Ah, the Grammys—music’s biggest night of playing it safe. If there’s one thing the Recording Academy fears more than controversy, it’s what might happen if they deny [REDACTED] another gold for her ever-expanding trophy case.

Before you get too hyped, remember: the Academy has a nearly supernatural gift for disappointing #theculture, and we’re placing bets that they’ll keep the streak alive this year.

This year, we’re over it. We’re naming our picks for who should win.

Ready to cast your own votes? We’ve created a blank Grammys ballot so you can decide for yourself. Download it here and keep score at home.

Album of the Year: Charli XCX — Brat

Look no further than your fave straight coworker, who awkwardly Shazam’d “360” at a rave while pretending they’ve “always been into electronic.” It's moments like these that prove Charli’s total takeover: she didn't just soundtrack 2024—she became it.

Brat is the sound of pop music mainlining 2024’s contradictions—the “I’m baby” infantilization of adulthood, the grand “delulu is the solulu” cope of just about everything, and the art of crying in a club bathroom while your Instagram story hits 300 views. It wants to be screamed, snorted, and maybe thrown at someone’s head. Talking about it is like trying to describe a nightclub while you’re still drunk as hell in the bathroom. You can’t do it justice—you just know it changed you. Grammy winner or not, Brat won 2024.

Best Pop Solo Performance: Sabrina Carpenter — Espresso

Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso distills pop’s current formula to its purest, most addictive shot: a TikTok-engineered hook designed to hijack dopamine pathways and lyrics that mock influencer narcissism while embodying it. It’s pop as both commentary and complicity, a hyper-aware product of the machine that mocks the machine. And then there’s “That’s that me espresso”, a line that’s either the dumbest genius or the geniusest dumb thing ever uttered—a mantra for the ADHD generation that needs everything to be both sincere and a joke at the same time.

Record of the Year: Chappell Roan — Good Luck, Babe!

This year, there’s a radioactive pink elephant in the room, and her name is Chappell Roan. Good Luck, Babe! is a masterclass in shading the girl that broke your heart. With vocal acrobatics swinging between a Broadway diva mid-exorcism and Kate Bush on Adderall, Roan commands every second of the spotlight. And the Academy? They love a good narrative. Here's one: a song that clawed its way to a billion streams without a TikTok challenge, a celebrity collab, or a Pepsi-funded Super Bowl ad—just a chorus that cuts deep and a bridge that spells it out for you: Girl, you gay. Roan is queering the timeline, and it’s just the beginning.

Song of the Year: Kendrick Lamar — Not Like Us

Billboard No. 1. TikTok ubiquity. Political campaigns hijacking its hook. It’s the rare diss that’s bigger than the feud— a victory lap so ruthless, a fully grown-ass man lawyered up because he couldn’t handle the read. And yet, the discourse will fixate on decorum—as if hip-hop stars owe us grace, as if every lyric must pass some moral purity test. But it's all bunk—the Academy’s been handing trophies to breakup anthems and thinly veiled roasts since Taylor Swift weaponized a red lip. “Not Like Us” just cuts out the metaphor and hands you the knife.

Best New Artist: Chappell Roan

After being dropped by her label, Chappell Roan financed her own album and reasserted control over her career. However, 2024 showed us that fans often claim to value authenticity—up until it arrives in an inconvenient tone. Roan’s so-called “manic” public appearances, from her unfiltered rants and canceled shows to her refusal to perform at the White House, do not constitute a PR crisis so much as they illustrate an artist unwilling to commodify her psyche. In doing so, Chappell Roan’s done us all a service: made pop music feel dangerous again. Not dangerous in a way that’s scandalous, dangerous in a way that tells the truth. And if that’s not “Best New Artist” material, then maybe the category’s broken, too.

Best Pop Duo: Guess — Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish

If someone fed a 2004 iPod Nano through a woodchipper, Guess is what would come right out. Charli and Billie resurrected Y2K-era rave girl grit and contaminated it with 2024’s dystopian sheen. And while people are, of course, dissecting every bit of the sapphic undertones—whether it’s too calculated, whether Billie’s queerness feels “authentic” enough—none of that seems to matter. It’s messy and fun and weirdly intimate in a blasé, indifferent kind of way, like you’re catching a private joke between two people who know exactly how to stir things up without breaking a sweat.

