Grindr is only for adults aged 18 and over. Keeping minors off our platform is a top priority. We invest significant resources including an age gate, device-level bans, human moderation, proprietary AI tools, and partnerships with child-safety organizations to prevent and remove underage users.

We support Rep. John James’s App Store Accountability Act because it strengthens this work. The bill creates a single, secure age-verification process at the app-store level and allows developers to receive a verified age signal. This approach, supported by nearly 90% of parents, is safer and more consistent than requiring users to verify their age separately across many apps. By contrast, the UK and EU are moving toward fragmented rules that force adults to share sensitive personal information with thousands of apps, creating unnecessary privacy and safety risks.

We appreciate Representative John James and Senator Mike Lee’s leadership and urge Congress to advance this critical legislation.

Every December 1st, World AIDS Day marks both how far we've come and how much remains unfinished. Today, HIV is preventable, treatable, and untransmissible when all tools that work are at your disposal. Yet too many gay, bi, and trans people still can't access them, navigate systems that exclude the most vulnerable, or live openly without fear of stigma or criminalization.

This year, Grindr continues to help our communities close that gap.

Where We Stand in 2025

The science of HIV prevention has never been stronger. Long-acting PrEP options (cabotegravir injections every two months or lenacapavir's twice-yearly injection) are changing what prevention can look like for people whose lives don't fit a daily pill routine. HIV self-testing has expanded globally, offering discreet, stigma-free ways to know your status without stepping into a clinic that might not feel affirming or safe.

And U=U (undetectable equals untransmissible) continues to be one of the most important truths in HIV prevention and care: effective treatment stops transmission and allows people living with HIV to lead full, healthy lives.

But these advances in health and science only matter if access is widespread. If the clinic near you stocks them. If you can afford them. If the provider you see understands your needs. For too many gay, bi, and trans people, scientific progress hasn't translated to real-world access.

That's where Grindr comes in.

Meeting People Where They Are

For millions of users worldwide, Grindr is more than a dating app. It's often the first, safest, or only discreet entry point to sexual health information. Through Grindr for Equality and partnerships with community organizations, we connect users directly to what they need: PrEP navigation, HIV self-testing distribution, affirming mental health support, and legal resources. 

Through thousands of targeted in-app messages and direct referrals each year, we extend the reach of organizations already doing this work, amplifying their impact at scale while centering their expertise.

What Ending HIV Actually Requires

Medical breakthroughs matter, but they're not enough. Ending HIV means building systems where prevention, testing, treatment, and support are genuinely accessible in people's lives, not just theoretically available. It means:

• Equitable rollout of long-acting prevention in every community that needs or demands it.
• Sustained funding for community-led organizations that remain the backbone of HIV prevention and care, especially as political winds shift and budgets shrink.
• Ending HIV criminalization and dismantling stigma that makes disclosure dangerous, pushes people out of care, and treats HIV status as a moral failing rather than a reality to be met with dignity and support.

Take Action this World AIDS Day

Owning your health doesn't mean having everything figured out. It means taking one clear step forward, whatever makes sense for your life today:

• Find your prevention fit. Daily PrEP, on-demand PrEP, injectable options: explore what works for your routine. PrEPWatch offers country-by-country guides to what's available near you.
• Test on your terms. Privacy matters. HIV self-testing gives you control over when, where, and how you learn your status. Find testing options through our global resource directory, including Grindr for Equality’s local partners in several countries (see below).
• Start conversations that matter. Update your profile's HIV, PrEP, and DoxyPEP fields if you feel safe and comfortable doing so. Talk about U=U with dates and partners. Normalize what should never have been stigmatized.
• Connect to support. Find queer-affirming community resources directly in your Grindr app by checking the safety and privacy center in the side drawer. If you need help navigating or understanding HIV-related laws where you live, explore legal info at HIV Justice Network.

Ending HIV is possible. But only if health systems are built with us, for us, and by us.

