Before Plastique Tiara and Nymphia Wind became friends, the drag gods were already tying them together. While competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 9, Plastique, during a sewing challenge, asked producers for a needle and thread. She was handed a Ziploc bag with the name “Nymphia” written on it. Inside was a curved needle and high-quality thread, left behind by Nymphia Wind, who had filmed Season 16 of the main franchise on the same soundstage only weeks before. 

They would meet for the first time post-Drag Race the next year in Washington, D.C., in the lead-up to All Stars 9, but they’d already eyed one another as kindred spirits and prospective collaborators.

Now, nearly two years later, the pair are headlining “The Serpents Tour,” a 15-city American tour, inspired by the Asian folktale of the White Snake and the Green Snake, that promises “couture fashion, theatrical storytelling, and dynamic performances that celebrate Asian heritage, pop culture, and drag artistry.” The tour, which kicks off in New York City on January 25, will run through February 16, and feature the star power that won Nymphia the crown on Season 16 and made Plastique the Drag Race contestant with the most social media followers. 

Ahead of the tour’s launch, Plastique and Nymphia took some time out of their busy preparations to chat with Grindr.

Read the full interview with Grindr below: 

MH: How did you settle on the Green Snake and White Snake concept for the show? 

PT: I reached out to Nymphia because I was just amazed by her cinematic experience on Drag Race. It was the Year of the Snake when we first talked about this tour, and the story of the White Snake and Green Snake is so so, so popular in Asian culture. It's basically is our pop culture. Every opera. Every song. Anything that relates to the White Snake and the Green Snake—immediate cunt factor is added to the story. So when we talked, we were just like, “It's the Year of the Snake. Two snake sisters. You're the Green Snake, I'm the White Snake. Perfect. It's done.”

MH: How did you decide who was the White Snake and who was the Green Snake? 

NW: It’s pretty obvious. The characters already match our own drag personas naturally. The Green Snake is the younger one, and she's more chaotic, fiery, lively. The White Snake is more elegant and more poised, more like a goddess kind of vibe. I wouldn't want to do the White Snake myself.

PT: Truly typecasting. 

MH: Obviously, there’s going to be great fashion in the show. How many looks are there? How many quick changes? How has putting together all the costumes gone? 

NW: The main problem of this tour is, “How are we going to change in time?”

PT: Y’all don't even know. We’re like, “What if we put this over here, so I have time to go over here to change my costume?” Girl, there are so many logistics being put into this journey alone, just for me to change my costumes. It is insane. 

NW: But to give a number, we're working on five outfits each, but in five outfits, there's going to be reveals, so some of them are double.

PT: There's going to be theatrics, accouterments. 

NW: We’ve both been talking about this as our passion project. We're torturing ourselves, making this more dramatic, adding more to it, when we could have just put on a little body suit.

PT: No, truly we could have just gone out there, done a little number, and then be done, but no. 

NW: It’s like a RuPaul maxi challenge. This is basically how we're treating it. 

MH: What's been the most difficult part of putting this show together?

NW: For me personally, I'm making a lot of costumes, and it's just basically being the CEO, like, “Okay, I need this done, and I also need to do the music, and then the visualizer, and then the wigs, and then the heels. Okay, so what am I gonna wear, but also rehearsing, performing, and then choreographing, and then finding the dancers, booking the performances.” That's the hardest part, but I think when it actually gets down to the tour, it's just changing in time, because we went all out with the costumes. We need a behind-the-scenes film. It would be really funny. 

PT:  No, it's so hard. I've been on other tours before, but creating your own tour is insane, because you're in charge of everything. I'm in Vietnam. It's 1:27 a.m. I'm here to film visuals and pick up costumes. That's how serious I am about this tour. I think that's the attitude we both have. As Asian artists, we just want to be good work, represent what we're about and share our love of this art with the people we're presenting it to. So it's really important for us to do well. And honestly, I enjoy the work. I've never had so much fun creating a tour or a project. The last time I've had this much fun was Drag Race. 