Best Producer: Dan Nigro

Dan Nigro’s most recent outputs—Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts and Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—are clinics in producer-as-chameleon. With Rodrigo, he channeled teenage spite into scuffed pop-punk. With Roan, he inverted the approach: disco synths that glint like rhinestones on a thrift-store jacket, their artificial sheen offset by the earthy grain of her delivery, as if the Midwest itself were humming beneath the gloss. The through line? His work is a case study in how production can amplify authenticity by refusing to “fix” it. The Academy loves star-making hitmakers, and Nigro’s the man proving that sincerity is still pop’s most powerful currency.

When the Academy Awards announced its nominations for their 97th annual ceremony of glamor, movies, and industry self-congratulation, many people met the news of Jacques Audiard’s film Emilia Pérez netting 13 nods, the most for a non-English language movie and LGBTQ film up to this point, with a bit of surprise. The film — about the head of a drug cartel (Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans person to be nominated for a major acting award at the Oscars) who transitions, disappears from her family (Selena Gomez as wife) with the help of a lawyer (Zoe Saldana), and then reappears in their lives while starting a nonprofit organization to help the victims and families of cartel-related violence in Mexico — has encountered criticism from the trans community, from Mexican audiences, and those who find its use of AI software dubious.  

These are perfectly valid complaints to have about the movie, a musical that somehow features both bad music and no fun, despite the potential of its admittedly bonkers premise. A musical about a woman in nonprofits! That should be entertaining! Instead, it takes every moment of levity and stomps on it mercilessly into self-seriousness. 

But, basically, despite its various controversies — bad rep, AI, made by a mediocre French director — none of this, to me, is worth getting that angry about. The Oscars platformed a very self-serving and pretty terrible movie? Alert the presses!!! 

The Oscars are kind of fun and interesting when one considers their role in film and entertainment history and the various ripples it has throughout popular culture. Never forget: The Oscars—for all their glitz and intermittently interesting taste—are Hollywood’s annual exercise in self-mythology. They rewards narratives that flatter industry egos, not those that challenge power. I mean, the Oscars started out as a union-busting thing!!

So, as opposed to using too much energy fuming over something as mediocre, or at least disappointing, as Emilia Pérez, best to turn your attentions to the exceptional queer cinema that was released in 2024 and had little chance of ever getting Oscar’s attention. From wacky nostalgia to road trip noirs, and neoliberal lampoons and drag excellence, here are seven queer masterpieces from 2024. 

I Saw the TV Glow / Directed by Jane Schoebrun

Director and writer Jane Schoebrun is clearly borne of a particular time when the Internet wouldn’t become a tool of self-actualization until they were out of high school. They’d dive into its possibilities a little later, but in their immediate pre-pubescent adolescence, there was always the otherworldly allure to the shimmer of a television screen. In Schoenbrun’s masterful second feature – a substantial leg up after their first movie We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and proof that, with apparatus and resources in hand, their ideas and consideration of the hypnotic effect of digital technology as both way to become as well as way to avoid becoming – Justice Smith’s Owen is sent back into his memories of 1996 as an alienated teenager whose only source of solace was a cheesy tv show (a la Buffy) called The Pink Opaque, an imperfect conduit to making an equally adrift friend in Maddy (Jack Haven).

Schoebrun has crafted a complex, mesmeric mood piece, hyperaware of the comforts of nostalgia as well as their inherently limiting realities. More than that, I Saw the TV Glow perfectly captures the moment when what we consumed was no longer just pieces of aspirational material, but things we glommed onto ourselves to define who we are and what our values are. If you’re willing to get on board, Smith’s melancholic gaze into the camera will shatter your heart and open you up. 

Crossing / Directed by Levan Akin

Levan Akin was one of the first filmmakers of Georgian descent to make a movie that explored LGBTQ life in Georgia with his film And Then We Danced, about a young dancer in training who navigates his desire for another on the team, while also parsing through tradition and modern dance. Crossing offers an even deeper examination of the cultural, social, and political complications of being queer in Turkey, where an older teacher (Mzia Arabuli) travels to Istanbul in search of her niece, who was kicked out of the family home for her transness. With the help of a listless teen (Lucas Kankava), she links up with a lawyer for trans rights (Deniz Dumanlı), who aids in their quest. But the journey to finding the missing niece becomes a keen exercise in exploring memory, regret, and the (im)possibility of fixing the past, while trying to forge a new future. Shot with a breadth and appreciation of the streets of Istanbul while acknowledging the unfortunate realities of Turkey’s queer youth, Crossing is an exceptional look at trying to repair the brokenness in relationships and within oneself. 