Additional Resources by Region

Americas: TakeMeHome.org (US) | Vículo Seguro (Mexico) | Red SOMOS (Colombia)

Europe: Test Finder | SH.UK | AIDS.ch (Switzerland) | CESIDA EnviHOS (Spain) | SelfTest.ge (Georgia)

Asia-Pacific: Safe Access & NetReach (India) | SAIL TelePrep (Philippines) | Tram Xác Âu Vọng (Vietnam) | Khmer Test (Cambodia) | HIV Self Test (Australia) | Burnett Foundation (New Zealand)

Africa: Heartland Alliance (Nigeria) | Triangle Project&ANOVA (South Africa)

Overcompensating, Benito Skinner’s hilarious, semi-autobiographical TV series, is excellent viewing from start to finish, but there’s one episode in particular that’s stuck with me. The premise: Benny, our closeted “golden boy” protagonist, has left his liberal arts college and returned home to smalltown Idaho for Thanksgiving break. While out and about at a bar, he runs into an old friend from high school, Sammy (played rather iconically by Lukas Gage). Benny and Sammy have some beef to squash regarding an awkward homoerotic encounter. Afterward, they make out in a bathroom stall.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it has to be said: A queer hometown hookup sounds hot. Logistically complicated, perhaps, and potentially messy, but undeniably hot. Scrolling on Grindr in your childhood bed? It’s so wrong, it’s right. Sneaking away from your family for a few hours to meet up with someone? Sign me up. Getting some much-needed stress relief in the form of an orgasm or two? I repeat, sign me up.

The Case for a Hometown Hookup

Last fall, a record-high 79 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles for Thanksgiving weekend. Even amid pervasive financial strain and the lingering chaos of the recent government shutdown, flight bookings for Thanksgiving travel are up this year. Millions of Americans will once again make their annual trek home for the holidays. But spending time with family can be emotionally loaded, particularly for queer and trans people. Whether we’re dealing with relatives who stress us out, judge our lifestyle, or, frankly, don’t accept us, this time of year often presents unique challenges. What better way to relax than by taking a break from family time and dipping out for a quickie?

For those of us who weren’t openly queer in high school, this scenario can also be an instance of wish fulfillment. Picture this: You’re returning to your hometown as an out-and-proud gay adult. And not just a gay adult. A gay adult who fucks. A gay adult whose Grindr notifications are positively popping off under the Thanksgiving table. Your teenage self would be so proud — gagged, even. The only logical thing to do now is to find a mutually convenient meet-up spot, suss out the vibe, and get it on as discreetly as possible (or indiscreetly, if you’re into that sort of thing, and if “getting caught” wouldn’t make things too awkward with your family).

How to Not Make It Weird

Of course, a hometown hookup could easily get messy. Clarifying boundaries and expectations is key. If you’re just in town for a short visit, and you’re seeking a no-strings-attached sort of thing, communicating that upfront will help prevent misunderstandings. I’m reminded of a certain Taylor Swift song in which this chart-topping pop girlie offers a blueprint for this exact exchange: “We could call it even / even though I’m leaving / And I’ll be yours for the weekend / ‘tis the damn season.”

As for how to keep things cute and respectful post-hookup? Speaking to Hypebae, queer sex and dating expert Bobby Box suggested exchanging socials and casually staying in touch with each other. “You don’t need to talk all the time,” he advised, “but the occasional check-in wouldn’t hurt. Anything more than that sounds like a crush.”

When Past Meets Present

And if you’re planning on rekindling things with your high school crush, or god forbid, an ex? Good luck! Kidding, kidding. If you think about it, a scenario like this is sort of perfect for a steamy last hurrah. In theory, you’re just passing through. The same is probably true for your past fling. That puts some implicit parameters around this hookup. (You can make things crystal clear by, you guessed it, discussing boundaries and expectations ahead of time.)

Take it from Syd*, a queer and nonbinary person who had a steamy final romp with their ex, John*, while on a New Year’s Eve trip years ago. It was unplanned, fueled by tipsiness and the daze of spending time together post-breakup — and it happened in their mutual friend’s childhood bed. At the time, “I thought this meant we were getting back together,” Syd shares. “He was the first person I fell in love with. We’d left things off because of distance and logistics.” 

Spoiler alert: This hookup did not reestablish Syd and John as a couple. Hard feelings did follow. Looking back, though, would they do it again? “Yes, I would,” Syd says, laughing. “At this point in my life, I’m like, we’re not here for a long time. Do the messy thing. Have a good time. Unless you’re going to totally implode an existing relationship, I say just do it.”

*Name changed for privacy.

O Grindr faz sua estreia oficial na 30ª Parada do Orgulho LGBTI+ do Rio de Janeiro, em 23 de novembro, com a campanha “Seguro com Local” liderada pela lendária Daniela Mercury. Em parceria com a Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e o Grupo Arco-Íris, a iniciativa combina celebração e cuidado em várias dimensões.