NW: It's fun for me to be creative, and we don't have to answer to anyone. We're basically the creative directors here, so it's very rewarding work. 

MH: And neither of you is getting eliminated!

PT: Well, she never got eliminated, so good for you, sister. 

MH: So you have 15 stops on this tour in less than a month. What does that look like logistically? Are you in a van? Are you flying? How are you getting all of these costumes around?

PT: We’re Ubering. 

NW: We’re taking the bicycle. No, we're doing a bus tour, so that's going to be fun. We're traveling the whole continent. I've always wanted to do a road trip, so why not? 

PT: Yes, and 15 stops, I think, is the best amount of time. If it's 30 or 50, I'm like, “Oooof, this is a lot,” but 15 is perfect, and then we're planning to take it worldwide, so there's more to come.

MH: What's your favorite part about being on a tour?

NW: Well, I haven't technically been on a full-on tour, so this is gonna be my first. 

PT: I think the energy from the audience. You just get a high off of it. After a show, sometimes I stay up until four or five, just scrolling, looking through the reactions, and just wanting to be better. My favorite part is improving and seeing how people react to it.

MH: Since this interview will run on Grindr, I have to ask, are the queens using Grindr on tour? Are people messaging? What’s the vibe? 

NW: When I was flown around all over the place, I would go on Grindr, because sometimes you're just in the hotel alone, and you're kind of bored, not necessarily to hook up, but just to be a bit messy chatting with people. Sometimes it's funny interactions. Sometimes it's an eye roll. Sometimes it makes you laugh. It's just entertaining for me personally. At one point, I changed my profile to Nymphia's profile, and people were like, “Why are you using Nymphia’s photo?” So now I treat it as an entertainment source personally, because Mama don't hook up no more. She’s old.

MH: When I’m traveling, I’ll use Grindr to get recommendations for restaurants and stuff. 

NW: Yeah, like what’s around the area? I do that too when I’m in Europe. 

PT: Best brunch spots? 

NW: Portugal here I come. What are we doing? 

MH: To wrap up, if someone was thinking about coming to the tour but hasn’t bought tickets yet, what would you tell them? 

NW: Stop Asian hate. [Laughs] No, just have an open mind and come to experience culture, camp, Asian drag. It's really AAPI-centric, and it's just to have fun. We want to celebrate AAPI talent, and it's a story that's based on traditional Asian folklore. There's a lot of culture behind it, and we're really showcasing our background as Asian people.

PT: The things we do on this tour, I guarantee you've never seen on any drag tour before. I can honestly say that. It is really, really fierce, and it's just like culture, cunt, camp, everything wrapped up in one, and it's from our perspective. 

NW: And you know the fashion is going to be sickening. 

Tickets available for The Serpents Tour at NymphiaPlastiqueLive.com

‍

From “Abracadabra” and The White Lotus’s incestual handjob to “Protect the Dolls” and Jonathan Bailey (rightfully) being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, 2025 has been a year brimming with gay culture. And, obviously, Grindr has been taking notes. We’ve been listening to gay music, reading gay books, and watching gay movies, so that we can bring you the gay best of the gay best. (After all, Grindr Unwrapped 2025, honoring everything from the year’s best bulges to the most important gay guy music videos, is just around the corner.)

So if you’re gay and you consider yourself a patron of the arts (or you just want to watch hot people making out in a cinematic way), I’ve hand-crafted a guide to the best queer films of 2025 just for you. After watching hundreds of movies this year, I’ve whittled down the list to a top ten for your viewing pleasure. So whether you want to host a movie night with your new situationship or to name-drop a queer arthouse film at the afters, I’ve got you covered. 

2025 may be coming to a close, but luckily for us, queer cinema is forever. So without further ado, here are the best gay movies of 2025. 

Cactus Pears (In Theaters)

Starting alphabetically, Cactus Pears is a delicate romance from first-time director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. The Marathi film follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), an out gay man living in Mumbai, who must return to his rural hometown after the death of his father. While there, he connects with his childhood best friend, who is still in the closet. The pair rekindle their relationship, field arranged marriage propositions from their nosy relatives, and share one particularly intimate scene while herding goats (as one does). 

Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV+)

If you need a good cry (and only then), check out this stunning documentary, which follows acclaimed poet Andrea Gibson and her wife Megan Falley as they grapple with Gibson’s terminal cancer diagnosis. The film, directed by Ryan White, interweaves Gibson reading her own poetry with emotionally raw footage of the couple savoring life together. Stock up on tissues. 

Hedda (Prime Video)

Nia DaCosta’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play dares to ask, “What if Hedda Gabler were a horny AF, chaotic bisexual?” The extravagant and lush drama stars Tessa Thompson as the messy, and lavishly dressed Hedda, acting opposite a balls-to-the-walls Nina Hoss as the gender-swapped Lovborg. Praying this film launches a new wave of batshit house parties, because I need this energy in my life.

The History of Sound (Mubi)

The Brokeback Mountain Award for old-timey gays having sex in the wilderness goes to Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound. The quiet romance follows two folk music archivists (sexy!) played by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor as they travel rural Maine in 1920, collecting recordings of folk songs (and f*cking in a tent). The film is quieter and more contemplative than it is raunchy, but it’s a beautiful ode to our queer elders and their secret romances that have always existed. 

Kiss of the Spider Woman (Video on Demand)

Come for Jennifer Lopez in a series of exquisite wigs and gowns, stay for Diego Luna and Tonatiuh as prison cellmates in Bill Condon’s musical sensation. Lopez is Oscar-worthy while eating up this choreography, but it’s the intimate relationship formed between a crossdresser and a revolutionary that steals the show. Kiss of the Spider Woman deftly depicts the ways queerness and politics are intrinsically linked and why we, as queer people, can never stop fighting for what’s right. 

Pillion (In Theaters)

The award for horniest movie of the year easily goes to Pillion (which is the backseat of a motorcycle if you didn’t know). Harry Melling (aka Dudley Dursley from Harry Potter) stars as a timid sub, who begins a BDSM relationship with a leather daddy top played by Alexander Skarsgard. Backalley blowjobs, kinky forest fucking, and plenty of dom/sub play are all included.

Plainclothes (Video on Demand)

This 1990s-set thriller stars Tom Blyth as a closeted New York cop, tasked with entrapping gay men cruising in the bathroom of a shopping mall. As expected, he ends up falling in love with another closeted man, played by Russell Tovey, whom he meets in the stalls. A one-time encounter turns into a full-blown obsession that threatens to implode both their lives. 

Twinless (Video on Demand)

In case you missed the clip of Dylan O’Brien topping that circulated gay Twitter earlier this year, you’ll want to catch up with Twinless, which stars O’Brien as both Roman, a straight man in a twin grief support group, as well as Rocky, his gay twin who tragically passed away. In the group, Roman meets Dennis (James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the film), who knew Rocky and is grieving the death of his own twin. The black comedy is packed with laughs, twists, and one particularly steamy sex scene. 

Viet and Nam (Mubi)

You know a queer film is good when it’s been banned in its home country, as this film did. The romance, directed by Vietnamese director Truong Minh Quy, follows two coal miners and lovers, played by Thi Nga Nguyen and Daniel Viet Tung Le, who are determined to leave Vietnam for economic opportunities abroad. The melancholic romance boasts some of the year’s most stunning cinematography, including a coal-heap sex scene that will stay burned in your brain for all eternity. 

The Wedding Banquet (Paramount+)

The Wedding Banquet is the feel-good queer comedy of the year. Fire Island director Andrew Ahn’s remake of the 1993 film stars Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, and Han Gi-chan as two LGBTQ+ couples who also happen to be best friends and roommates. With a visa renewal hanging in the balance, the quartet must fake a lavender marriage to hilarious (if chaotic) ends. Joan Chen and Young Yuh-jung also show up for the biggest mother-off of 2025. 