The People’s Joker / Directed by Vera Drew

The People’s Joker, Vera Drew’s anarchic satirical auto-origin story, flies through styles, animations, green screens, artisan-made graphics, cheekily delivered exposition, and relentless pokes at Lorne Michaels, the creator and head honcho of the endlessly running Saturday Night Live. It is seriously unserious, a lampoon of all the comic book movie tropes you could possibly think of and then some, replete with villains (Mr. J, a Jared Leto styled trans masc Joker; Vera’s mother; Batman), henchpeople (The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Bob Odenkirk), and underground comedy clubs. This all-out assault of the senses and the furious passion with which it is delivered recalls the New Queer Cinema of the 1990s, a dynamite riposte to regressive and oppressive politics and, perhaps even more acutely, the lip service that followed the 2010s that materialized into not that much for trans people. Raucous and remorseless, The People’s Joker has a deep love for both the world that Drew ruthlessly lampoons, as well as the version of Gotham she creates for herself and her audience. 

Stress Positions / Directed by Theda Hammel 

When Theda Hammel is not making filthy quips on NYMPHOWARS, her successful podcast with fellow musician Macy Rodman, the writer and director is thinking about the unhinged reality that the inhabitants of her generation (solidly millennial people who have at least a vague recollection of where they were when 9/11 happened) have to navigate: the politics, the virtue signaling, the disillusionment, the just getting by tied up with ultimately the same kind of bourgeois aspirations the generation before had but, like this one, refused to admit it.

In Stress Positions, her feature debut, John Early’s Terry Goon welcomes his nephew Bahlul (Qaher Harhash) into his ex-husband’s brownstone to recover from a leg injury in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. While everyone around them, including Terry’s best friend Karla (Hammel), starts to gather around Bahlul as a new prized object onto which to project their fantasies, Terry goes on the defensive, perhaps ignoring his own tendency towards clamoring over his nephew selfishly. At once brutally hilarious and incisive in its critique of neoliberal malaise and self-congratulation, Stress Positions is one of the timeliest pieces of queer cinema to confront where queer politics went in the 21st century. 

She Is Conann / Directed by Bertrand Mandico

Filmmaker and music video maven Bertrand Mandico has a penchant for the phantasmagoric, his images bleary and drunk on style, color, and flaring lights. In his earlier film The Wild Boys, gender was as easy to disrupt as playing around on a penal colony. In She Is Conann, Mandico freely interprets the myth of Conan the Barbarian, which originated in a series of comic books in the early 1930s. While its many interpretations have reveled in the unrepentant violence of the character, Mandico makes the connection between cruelty, gender, and the politics of aesthetics itself.

As Conann travels through time and the audience comes in contact with the brutalist through different ages, eras, and aspect ratios (she’s played by Claire Duburcq, Christa Théret, Sandra Parfait, Agata Buzek, and Nathalie Richard), Mandico laments art’s parasitic relationship with commerce (or vice versa) and questions whether the age of art for art’s sake was dead on arrival. Florid and intoxicatingly weird, She Is Conann places queerness and the passage of time as not so much allies or enemies, but rivals pulsating with erotic charge. 

Solo / Directed by Sophie Dupuis

The lithe and lanky Théodore Pellerin has become an indie fixture over the last several years, appearing in films like Boy Erased, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Beau is Afraid, and the cancelled way before its time On Becoming a God in Central Florida. In Sophie Dupuis’ excellent film Solo, his gawky fairy-like presence takes center stage, as a burgeoning young drag queen in Montreal named Simon who finds himself in love and with a creative partner in Olivier (Félix Maritaud). But their relationship gradually takes a turn, with Olivier revealing a manipulative, nasty streak, forcing Simon to question his own aspirations and creative capabilities as Olivier starts to take credit for everything. A truly fresh perspective on queer relationships and the mercurial nature of inspiration and artistry, as well as the complexities of creative partnership, Solo lets Pellerin showcase his dramatic acumen as well as his elegant and languid movements on stage. 

Drive Away Dykes / Directed by Ethan Coen

Sure, the official release title of Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s bouncy and loony road trip comedy noir is Drive Away Dolls, but come on (it's titled onscreen as Henry James' Drive-Away Dykes). It’s all about the goofy lesbian camp, the Kiss Me Deadly-esque dildo, the cartoonish violence, and the biting jokes about pre-2000s queer women’s culture. With Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan at the wheel and suspicious cargo in the back of the vehicle, the pair make their way to Tallahassee, hitting up lesbian bars on the way while cops and criminals are tailing them and their mysterious package. A goofy, sardonic throwback to Russ Meyers, Coen and Cooke savor the flavors of the late ‘90s dyke culture that was, and still is, at risk of disappearing. The landscape of queer cinema, even and especially in cultural and political moments that place targets on the back of LGBTQ+ people, has always been rich, exciting, and often beyond Oscar’s recognition. Which leaves it up to audiences to discover and cherish the enthralling kinds of creativity and artistry that queer filmic expression can take, awards or no awards. 