Esse momento marca um novo capítulo para o Grindr no Brasil, reafirmando o papel da marca como aliada confiável em conexão, segurança e cultura LGBTQIA+, ao mesmo tempo em que celebra o Rio como o destino gay número 1 do país, de acordo com os usuários do Grindr em 2025.

O coração da ativação será o Trio do Grindr, com apresentações ao vivo que refletem a diversidade e a energia da comunidade LGBTQIA+ brasileira — liderado por Daniela Mercury, com Aretuza Lovi, Romero Ferro, Traemme, Kako e Eddylene Água Suja, além dos DJs Thales Sabino, Vini Benincasa + Paranoia e Clementaum.

Ao longo do trajeto, 15 tendas – numeradas - servirão como ponto de descanso e encontro em meio à multidão. Além disso, equipes treinadas e parceiros posicionados ao longo do percurso irão orientar e acolher durante toda a celebração – fazendo a distribuição de kits de bem-estar/prevenção, além de dicas rápidas de saúde sexual, segurança digital e segurança em multidões.

Um grupo dinâmico de criadores e vozes culturais liderará na página do Grindr (@grindr.bra) a comunicação e o conteúdo de influenciadores, explorando temas como autoexpressão, segurança e conexão ao longo da temporada do Orgulho: Alex Gallete, Riquencio, Eder Malta, Marcelo Castro, Rafael Gonzaga, Thales Sabino, Flávio Fusco e Yuri Oliver.

Essas ativações trazem o Gayborhood digital do Grindr para o mundo real — criando espaços seguros, visíveis e conectados que celebram o Orgulho em todas as suas formas. Mas a celebração não termina em Copacabana, o “Seguro com Local” continua com narrativas comunitárias, ativações pós-evento e o Grindr Presents, garantindo que a mensagem de segurança, inclusão e conexão autêntica vá além do fim de semana do Orgulho.

De acordo com o Grindr Unwrapped, o Brasil está entre os três maiores mercados globais do aplicativo, com milhões de usuários ativos diariamente. De acordo com uma enquete realizada no app, o Rio de Janeiro ocupa o 1º lugar entre os destinos gays do país — uma cidade que simboliza celebração, resiliência e orgulho.

Parada do Orgulho LGBTI+ do Rio de Janeiro 2025

23 de novembro

Concentração a partir das 11h na Avenida Atlântica – Copacabana

Last night, Grindr debuted 'I Wool Survive,' a 36-piece fashion collection made entirely from the wool of gay rams. The collaboration brought together Rainbow Wool—a German farm that rescues gay sheep from slaughter—and designer Michael Schmidt for a runway show at The Altman Building that reimagined every gay archetype through wool.

This unexpected partnership showcases what Grindr does best: making connections that you wouldn't think exist but absolutely need do. Across worlds, borders, and now species, we connected Rainbow Wool's powerful story with Schmidt's iconic artistry to celebrate the resilience and creativity that define gay culture.

The Science and the Save

Rainbow Wool operates near Cologne with a specific mission: rescue rams that prefer other rams. Studies show about 1 in 12 rams are gay. Traditional farms slaughter them. Shepherd Michael Stücke saves them instead, turning their wool into textiles that carry a message.

"This collaboration with Grindr proves that being gay is part of nature itself," Stücke says. "The wool from these rams isn't just material—it's a message spun from animals who live freely and are loved."

Schmidt's Vision

Michael Schmidt—the designer who's created for Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Cher, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna, and Lil Nas X—took Rainbow Wool's yarn and built an entire gay universe. The Greaser. The DTF Driver. The Pizza Delivery Guy who somehow belonged on a runway. The Wrestler in wool singlet. The Jock. The Coach. Thirty-six looks that read like a greatest hits of gay archetypes, each one crafted from the wool of rams who were marked for death.

Every piece balanced humor with heat. Leather daddy harnesses spun from rainbow yarn. Sailor crops that actually worked. Firefighter suspenders you'd swipe right on. Each archetype reimagined through artistry, humor, and unmistakable pride.

"It's been a pleasure to create this light-hearted collection that also addresses a very serious topic," Schmidt said. "The mistreatment of animals that exhibit same-sex attraction is a painful reminder of the prejudice that continues to affect LGBT communities worldwide. Hopefully, by illustrating that homosexuality exists throughout the animal kingdom, we can help put to bed the false and damaging notion that being gay is a choice."