Unless you jump-started your New Year’s resolution and have been in a deep social media fast, you’ve certainly heard about Heated Rivalry, the sex-forward, gay hockey romance that has taken the internet (and my TikTok feed) by storm. The Canadian drama, currently streaming on HBO Max, stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as rival hockey players hiding a passionate (and gif-friendly) off-ice love affair. 

The series, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, premiered in November and quickly flooded the internet with thirst traps, fan art, and memes of the stars in various states of undress. Unfortunately for the show’s thirsty fans, however, Season 1 will wrap its six-episode run on December 26 (just in time for you to watch unadulterated fucking while hidden in your childhood bedroom). While there is a Season 2 in the works, all of us newly minted hockey fans will likely have to wait at least a year before things heat up once again in the penalty box. 

Luckily for you, though, Heated Rivalry isn’t the first TV show to feature plenty of steamy queer love-making. Gay people have been getting it on on TV for quite some time if you know where to look. So while you’re waiting for Heated Rivalry to return and waiting for your latest Grindr crush to text back, here are ten other sex-forward, LGBTQ+ shows to get you hot and bothered. 

Dante’s Cove (Here TV)

While Dante’s Cove may not be a title familiar to you, if you were on a certain side of Tumblr back in the early 2010s, you’ve definitely seen a few screenshots from this “supernatural soap opera.” Dante’s Cove, which ran for three seasons on Here TV from 2005-2007, starred Gregory Michael and Charlie David as a young gay couple battling mystical, evil forces. Think Supernatural, but with loads of gay sex. While the scripts weren’t always the strongest, Dante’s Cove makes Heated Rivalry look like C-SPAN when it comes to nudity. 

‍Elite (Netflix) 

Spain’s answer to Gossip Girl, Degrassi, and Skins, Elite focuses on a group of (very dramatic) teens who attend an “elite” high school for the children of the rich and famous. While the show always featured plenty of sex, things really heated up in Season 4 when Patrick (played by the swoonworthy Manu Rios) appeared, quickly becoming the lover of both gay characters on the show. While yes, you’ll need to read subtitles, there’s also plenty of body language for you to enjoy as well. 

Fellow Travelers (Showtime) 

Before he was the star of Jurassic World Dominion or Wicked, and before he was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Jonathan Bailey was getting freaky on Showtime’s historical romance, Fellow Travelers. Bailey plays Tim, a young congressional staffer in the 1950s, who begins a passionate affair with Hawk (Matt Bomer), a closeted State Department suit. The drama spans a 40-year-long romance and includes one scene where Bailey puts Bomer’s whole foot in his mouth. 

‍Interview with the Vampire (AMC+)

Unlike the 1994 film adaptation, which largely erased the queer elements of Anne Rice’s book, this AMC series, starring Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid as fanged bloodsuckers, leans hard into the gay vampires of it all. Forever young and beautiful, the pair share an over-100-year-old epic romance while still managing to keep things interesting in the bedroom. But never fear, after 100 years, they’ve also opened their relationship to new partners, although some don’t survive the night.

The L Word (Showtime) 

When it comes to queer television, there’s nothing quite as iconic as The L Word, Showtime’s groundbreaking drama about a group of lesbian and bisexual women living in West Hollywood. Running from 2004-2009, The L Word was one of the first shows by queer women to depict queer female sex. While it may not always be quite as horny as Heated Rivalry (although it certainly can be), the emotional connections here will leave you gasping for air just the same. 

Looking (HBO Max) 

No show thrust Grindr quite into the public zeitgeist quite as much as Looking did. The HBO series, which only ran for two seasons, followed a group of gay men navigating life in 2010s San Francisco. Dating, cruising, and of course Grindr, lead to plenty of hook-ups, but it’s Patrick’s (Jonathan Groff) relationship with Kevin (Russel Tovey) that yields some of the hottest scenes in the series. 

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) 

Before 2013, most Americans seemingly had little clue as to just how gay jail can be, but then came Orange Is the New Black, a dramedy set in a women’s prison, where seemingly everyone was down to be a little fruity. The Netflix original series not only launched the careers of Uzo Aduba, Samira Wiley, and Danielle Brooks but also reminded the world that sex will find a way. People are gonna get off, even if they’re trapped in a 6x8-foot cell. 