Fresh off the final show of his Something to Give Each Other tour, Troye Sivan—Grindr’s newly crowned 2024 Babygirl of the Year—stumbles offstage with his dancers in tow: half-dressed, sweat-soaked, still buzzing from the adrenaline. But instead of winding down, they’re doubling down. Introducing Tap or Block: a rapid-fire showdown where Troye and crew settle the app’s most divisive questions.

It’s simple: If you love it, you tap. If it’s a hard pass, you block. But the topics aren’t your usual small talk. Troye and his six touring dancers—Mauro, Simone, Benjamin, Theo, Samuel, and Ainsley—tackle topics that split Grindr’s DMs wide open. We’re talking unshowered gym bodies, body hair dilemmas, and whether calling someone “dude” in the bedroom is good foreplay or a straight shot to blue balls. Who’s to say, dude?

“Dating and hookups can be complex, sexy, messy, intoxicating, and confusing,” Troye said in a statement to Grindr. “I love how Grindr and this campaign celebrate all of this with humor, honesty, and through community. It’s refreshing to show these conversations in an authentic way.”

Want to see where they draw the line? Don’t take our word for it.

‍Tap Or Block is out now. Troye’s game if you are.

Attention Tops,

You are hereby notified that, in observance of Opposite Day, your usual role of fearless top is temporarily suspended. For too long, you’ve coasted on vibes alone while bottoms are out here doing the Lord’s work. You think lube is a “suggestion”? That fiber is a cereal? Bless your clueless heart.

This is not a drill. This is karma. It’s high time your ego met a bidet, some prep work, and a healthy dose of accountability. Bend over, sweetheart, and get ready to feel the stretch of your own expectations.

You are strongly encouraged to reverse roles for the next 24 hours. Please review the following instructions carefully.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Duration: 24 hours of mandated role reversal.
• Monitoring: Your performance will be reviewed by a panel of Anonymous Bottoms.
• Consequences: Failure to comply will result in a revocation of your “Good Top Card™” and replacement with a laminated certificate declaring you a ”Pillow Princess Apprentice” (valid until you apologize to your nearest bottom).

PHYSICAL PREP

Put down that burrito and listen up. Topping is more than just showing up. Bottoms put in the work. You will now do the same.

Meal management

1. No spicy food, dairy, or 3 AM chicken nuggets 24 hours prior.
2. Eat fiber. No, “I had a salad once” doesn’t count.

Hydration

1. Drink water throughout the day. But don’t chug. No one wants sloshing around. You’re not a camel.
2. Coffee is banned 4-6 hours before getting into it. You know why.

Cleaning Out

If you’ve ever said “Hurry up in there,” Venmo your nearest bottom $50, then take a seat—it’s your turn to learn patience. Your three-wipe-and-pray method won’t cut it. You’ll see.

MENTAL PREP

You can have all the physical prep in the world, but if your head’s not in the game, it’ll show. Here’s how to get your mindset in order.

Anxiety

Worrying about every little detail is normal. Bottoms deal with these thoughts all the time, so welcome to their world.

Patience

If you’ve ever rushed a bottom by asking, “Are you done yet?” you now owe them another $50. The phrase you’re looking for is “Take your time.” You’ll learn this, too.

Vulnerability

Taking control might feel natural for you. Letting go? That’s an advanced art form. Surrendering control requires trust—and bottoms deserve more credit. Let’s see if you can handle it.

LUBRICATION AND LOGISTICS

Contrary to top folklore, that crusty bottle of lube under your sink won’t cut it. Time to go to the store (oh no, more work!) and pick up a new bottle. Got it? Great.

Initial Application

You’ll likely need a lot more than a few drops. Resist the urge to skimp—you’ll only be making your own situation worse. If you pause to ask “is this enough?”, assume the answer is no. It’s always no.

Reapplication Breaks

Lube doesn’t last forever. Interrupting the action to apply more might feel like a chore… because it is a chore bottoms often undertake. If you choose to skip a re-lube break, enjoy the friction burn. (We’re joking. Please don’t skip the re-lube.)