Schmidt's work sits in permanent collections at The Met, LACMA, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Now he's added gay sheep wool to his repertoire.

The Show

The Altman Building crowd got it. Zaldy, Aquaria, Susanne Bartsch, Madison Rose, CT Hedden, Martin Gregory Jerez—they watched wool transform into leather daddy harnesses, into sailor crops, into firefighter suspenders. The material that shouldn't exist, worn by models embodying every fantasy and fetish, while making a point about nature itself.

The Eagle after-party, sponsored by Woodwork, kept the energy going. The room was packed, hot, and exactly what you'd expect when you gather this crowd to celebrate gay sheep becoming high fashion. Our community knows how to show up when art meets activism meets a dance floor.

Next Moves

We're not done. Throughout 2026, we're supporting Rainbow Wool's mission. Some pieces will be auctioned for LGBTQ+ initiatives. The sheep keep living. The wool keeps coming. The point keeps being made.

Connection is what we do. Usually it's on an app. This time it involved a German sheep farm, a designer who's dressed every icon you can name, and wool that shouldn't exist. But it does.

More about Rainbow Wool: rainbow-wool.com.

View our favorite looks below.

The secret to a perfect sandwich is balance. Too much bread, and you're just eating carbs. Too much filling, and it falls apart in your hands. The ratio has to be right. The structural integrity has to hold. Every component needs to contribute something, or you're better off eating the ingredients separately.

National Sandwich Day is November 3rd, which gives us a perfect excuse to talk about the sexual equivalent: being the middle in a threesome. The guy who's simultaneously topping and bottoming. The filling. The cream in the Oreo. The reason everyone showed up.

Most People Get the Sandwich Wrong

Walk into any deli and order a sandwich, and they'll give you two pieces of bread with something in between. It's definitional. But ask three gay men to have a threesome, and there's a decent chance nobody ends up in the middle at all. You get two separate things happening in the same room. One guy's topping someone while that person's blowing the third. Or everyone's taking turns in pairs while the odd man out watches. That's not a sandwich. That's a charcuterie board.

The actual sandwich configuration, where one person is penetrated while penetrating someone else simultaneously, is rarer than you'd think. Partly because it's harder to coordinate. Partly because it requires someone willing to do both at once. But mostly because people underestimate what the middle position actually offers.

What Makes a Good Middle

A good sandwich needs structural integrity. You can't just slap ingredients together and hope they cooperate. Same principle applies here. The middle position has specific requirements, and talking through them beforehand is essential.

You need to stay hard while bottoming, which is a skill not everyone has. You need enough body awareness to manage two different sources of stimulation without immediately finishing from the overload. You need the hip flexibility to maintain the angle for both partners. And you need the confidence to communicate what's working and what isn't, because when you're the middle, you're actually running the show.

The choo-choo train position exists for good reason. Everyone's on their knees, lined up, and the physics just work. The guy behind you can get leverage. The guy in front of you can brace himself. You're stable enough to find a rhythm. But there are other configurations worth knowing:

• Side-lying works for longer sessions and saves everyone's knees from carpet burn
• Standing middle is possible if heights align, but requires more athletic ability than it looks
• Middle-on-back with the bottom riding while the top works from above, which is visually interesting but coordinatively complex
• The key to any configuration is that the rhythm flows through the middle, with everyone checking in about comfort and pace

Assembly Instructions

When you're arranging a threesome on Grindr, the middle conversation needs to happen before anyone shows up. "Who wants to be the filling?" sounds like a throwaway joke in the group chat, but it's actually the most important logistical question.

The best middle is whoever wants it most and can handle the intensity, not whoever gets voluntold because they're vers. Sometimes that's the host. Sometimes it's the person who suggested the three-way. Sometimes it's the guy who's usually a strict top but wants to try something new in a lower-stakes situation. But it should always be a clear decision that everyone agrees on.

This is also when you establish boundaries and preferences. What's on the table, what's not, and what happens if someone needs to tap out. The worst thing you can do is leave it ambiguous and figure it out in person. That's how you end up with three people awkwardly negotiating while someone's pants are already off.

Decide beforehand. Bring the right amount of lube (more than you think). Establish a way for anyone to pause or stop if needed. And make sure everyone understands that the middle isn't the compromise position. It's the main attraction.