Queer as Folk (UK) (Prime Video)

While there have been several iterations of Queer as Folk over the years, the original British version (which ran for only 10 episodes) is still the one to beat. Starring Aiden Gillen, Craig Kelly, and Charlie Hunnam, the show focused on gay life in Manchester in the late 90s, with plenty of gritty, pre-Grindr hookups taking place. You can easily polish this off in a weekend. 

Sex Education (Netflix) 

If you’ve ever had sex questions, Sex Education is here to answer them. The British teen comedy focuses on Otis (Asa Butterfield), a teen who becomes his school’s underground sex therapist in an attempt to woo his crush Maeve (Emma Mackey). The show tackles plenty of sexual topics, from douching and masturbation to asexuality and STIs, with plenty of sex scenes (scaling from so cringe you have to shut your eyes to so hot you need to rewind) along the way. 

Shameless (Netflix) 

‍Shameless, which follows the unruly antics of the Gallagher family on the South Side of Chicago, offers many things, but perhaps the best part of the show is “Gallavich,” an epic, slow-burning love story stretched over 11 seasons. Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) and Noel Fisher (Mickey Milkovich) don’t start as lovers, but by the time the show wrapped in 2021, their enduring (and extremely hot) romance had become a fan-favorite. Oh, and this show also includes gay prison sex.

On December 10, Human Rights Day, we’re reminded of a simple truth: every LGBTQ+ person, everywhere, is born with the same rights to health, equality, and safety as anyone else. These rights are inherent, universal, and grounded in the dignity we all share. 

While many LGBTQ+ people worldwide still encounter barriers—whether in accessing healthcare, forming families, or simply feeling safe in their daily lives—our communities continue to show extraordinary resilience. The power of connection has always been one of the strongest forces for protecting and advancing LGBTQ rights.

Grindr’s Role in Supporting Health, Equality, and Safety

It’s been a challenging year for our community, with long-fought progress toward healthcare access and human rights receding in many places. It reminds us that these gains are never guaranteed—and that advancing equality requires daily effort in every corner of the world, including here at home. Yet even in a year marked by difficulty, our communities continue doing what they’ve always done: building systems of care for one another. In 2025, a year that brought real challenges for LGBTQ+ people worldwide, communities still shared resources, created safer spaces, supported LGBTQ-owned initiatives, and helped each other navigate challenges with creativity and courage.

And with over 15 million users across nearly every country, Grindr’s global presence ensures that even in places where LGBTQ+ people may be isolated, underserved, or far from community hubs, they can still find companionship, information, and support.

Grindr is proud to be a platform where this spirit of connection thrives. Through the Grindr platform, our communities can: 

• Access health information and services through in-app links, including HIV self-testing resources.
• Use in-app safety features designed to help people connect with greater confidence.
• Stay informed through local partnerships, where trusted community-based organizations share relevant messages on sexual health, safety, and wellbeing.
• See their identities and journeys reflected through stories and content that bring visibility to diverse LGBTQ+ experiences. 

Beyond the app and through our social impact initiative, Grindr for Equality, we partner with more than 300 LGBTQ-led and serving nonprofits across dozens of countries, reaching communities in places where services are limited. Whether it’s supporting progress toward marriage equality or strengthening safety tools within the app, Grindr champions the rights and well-being of our global community every day.

Human Rights Start With Community

Human Rights Day is a reminder that the strength of our community has always come from connection—how we support one another, share knowledge, and create spaces where everyone can belong.

This Human Rights Day, Grindr celebrates the resilience, joy, creativity, and everyday care that define LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Whether you’re forming friendships, building relationships, accessing health resources, or simply finding a moment of rest, you’re part of a global network that looks out for one another.

What does it look like when millions of Grindr users spend a year lighting up the grid? You're looking at it. Welcome to Grindr Unwrapped 2025: a year where you logged on, acted out, and voted your way into making this our biggest report ever.