Clean-Up & Aftercare

Post-session hygiene is equally critical. If you thought your sole responsibility was wiping off sweat, guess again. Also, you’ll likely need a trip to the bathroom. Your colon’s not a lost & found, so make sure to drop off his strays.

COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS

You’ve spent ages rattling off directions (“Move here,” “Do that”). Now it’s your turn to learn how actual two-way communication works. We’ll speak slowly.

Consent

Ask. Then ask again. Then ask if they’re sure they’re sure. Welcome to the “enthusiastic yes” multiverse.

Feedback

When you’re on the receiving end, you can’t just grunt and hope they figure it out. You actually have to speak up—shocking, we know. And if your partner asks you that question, you don’t get to shrug. This is where you say “slower,” “faster,” or whatever other word you can manage.

Post-Action

Cuddling is mandatory. If you roll over, the Anonymous Bottoms panel will take note.

EVALUATION

When the 24-hour countdown wraps, the panel of Anonymous Bottoms will quietly assess whether you gave this role reversal the respect it deserves. From here on out, please remember:

• Bend over, literally and metaphorically, in the spirit of exploring new territory.
• Encourage your partner to steer the ship. A day of letting go might just prove how your usual captaincy has spared you many hidden challenges.
• Acknowledge that occasionally, the “harder” job belongs to the bottom, especially when it’s Opposite Day and the world expects you to get in—or let someone get in—your ring.

Enjoy your Opposite Day obligations. May you emerge with a brand-new perspective—and a deep humility about all that bottoms do, day in and day out, for your comfort.

And if, by the end of this, you’re still asking, “Why do people say the best bottoms make the best tops?”—you might need another 24 hours.

Signed,

The Opposite Day Council at Grindr

To Our Grindr Community,

Thank you for making Grindr an essential part of your daily life. Today, we’re unveiling our 2025 Product Roadmap, featuring six groundbreaking AI-driven products that promise to enhance your connections, simplify your travel planning, and align perfectly with the way you interact on Grindr—no matter where you are.

Below is a quick snapshot of what’s coming soon:

1. AI-Powered Chat Summaries – Quickly revisit the highlights of past chats without missing a beat.
2. A-List (Working Name) – Intelligent prompts that resurface your strongest connections and keep potential matches front and center.
3. For You – Curated daily profile recommendations that align with your preferences and intentions.
4. Discover Tab – A new way to explore and interact with hotties around the world—all from a single Discover tab.
5. Explore Heatmap (In Development) – A visual guide to the most vibrant gay neighborhoods worldwide, with privacy as a core principle.
6. Travel Pass – Tools to streamline trip planning, from local recommendations to finding new connections before you even land.

For a detailed look at all the features and what they mean for you, please visit our new 2025 Product Roadmap microsite.

Thank you for continuing to share your feedback and ideas with us. Together, we’re shaping Grindr into the ultimate Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next.

With appreciation for your continued loyalty to and engagement with Grindr,

George Arison, Chief Executive Officer

AJ Balance, Chief Product Officer

We’re inviting writers who can capture Grindr’s place in the world—whether it’s a comedic hookup debacle, a surprisingly sweet love story, or a cheeky peek at how we shape our identities through our phones. Think of Grindr as the global gayborhood in your pocket, and you’re reporting on its highs, lows, and everything in between.

What We’re After

We want bold, personal takes—stories that go beyond the usual “app success” or “awkward date” tropes. Lay out the good, the bad, and the just-plain-strange. Give us your lived experiences, the cultural moments you can wax poetic about, and the real connections (or near-misses) people find through Grindr.

We also want think pieces on culture, relationships, and sex that push the conversation forward. Whether you’re exploring generational divides in a piece like “No, I Don’t Have Snapchat: A Manifesto for Aging Gays” or dissecting modern hookup etiquette, we want your angle—bold, smart, and distinctly you.

Why Write for Us?‍

- Your Voice Matters: Raw honesty, a dash of humor, maybe even a little spice—bring it on.‍

- Room to Experiment: Think confessional essays, thoughtful commentary, or offbeat narratives.

- Fair Compensation: We pay based on factors like length, depth, and your experience level. Once we accept your pitch, we’ll talk details.

Ready to Pitch?

Check our submission link for the latest topics we’re focusing on. If none spark your interest, pitch something totally unexpected. As long as it’s true to you and ties back to Grindr’s cultural impact, we want to see it.