The Perfect Ratio

Not every threesome needs a sandwich configuration. Sometimes you want a charcuterie board. But if you're going to mark National Sandwich Day properly, commit to the structure. Find two partners who understand that the middle is where everything comes together. Build it correctly, with clear communication and mutual enthusiasm. And enjoy the fact that you've created something that's more than the sum of its parts.

Every November, a peculiar ritual takes over certain corners of the internet. Men solemnly pledge to abstain from orgasm for thirty days straight. Some purists insist this means no jerking off, no hooking up, no sexual contact whatsoever. But others argue the challenge is specifically about the nut itself. You can still have sex, still fool around, still scroll through your favorite apps. You just can't finish. And as the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket, we're inclined to agree with the latter interpretation.

What if the best sex doesn't end with an orgasm?

Here's the thing about No Nut November that nobody wants to admit: it might actually be onto something. Not because there's anything wrong with getting off (there isn't), and not because of the pseudo-scientific claims about "semen retention" floating around Reddit. The actual benefit is way simpler and way more interesting. When you take your own orgasm off the table but leave everything else on it, you're forced to think about sex completely differently.

The Abundance Problem

Grindr gave gay men something genuinely revolutionary: connection whenever you want it, wherever you are. The app made it possible to find exactly what you're looking for, from hookups to dates to friends. Which is incredible. It's also created an interesting psychological phenomenon worth examining.

When anything becomes abundant and easily accessible, your relationship to it changes. This isn't specific to sex or apps. It's true of streaming services, delivery food, or social media. Abundance is amazing, but it can also create a kind of autopilot mode where you stop being fully present for the experience itself.

No Nut November works as an accidental pattern interrupt. Not because abstinence is inherently virtuous, but because constraint creates attention. When you're allowed to hook up but not allowed to finish, suddenly every interaction becomes charged with a different energy. You're not racing toward a climax. You're actually present for everything that happens along the way.

What Happens When You Can't Focus on Yourself

Here's where it gets interesting for your actual sex life. When your own orgasm is off limits but sex isn't, you have to find other sources of satisfaction. Which means you start paying attention to your partner's pleasure in a completely different way.

This isn't noble self-sacrifice. It's almost selfish, actually. You're looking for your turn-on in his reactions, his sounds, the way his body responds. And in the process, you might discover:

• What actually works for him instead of cycling through your usual routine on autopilot
• That you're capable of staying hard and engaged without needing to finish
• How much pleasure you can get from being the person who makes someone else feel utmost pleasure
• That foreplay you usually rush through is actually the best part when you're not trying to get somewhere
• What happens when you get creative because the usual script doesn't have its usual ending

After the Challenge

The point isn't permanent abstinence from orgasms (please, enjoy yourself). The point is to interrupt your patterns long enough to realize you had patterns in the first place. After a month of restraint, that first orgasm back is going to be absurdly good. But more importantly, you might find yourself approaching sex differently even after November ends.

Maybe you spend more time on the parts you used to rush through because you discovered they're actually incredible. Maybe you realize the buildup is half the pleasure, and you'd been shortchanging yourself by sprinting to the finish. Maybe you learn that you can have deeply satisfying sexual experiences that don't end with you coming, which opens up entirely new possibilities for what sex can be.

No Nut November isn't going to fix your relationship or give you superpowers. What it can do is create enough space between stimulus and response that you remember sex is supposed to be something you experience fully, not something you complete efficiently. In a world where connection is easier than ever, that shift in perspective might be exactly what your sex life needs.

So this November, consider keeping everything on the table except the grand finale. Your partner will thank you. And when December finally arrives, you'll understand what all the fuss was about.

Last week in Vilnius, Lithuania, advocates from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, and Croatia gathered for a regional summit led by Freedom to Marry Global, a 2025 Grindr for Equality Award recipient. The goal was both simple and profound: to accelerate progress toward marriage equality in a region where LGBTQ+ love is still denied legal recognition.

From Visibility to Strategy

Held alongside the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference, which convened hundreds of LGBTQ+ activists, policymakers, and allies from across the continent, the summit offered a focused space for countries still fighting for a fundamental recognition of all — the right to marry the person you love.