Let's talk numbers. 135 billion chats. 12.8 billion taps. Over 32,000 votes rolled in—tripling last year's count—on topics ranging from Lady Gaga to which city sends the most nudes. Democracy works when it's horny. And for our fifth year doing this, we can confidently say our users are showing no signs of slowing down. Don't stop 🥵.

Here are a few of our favorite 2025 stats:

1. Most Searched Profile Tag: Hung. (Some traditions refuse to die.)
2. Most Favorited Zodiac Sign: Scorpio. (Obsessive, secretive, and winning popularity contests—checks out.)
3. Country Sending the Most Nudes: Finland. (Nordic efficiency at its finest.)
4. Highest Percentage of Open Relationships: South Korea. (Multiple Seoul-mates welcome.)
5. Highest Percentage of Twinks: Switzerland. (Smooth as Swiss slopes in peak winter.)
6. Country Most Into Feet: Italy. (From head to toe, they know what they like.)
7. Most Hung Bottoms: France takes the crown, with the US and UK climbing into the top five after being MIA last year. (Roles are evolving in real time.)
8. Most Self-Proclaimed Daddies: USA. (We contain multitudes.)
9. Most Popular Song on Profiles: W.A.P. by Cardi B. (Bring a bucket and a mop.)
10. Top City to Roam To: Paris. (The grid stays international.)
11. Top Gaycation Destination: London. (God save the queens.)

And speaking of queens—let's talk pop culture.

This year, we also debuted new categories like "Mother-in-Training," "Press Tour of the Year," and "Wig of the Year," because the gay internet moves too fast for us to serve you the same categories twice. Here's who came out on top:

• Mother of the Year: Lady Gaga
• Mother-in-Training of the Year: Sabrina Carpenter
• Daddy of the Year: Pedro Pascal
• Hottest Man of the Year: Jonathan Bailey
• Girl Group of the Year: KATSEYE
• Album of the Year: Lady Gaga, Mayhem
• Best Bulge (Sponsored by Woodwork): Bad Bunny's Calvin Klein ad
• Porn Star of the Year: Joey Mills
• Gaymer of the Year: Dan and Phil
• Viral Sound Bite of the Year: Nothing beats a Jet2holiday
• Gay Gasp of the Year: Beyoncé winning Album of the Year at the Grammys. (Justice was served.)

And the numbers back the stanning: Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour had Grindr users tapping, messaging, and gassing up the grid, with app usage spiking nearly 7% on nights when she hit the stage. Mother knows best.

Hungry for more? Check out www.grindr.com/unwrapped for the full breakdown.

O Grindr acaba de lançar a primeira edição internacional do Grindr Unwrapped, e — obviamente — o Brasil era o único lugar caloroso, orgulhoso e gay o suficiente para esse debut. Lar da segunda maior base de usuários do Grindr no mundo e de uma das culturas queer mais vibrantes do planeta, o Brasil dita tendências LGBTQIA+ que reverberam das redes sociais às pistas de dança.

O Unwrapped deste ano mostra exatamente o que moveu a comunidade: os realities que todo mundo maratonou, os artistas que estremeceram os fandoms, as festas que definiram a temporada, os virais que incendiaram as redes e o caos icônico Coraaagy! que só o Brasil sabe entregar.

Para contar essa história completa, o Grindr Unwrapped Brasil misturou votos dentro do app, dados de engajamento e insights de comportamento — revelando não só o que os usuários amam, mas como eles se conectam, flertam e se expressam no Grindr. Das músicas mais usadas no perfil aos signos mais favoritados, passando pelas cidades que mais distribuem likes (e as que mais estão “procurando amigos”), os dados mostram como a cultura LGBTQIA+ brasileira move conversas online e offline.

Confira todos os resultados brasileiros abaixo — e visite nosso site para ver os destaques do Unwrapped global.

Horário mais ativo no Grindr Brasil

22h — o auge do “todo mundo online e planejando algo”.