Intrigued? Send us your best.

Our Los Angeles community is facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing wildfires, and it’s important to know exactly where to turn for help. 

Below, you’ll find LA County’s official resources about shelter locations, transportation assistance, and mental health support. Please share these details with anyone who may need them. 

Evacuation Shelters

Local authorities have provided the following list of centers offering temporary shelter. Please confirm availability directly with the shelter as circumstances may change:

• Arcadia Community Center – 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007
• Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
• Pan Pacific Recreation Center – 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
• Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
• El Camino Real Charter High School – 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
• Pasadena Civic Center – 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
• Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

For additional updates on road closures, water alerts, and impacted county services, please visit: lacounty.gov/emergency

Transportation & Housing Assistance

• Lyft: Lyft has provided the code CAFIRERELIEF25 for up to 2 rides (value $25 each) for 500 riders, valid through 1/15 at 11:59 p.m.
• Uber: Uber has provided the code WILDFIRE25 in your wallet for a free ride up to $40
• Airbnb: In partnership with 211 LA, Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for residents who have been displaced. Complete this form to be notified of availability (please note that spaces are limited and completion does not guarantee a stay)
• Metro: Fare collection is currently suspended systemwide on buses and trains

Mental Health Support

It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed during times like these. If you need to speak with someone, please call the 24/7 Mental Health Helpline at (800) 854-7771.

Official LA County Updates

Stay connected with these official accounts for real-time information:

• Office of Emergency Management on X (formerly Twitter): @ReadyLACounty
• LA County Fire on X: @LACoFDPIO
• LA County Sheriff on X: @LASDHQ
• LA County on X: @CountyofLA

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

• Alert LA County Notification System: Register here
• Local Emergency Alert Systems in LA County: Find out more

A Note on Community Support & Personal Safety

We're proud to see members of our Grindr community step up to help one another by offering rides or a place to stay. While we encourage this generosity, please remember to keep safety in mind:

• Communicate with a trusted friend or family member about where you're going
• Arrange to meet in a public area first if you don't know the person well
• Follow your instincts: if something feels off, don't hesitate to say no

We understand how challenging this situation is, and we want you to know you're not alone. Please stay informed, prioritize your safety, and support one another during this difficult time. 

Stay safe and look out for each other.

— The Grindr Team

Grindr is more than a casual dating app. It’s a social, community, and lifestyle platform for the GBTQ+ community, the digital gayborhood in your pocket. Our users average more than an hour a day on the app chatting, building relationships, getting advice when traveling to a new city, and networking.

Critically, Grindr is only for adults aged 18 and over who agree to our Terms, Community Guidelines, and Privacy Policy. We do not want minors on the platform and go to great lengths to prevent them from posting a profile to use the app. Our team continuously evaluates and enhances our multi-prong strategy to monitor for, screen, block, and remove underage user profiles and communications by:

• Categorizing our app under the most age-restrictive settings in the Apple and Google app stores so that only devices permitted to access adults-only apps can download Grindr. Unlike virtually every other major social media and online dating service, you cannot create a Grindr account on the open web, only by downloading the app from major app stores.

• A mandatory age gate barring prospective users who enter a birth date indicating they’re younger than 18. Not only are they unable to create an account and publish a profile at the time, but their device is banned from creating a Grindr account until they turn 18.

• A robust and dedicated human content moderation and customer support team that reviews user profiles and communications and bans accounts at the device level if they are suspected to belong to minors or discuss topics related to minors. 

• AI and machine learning tools that review user-provided information to proactively identify and ban problematic accounts. 

• Providing users with easy-to-use reporting tools and encouraging them to report problematic user profiles, messages, or other content. Our users play an active role in reporting accounts that they suspect may belong to minors or anyone seeking minors, which are then reviewed by our moderation team. All underage reports are flagged for immediate attention.

• Cooperating with law enforcement and other relevant third parties to support investigations and help hold those who misuse our platform accountable. Our Trust & Safety team is trained to identify, escalate, and, where appropriate, report child endangerment scenarios to law enforcement in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  

• Partnerships with child protection organizations like Thorn to support the automatic identification, banning, and reporting of child sexual abuse material. We are members of and regularly work with online child safety groups, including the Tech Coalition and WeProtect Global Alliance, to combat the industry-wide challenge of minors accessing age-inappropriate apps and content.