The atmosphere at the summit was hopeful but strategic. Conversations ranged from legal advocacy and digital mobilization, to public education and coalition-building. Participants worked through case studies, campaign planning exercises, and shared legal strategies tailored to each country’s realities. Sessions focused on building effective messaging for conservative contexts, engaging policymakers through EU frameworks, and leveraging digital platforms like Grindr to strengthen visibility and coordination across borders. This level of rigor reflects what Grindr for Equality’s annual awards are designed to support — serious, in-depth convenings that help local movements move from visibility to strategy to execution. As a 2025 awardee, Freedom to Marry Global exemplifies how sustained investment in cross-regional collaboration can accelerate progress far beyond any single campaign.

Threading every exchange were three words offered by Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry Global, “Hope, Clarity, and Tenacity.” These, he said, are the qualities that won marriage equality in the United States—and the ones we need most moving forward. Together, they serve as both mantra and map, guiding not only future possibilities but also the change already in motion.

Signs of Progress Across the Region

Lithuania continues to debate a civil-union bill, yet as recently as this past summer, 15–20 same-sex couples have already gained some form of legal recognition through the courts as a result of the April 2025 landmark Constitutional Court decision affirming that same-sex couples cannot be excluded from civil partnership. Latvia’s Saeima passed legislation in November 2023 establishing a civil partnership system including same-sex couples. Since the law went into effect in July 2024, hundreds of same-sex couples have shared in many basic, fundamental protections, while the fight for additional protections and the freedom to marry continues on. In Ukraine, a court in Kyiv recently recognized a same-sex couple as family for the first time in the country’s history — an extraordinary step forward in a country at war. The EU Advocate General urged Poland to extend free-movement rights to same-sex spouses on equal terms with heterosexual couples, with a related decision from the European Court of Justice expected to be released before the end of 2025. Czechia’s enhanced civil partnership law went into effect in January,in part catalyzed by funding from Grindr, while advocates continue pushing for full marriage. And of course, Estonia’s legalization of same-sex marriage that took effect in 2024 stands as the region’s clearest sign that the movement is not only alive but moving forward.

Despite oppressive political winds, advocates in the room are creating momentum for our movement, one country, one case at a time. Among their allies is Grindr for Equality — Grindr’s social-impact initiative advancing LGBTQ+ health, safety, and human rights globally. 

For Grindr, marriage equality is not an abstract ideal but a core priority that affects the daily lives of millions of our users. A 2024 Grindr survey revealed that a vast majority of gay and bisexual men who are seeking relationships say they ultimately want to get married. Legal recognition determines access to healthcare, parental and immigration rights, and the ability to make decisions for the person you love. But it also does something less easily quantified: it expands the horizon of what’s possible — affirming that gay, bi, and trans people can build families, form lasting partnerships, raise children, and live with the same joy and sense of belonging as anyone else. Grindr is not only a place where connections begin; it’s a place where people can imagine a future surrounded by people they love. 

Determination Grounded in Progress

As the Vilnius summit concluded, the feeling in the room was one of determination grounded in progress. Participants left with clearer legislative roadmaps, new avenues for regional coordination, and renewed energy to embed marriage equality into broader human rights frameworks. For Grindr for Equality, this collaboration reaffirmed that advancing LGBTQ+ rights is as much about policy and partnership as it is about visibility and voice.

In a world where progress often comes inch by inch, the message from Vilnius — and from the broader ILGA-Europe gathering — was unmistakable: the movement is still winning. And it will continue to win not by hope alone, but by the clarity of purpose and the tenacity of those who refuse to let love be limited. 

Halloween is the one night a year when gays get to dress up like total sluts and no one can say anything about it. It's our holiday. Always has been.

We wanted to know exactly how the community celebrates, so we surveyed over 1,000 Grindr users about their spooky season habits. What we found: getting scared and getting laid go together better than you'd think.

Scarousal Is Real

Getting scared makes most of you horny. 82% of users confirmed that the thrill of a horror movie or haunted house has turned them on. Another 71% think "scarousal" (arousal triggered by fear) is an actual psychological thing, not just a joke.

Movies that get you both scared and horny:

• Interview with the Vampire
• American Psycho
• Jennifer's Body

Ghostface Won Sexiest Halloween Character

33.2% of you picked Ghostface from Scream as the hottest Halloween character. Remmick from Sinners came in second at 17.2%, with Michael Myers at 15.6%.

The monster preferences split pretty evenly:

• 46% like sleek, dominant vampire energy
• 32% want hairy, primal werewolf types

Kinkiest monster feature? Fangs dominated with 52%, while claws and tentacles each got 24%.