Top músicas mais usadas em perfis no Brasil

• Vanish Into You – Lady Gaga
  
• 7 Rings – Ariana Grande
  
• Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
  
• Abracadabra – Lady Gaga
  
• Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
  

Signos mais favoritados do Brasil

• Escorpião
  
• Leão
  
• Virgem
  
• Touro
  
• Áries
  

Cidades que mais favoritam perfis no Grindr

• Porto Alegre
  
• São Paulo
  
• Vila Velha
  
• Recife
  
• Belo Horizonte
  

Cidades que mais marcam “Procurando: Amigos”

• São Paulo
  
• Rio de Janeiro
  
• Salvador
  
• Brasília
  
• Belo Horizonte

🏆 VENCEDORES

“Please Come to Brazil” (Artista mais desejado)

VENCEDORA: Beyoncé

Outros indicados:

• Rihanna
  
• Adele
  
• Britney Spears
  
• Cher
  

Momento “Coraaagy!” do Ano

VENCEDOR: As lentes de contato da Maya Massafera

Outros indicados:

• Silas Malafaia surtando em trio elétrico
  
• Qualquer pauta LGBTQ+ no “Casos de Família”
  
• Carla Zambelli na Itália
  
• Todos os gongos da internet sobre a maternidade da Ludmilla
  

Melhor destino gay do Brasil

VENCEDOR: Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Outros indicados:

• São Paulo (SP)
  
• Salvador (BA)
  
• Recife (PE)
  
• Florianópolis (SC)
  

Reality show mais LGBTQ+ do ano

VENCEDOR: De Férias com o Ex

Outros indicados:

• Big Brother Brasil
  
• A Fazenda
  
• Jogo de Panelas
  
• Estrelas da Casa
  

Melhor representação LGBTQ+ em série ou TV

VENCEDORA: Beleza Fatal (HBO)

Outros indicados:

• Máscaras de Oxigênio Não Cairão Automaticamente (HBO)
  
• Super Drags (Netflix)
  
• Vale Tudo (Globo)
  
• Manhãs de Setembro (Prime Video)
  

Podcast mais gay do ano

VENCEDORA: Blogueirinha

Outros indicados:

• Bee40ona
  
• Santíssima Trindade das Perucas
  
• Põe na Roda
  
• Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda
  

Melhor bloco LGBTQ+ de 2025

VENCEDOR: Coruja (Salvador – BA)

Outros indicados:

• Minhoqueens (São Paulo – SP)
  
• Pipoca da Rainha (São Paulo – SP)
  
• Odara (Recife – PE)
  
• Ezatamentchy (São Paulo – SP)
  

Artista do ano que veio ao Brasil (2025)

VENCEDORA: Lady Gaga

Outros indicados:

• Katy Perry
  
• Mariah Carey
  
• Shawn Mendes
  
• Camila Cabello
  

Evento Off-Carnaval mais LGBTQ+

VENCEDOR: Ensaios da Anitta (itinerante)

Outros indicados:

• Halloween da Pabllo (itinerante)
  
• Love Noronha (Fernando de Noronha – PE)
  
• Fortal (Fortaleza – CE)
  
• Carnatal (Natal – RN)
  

Melhor recheio de sunga do ano

VENCEDOR: Amaury Lorenzo

Outros indicados:

• Cauã Reymond
  
• Os sungueiros do Grindr
  
• Xamã
  
• Marcelo Novaes

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

I didn’t think hooking up with a man in a wheelchair would make me nervous until I was on my way to his house. This past summer, I was chatting with a guy on Grindr, and it took me a minute to notice until after we exchanged more photos. I figured it didn’t have to change anything. But I started to get in my head, worrying if I might ask the wrong question or if anything needed to be done, well, differently.

Truthfully, I don’t know if I would have been as comfortable with the idea had I not developed a cyber crush on Carson Tueller, a gay man who has unveiled his life on the internet as a wheelchair user, turning his hardships into wisdom anyone can relate to. Luckily, my Grindr date and I had enough banter for me to feel at ease quickly. He wasn’t shy about taking charge of the situation while letting me take charge of him. I learned there was nothing to worry about when people acted with good intentions and trusted each other. 