Although there is currently no way to perfectly verify the age of every person seeking to use an adults-only online platform, and some tools raise significant privacy concerns, technology capabilities are constantly evolving, creating opportunities for new solutions to prevent minors from using platforms like Grindr. GenAI is creating many such opportunities. We have a team of engineers working on new AI-based tools to further improve our ability to identify and remove underage users. As these tools are built, we hope to be in a position to make them available to other platform operators as well. 

We at Grindr work hard to try to provide an accessible and safe platform for adult GBTQ+ people to build community. Our approach to keeping minors off the platform is central to that work. If you see or suspect any underage activity on Grindr, please report it immediately here or in the app by tapping the Ø icon in the upper-right corner of the screen → Report → Underage.

‍‍When you’re home for the holidays, figuring out where to hookup is half the battle. Bleachers? Parking lot? What the hell, sure. Your family and friends might imagine you snowed in with a cozy fire, but we know better. You didn’t come all this way just for eggnog and awkward small talk. Luckily, we’ve done the scouting for you.

Welcome to Grindr’s Top 10 Holiday Hookup Hotspots—proof that the place you grew out of might still have some charm after all. 

#10 — Behind the High-School Bleachers

The bleachers creak like your knees after too many…squats, but they still do the job. The cold air snaps at you, making you cling tighter, and each whispered laugh bounces around like a ghost of homecoming past. Sure, it’s freezing, but that just gives you an excuse to slide those hands further south.

#9 — The Back Row of Your Local Movie Theater

Forget the screen—the real show’s in the back row. You ditch the popcorn as your hookup’s hand creeps over, and suddenly every moan from the movie feels way too on-the-nose. The film’s forgettable, but this action will stay with you long after the credits roll.

#8 — The Motel Stairwell Under the Flickering “Vacancy” Sign

Nothing says “holiday cheer” like antifreeze fumes and stale smoke while you’re pinned against salty concrete steps. It’s a throwback to the days when you grabbed quick, unlikely hookups wherever you could. The vacancy sign’s flicker screams “This. Is. Cinema!”—and you’re absolutely loving your low-budget arthouse moment.

#7 — The Town Library’s Stacks

After hours, it’s dead quiet—just you, your hookup, and the faint hum of ancient fluorescents.

The old bulletin board’s covered in leftover flyer corners, and it’s cold enough to see your breath. Every rustle sounds loud as hell. Outside, maybe an off-duty librarian. Inside, just two adults trying not to knock over a stack of outdated brochures while groping under dim lights.

#6 — The Department Store Dressing Room

You came in for holiday slacks and ended up losing them altogether. What started as a quick errand now has your back pressed to the wall, your hookup’s mouth on yours. Coats fall, shirts wrinkle, and every knock at the door says you shouldn’t be doing this…but stopping just isn’t something that’s in stock.

#5 —A Friend’s Garage During Their Holiday Party

Inside, they’re wearing ugly sweaters and butchering carols. Out here, you’re pressing your hookup against a workbench, trying not to send tools clanging everywhere. The muffled party buzz leaks through the walls. Hard breathing, lip biting—the works. And you’re simply just too turned on to care that you just hit a box of rusty nails with your elbow.

#4 — The Church Attic After Midnight Mass

Everyone else stumbled home to sleep off the sermon. You two slipped upstairs into a dusty attic full of old holiday décor. One bare bulb, cobwebs galore, and you’re making out in a place nobody’s supposed to be. This is forbidden fruit, holiday edition. Jesus isn’t judging—that’s the big misconception. He’s a dirty little voyeur who’s enjoying the show.

#3 — The Backyard Porch

Most nights, this porch is just a porch. Tonight, it’s the center of the universe, and it’s going to rock your world. The neighbor’s light isn’t bright enough to ruin the mood, and nobody inside has a clue. It’s late, everyone’s inside dreaming of sugarplums or whatever, and you two are out here getting handsy on a porch step that’s seen better days. Old wood, cold air, warm hands. Hell yeah.

#2 — Knee-Deep in the Passenger Seat of Your Dad’s Parked Minivan

Is it casual now? No, it’s your dad’s minivan. But it's not just a minivan—it's a time machine, taking you back to the reckless, shameless hookups of teenage glory. The tight squeeze, the foggy windows, the plastic cupholder digging into your thigh… you’re just praying nobody walks by to see two grown adults going at it in a Ford Windstar. Hometown hookups might mean limited options, but in this van, the limit does not exist.