The Costume Question

Most of you (59%) would rather your Halloween hookup be naked or close to it. That's 31% who want full commando and 28% who like a costume that barely counts as clothing.

The other 41% prefer the costume stays on for roleplay purposes.

Surprisingly sexy costumes people have seen on the grid:

• "A slutty Albert Einstein"
• "Ghostface but in a stripper outfit"
• "Genderbent Patrick Bateman"
• "The Grindr Torso (smiley mask, harness, underwear)"
• "A werewolf head and nothing else"
• "Two hairy guys as Romy and Michele in tight satin dresses"

What to Expect Halloween Night

61% believe they're more likely to hook up on Halloween than any other night. Expectations are high.

What actually scares users:

• Hookup lasting under 15 minutes (40.9%)
• Guy with a great costume who's boring in bed (37.9%)
• Date who hates horror movies (21.2%)

The "I'm Scared" Line Works

68% of users have successfully used or received the "I'm scared" move during a scary movie. That includes 32% who've deployed it themselves and 36% who've had someone use it on them.

One respondent noted: "Yes, and it worked every time."

Survey of 1,100 active Grindr users in the US, October 3-10, 2025.

Bottoming and taking on a passive role during sex aren’t inherently synonymous. Case in point: power bottoms. Maybe you’ve hooked up with one, or maybe you identify as one yourself — if so, then you’re intimately familiar with the unique and incredibly hot energy they bring to the bedroom. Unlike passive or submissive bottoms, power bottoms take charge when fucking, determining the pace, positions, and level of intensity. Think top energy, except, you know… while bottoming.

October might be winding down, but the hype for Power Bottom Appreciation Day (October 30) is just getting started. To celebrate, Grindr interviewed some self-described power bottoms about the power they find in leaning into this label, and, of course, the pleasure they get from fucking this way. Here’s what they had to say.

Cody Silver (pronouns: he/him)

Today, Cody Silver markets himself as vers, but that was a somewhat recent development in his sex life. For years, he exclusively bottomed and power bottomed. “It takes a really good bottom to be a good top because you understand the positions, what speed to go at, what feels good,” he says.

Though he’s leaned into his inner “vers king” and has even curated two separate Private Albums on Grindr for topping and bottoming, Cody is always eager to flaunt his power bottoming skills. He’s become quite the pro at edging tops with his hole, for instance: “That’s when you really feel that power: when they moan, ‘Oh, I’m getting close.’ And you can either slow it down so they last longer, or you can get them to the edge and then just bring it back.”

Power bottoming isn’t just a way that Cody likes to get off (though that’s definitely part of it). It’s a source of empowerment for him, too. “I’m so tired of all the rampant top supremacy out there,” he shares. “I think at first, I really subscribed to the whole bottom shame stigma — for what reason, I don’t know. Without us, these tops would have nothing to say.”

Cody’s best tips for feeling confident while power bottoming? Doing a thorough job of preparing and cleaning out beforehand helps him enjoy himself, he notes. But more than that, “remember that you have all the power. It’s whatever you’re consenting to and whatever your top is consenting to. And more than anything, just have fun! If it doesn’t feel good, stop or say something.”

David* (pronouns: he/him)

Though he’s fully embraced the power bottom life now, David didn’t always connect with this label. “I used to think ‘power bottom’ just meant someone who always bottoms,” he says. “Over time, I realized it’s more about self-awareness and confidence.” He loves how the label captures the complexity of this role: the way it calls for a balance between control and submission.

“There’s something powerful about being tuned in to your own pleasure and helping your partner meet you there,” he shares. “When you know what works for you, and you can express that, it changes everything. I’ve enjoyed sex so much more since having this realization and coming to terms with how I like to show up in the bedroom.”

As for navigating the apps as a self-identified power bottom? It’s been a mixed experience for David. “It’s funny — some people still get weird about the term ‘power bottom,’” he says. He’s definitely encountered his fair share of tops who act like it’s a threat to their masculinity. At the same time, “there are plenty of people out there who totally get it and are into that confidence.”

David’s advice for other power bottoms is to just own it. “Be curious, be vocal, and be confident,” he says. Because when you show up to the apps or even a hookup with that kind of energy, “you can attract the same in return.”

