

    “Previously, a lot of Chemsex scene criminals were going under the radar, and not being detected, however we are making significant headway in the way we catch these criminals. Not only do they break the law by dealing drugs, but they also have a negative impact on families, and communities, by getting people addicted to illegal substances.”

  • Grindr is now 100 percent owned by Chinese gaming firm

    After purchasing a majority stake in Grindr last year, a Chinese gaming company has acquired the rest of the dating app for gay men from its founder Joel Simkhai, the West Hollywood company announced Friday. (more…)

  • Grindr is no longer just for men – new update allows women and trans people

    One of the world’s biggest hookup apps for gay and bi men is about to get a massive update.

    In a new update, Grindr, one of the world’s busiest dating and hook up apps for gay and bi men will add options to cater for women and trans people. New options will include, trans woman, trans man, non-binary and “queer”.

    Users will also be able to choose which pronouns they prefer including “they” and “them”.

    In an article in Grindr’s online magazine, the company said, “The trans community navigates tricky waters when it comes to online dating, from confusion over their gender identity to harassment to sometimes worse.  Grindr gets this and they’re doing something about it.”

    To accompany the changes, Grindr has created an entire FAQ section, written in consultation with the National Center for Transgender Equality, and includes information on gender identity and help, it says, to help non-trans people “interact respectfully”.

    It also provides insight on how to go about hooking up with a trans person as well a helpful article on what it means to be transgender, non-binary and cis-gender. It also includes advice on asking a transgender person about surgeries that they may have had or not.

    It also has resources to help transgender people feel safe, with a number of numbers and contact details for people to call should they find themselves in trouble.