Of course, life’s not always that simple, and I didn’t take notes. While Tueller didn’t respond to my interview request in time, I was able to ask beauty influencer Keith Parris and photographer Robert Coombs about the best ways to interact with gay men with disabilities—including them—online.

Gay Hookup Culture is More Nuanced for Disabled Men

Keith Parris said it’s absolutely fine if you call him disabled as long as the term doesn’t become a prelude to his existence. In other words, don’t make it a thing. At 26 years old, he’s had time to cope with being an amputee on his lower left leg, own it, write a book about it that went viral, and collaborate with multiple celebrities, including Rihanna. He feels comfortable enough in his skin to handle your interest or rejection. 

For example, Parris’ missing limb still lets him lead a relatively ordinary life compared to someone without leg mobility, that is until the clothes come off. “Grindr was my introduction to hooking up and having guys flirt with me, and even just like interacting with gay men. It opened up just a whole different world for me,” says Parris, echoing an experience felt by any gay man who grew up in the closet. “I try to show my leg up front after exchanging thirst traps and all that… and even in this day and age, I have to say a lot of guys just don’t vibe with me after they see my disability.”

The influencer doesn’t take people’s shortsighted limitations to heart, but he’d prefer you not specify that his leg is the problem. A simple “you’re not my type!” or ignoring his messages, like you would with anyone else, would suffice. “It’s not even just about me,” says Parris. There are still people out there who say things like ‘no Asians, no femmes, no fats.’ And that’s the biggest turn-off to see online. You’re not just rejecting whatever box I fit in, you’re rejecting an entire group of people!” 

Fighting Stigma with Confidence

Parris has found plenty of men who appreciate him leading with his disability as his strength, and he says he has made a point to open his mind about all preferences, including the age-old question of “top, bottom, or verse?” From his own experience, he believes there’s a lot of foreplay fun to be had between two bottoms, which has also made him embrace being verse bottom. 

Sexual preferences and gay subcultures can be extremely empowering, such as daddies and bears, which are terms that can give confidence to those struggling with aging or being heavier. But the line between personal preference and discrimination can become increasingly blurred. At what point does discarding or seeking someone based on physical appearance become prejudice? Some might say race. But if you ask Robert Coombs, not having sex with someone solely because of their disability is a form of discrimination, no matter if that makes you feel guilty. 

“I came out before becoming disabled due to a neck injury in college,” says Coombs, who remembers being far more terrified of telling his parents that he’s gay than disabled. Accessibility became important to him when he became a wheelchair user for many reasons, including struggling with arm mobility initially. He couldn’t type to flirt with cute men on the apps. “A few years later, when the iPhone 4s came out, with Siri and everything, that was groundbreaking,” he says. Grindr’s voice transcription enabled him to join gay hookup culture. 

A Lesson on Owning Who You Are

Although people want you to see their humanity before their disability, Coombs has made a name for himself by shamelessly owning it. He photographs self portraits showcasing what it means to be gay, sensual and disabled. Still, he says he could do without society’s trolls or being treated like a second class citizen. For example, he’ll find someone who has a blurb about being okay with sexy pictures—until he sends one. Then they get upset with him or say something nasty for sending what they explicitly gave everyone else permission to send. “One guy once told me I'd rather not f**k my vegetables, to which I replied, vegetables need love too,” says Coombs. “Being gay is to have a tough skin because of all the shit we go through and the same with having a disability.” 

More than anything, Coombs says when you’re interacting with a person with a disability, take them at their word… or profile, like you would anyone else. If it says they are top or verse, like him, that obviously means they can get hard. All injuries/disabilities impact people differently. And don’t ask them questions about their history or abilities unless you’re actually interested in meeting them! “I’ve always been a confident person, and when I wouldn’t disclose right away or take ownership of my disability, that actually felt a lot harder,” he says. “When I lead with it, the right people can find me.” And he says those experiences with men who aren’t afraid of intimacy or of being with someone who requires an extra level of care make it all worth it.

As for my own rendezvous with a wheelchair user, I learned that the saying “everyone is the same height laying down” is a lot more universal than just about height.

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.

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.