Dakota* (pronouns: she/they)

Dakota began identifying as a power bottom last year, after their partner observed that their self-described switchiness usually manifested as power bottoming. “I looked it up and agreed,” they share. They love how the label reflects “being in control of how I receive pleasure,” whether that’s through speed, the way they’re being serviced, or the praise she’s giving and receiving.

“My favorite thing about being a power bottom is getting to affirm transmasculine partners through praise and certain fetishes,” Dakota says. They’ve particularly enjoyed exploring their breeding kink while taking on this role in the bedroom. 

Though they’ve encountered their fair share of bottom shaming, including hurtful comments from past connections, Dakota was able to work through it with therapy and positive affirmations from current partners. Power bottom or not, “life is too short to get caught up on what other people will say or think,” they share.

* Name changed or last name omitted for privacy.

We're excited to announce a limited-edition accessory collection with CHRISHABANA that turns kink into wearable art. Three pieces that merge digital culture with high fashion, now available exclusively in the app and on our website.

Fresh off their inaugural New York Fashion Week debut, CHRISHABANA brought their signature aesthetic—industrial glamour, punk refinement, unapologetic gay opulence—to a capsule inspired by the Pleasure Ball's "Garden of Otherworldly Delights" theme. These are masterfully sculpted designs with an undeniable edge, built for people who wear their desire out loud.

The Heavy Metal Jock | $300

Stretch lycra vinyl with a laser-cut mask logo positioned exactly where mouths tend to go. Polished nickel hardware and steel chain that clinks when you move. Adjustable straps for thick thighs, detachable chains for discretion. The construction holds up whether you're wearing it under jeans to the Eagle or getting pressed against a bathroom stall wall. This is the jock that gets you flagged at airport security and thoroughly searched at your destination.

The Adam Harness | $295

Black leather laser-cut with reclining male figures, connected by nickel-plated ball chain that leaves temporary marks when pressed against skin. Three adjustment points to accommodate different builds and different positions. The leather handles sweat, spit, and whatever else Saturday night brings. Wear this when you want to skip the small talk at Folsom, when your Grindr profile needs updating, when vanilla isn't on the menu.

Prick and Thorn Grip Chain | $175

Cast brass charms with rhodium plating on a cable chain strong enough for someone to pull you by. Sits at that perfect length where it's visible in shirtless pics but doesn't get in the way when you're on your knees. Heavy enough to remind you it's there when you're otherwise occupied, subtle enough for brunch with the boys who already know what you did last night.

From the Designer

"I've been really interested in exploring adult themes through a high-fashion perspective, finding ways to elevate ideas around intimacy, sexuality, and desire through design," said Chris Habana, who's dressed Lady Gaga, SZA, and Coleman Domingo. "With this Grindr collaboration, it felt like the perfect moment to dive even deeper, this time focusing on the queer experience. As a queer designer, that makes it feel more personal. These pieces are meant to enhance the way people express themselves and enjoy their everyday lives with confidence, humor, and a little bit of edge."

The full collection is available now exclusively on the Grindr website now.

Last night, Iron23 in NYC became something else entirely. Grindr's second annual Pleasure Ball took over the venue with 'The Garden of Otherworldly Delights'—and if last year was decadent, this year added teeth.

The Setup

Lush. Toxic. Dripping with temptation. The production team at Kind transformed the space into a surreal garden where fantasy and reality collided, subtlety took the night off, and everyone showed up ready to play.

The Performances

Slayyyter opened the night hours before dropping her new single "Crank" at midnight. Jake Shears followed with Scissor Sisters classics: "Don't Feel Like Dancin'" and "Filthy/Gorgeous" hit exactly as hard as they needed to. The room responded accordingly.

The Fashion Moment

The Grindr x CHRISHABANA capsule made its debut. The Heavy Metal Jock—chain with laser-cut detailing. The Adam Harness—leather with reclining male figures. The Prick and Thorn Grip Chain necklace. Industrial glamour meets punk refinement meets unapologetic opulence. Terrence, Amir Morris, and Luxx Noir London wore select pieces. 

The Guest List

Dawn. Ashnikko. Aquaria. Edvin Thompson. Icons, tastemakers, and the beautifully unbothered filled the room—proof that Halloween isn't just one night for our community. It's embedded in who we are: the camp, the drama, the outsider energy, the transformation.

The Looks

Here's who absolutely turned it out at the #GrindrPleasureBall.

Year two complete. The garden's closed until next season.

‍