#1 — Your Old Bedroom

Out of all the places you could hook up, this one’s got it all—nostalgia, risk, forbidden excitement. Your bed still has a dent where you used to sleep, and you're about to add another. Risk? High. Turn-on? Higher. You’re both giggling like the stars of a coming-of-age film, half afraid someone’s gonna knock on the door. Congratulations, you’ve hit the ultimate holiday homecoming jackpot.

From navigating surrogacy or adoption to accessing fertility treatments, queer people often face more barriers—and bigger bills—than others. Grindr believes everyone should have the opportunity to create the family of their dreams, and the company is stepping up to help make that a reality for their employees. 

Powered by Carrot Fertility, Grindr employees with 18 months of tenure can access up to $300,000 over five years for family planning journeys including adoption, surrogacy, and fertility treatments. Employees will get expert guidance, access to top providers, and seamless expense management, making what can be a stressful process a whole lot easier. 

“Grindr is about relationships, which in many cases lead to love, to marriage, and, for some, to dreams of starting a family. In a recent survey across the U.S., we learned that roughly 25% of gay and bisexual men under age 35 want to have children and that cost was by far the biggest impediment to having kids. It is vital to advocate on behalf of our community by pushing to bring these costs down, which are uniquely high for gay men, whether by allowing insurance-covered IVF treatments to be accessible in cases of surrogacy or by making family formation expenses tax deductible, like other healthcare expenses,” said Grindr CEO, George Arison, who has been vocal on supporting access to family formation, and is also a father via surrogacy.

“Grindr can lead by example. Through our success as a business, we aim to make a world where the lives of our global community are free, equal and just. By excelling at creating products our users love and shareholders value simultaneously, we shape a narrative about what it means to be gay, and through that have an outsized impact on the world and the lives of millions. We hope that by being at the forefront of American business on family formation, we not only offer our employees a critical benefit, but show other companies what is possible and encourage them to do the same.”

More than 80% of expenses are covered per journey, with flexibility for larger expenses like surrogacy and adoption. 

In 2025, the company is transitioning to a new health plan, developed to offer especially generous IVF coverage. Unfortunately, currently those having children through surrogacy cannot legally access IVF via health insurance. Thus IVF coverage within a health plan is not useful if someone is seeking to pursue one of the most common ways of forming a family for gay men, who are the overwhelming majority of Grindr’s users and a plurality of Grindr’s employees. While the limitation to use of IVF coverage within health insurance for surrogacy will change in California in 2026, other costs of surrogacy, which run upwards of $200,000, will stay as non-tax deductible out of pocket expense, unlike almost all other healthcare expenses. The company will continue to offer coverage for IVF through its health insurance plans and the Carrot benefit will be available for employees who incur these additional out-of-pocket expenses.

“Navigating family-building journeys, whether you’re going through fertility treatments, surrogacy, or adoption, can be extremely challenging," said Tammy Sun, Carrot Fertility Founder and CEO. "Grindr is committed to supporting its workforce by making it simple for people to access and afford the care they need. We’re proud to partner with them to make this possible. It's further proof that small companies have the ability to make a big impact on their employees' lives with supportive benefits.”

For those in different stages of life, the new benefit will also cover hormonal healthcare, including menopause and low testosterone support. 

About Grindr Inc.

With more than 14.5 million monthly active users, Grindr has grown to become the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™, on a mission to make a world where the lives of our global community are free, equal, and just. Available in 190 countries and territories, Grindr is often the primary way for our users to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Since 2015 Grindr for Equality has advanced human rights, health, and safety for millions of LGBTQ+ people in partnership with organizations in every region of the world. Grindr has offices in West Hollywood, the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

About Carrot 

Carrot Fertility is the leading global fertility, family-building, and lifelong hormonal healthcare platform providing care for everyone, everywhere. Trusted by more than a thousand multinational employers, health plans, and health systems, Carrot's comprehensive clinical program delivers industry-leading cost savings for employers and award-winning experiences for millions of people worldwide. From maternity through menopause and pre-pregnancy through parenting, Carrot is dedicated to expanding access and improving outcomes. Carrot empowers members with compassionate, personalized, and inclusive support.

‍WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – Dec. 19, 2024 – Grindr, the world’s largest social network for the LGBTQ+ community, announced today that Roam—its feature enabling users to explore and connect with locals worldwide—will be available at no cost for 12 days this holiday season.

Launched earlier this year, Roam has already helped thousands of people explore new cities, plan trips, and connect with locals ahead of their arrival. Typically offered at for $5.99 per hour, this December, users can experience the freedom and excitement of Roam at no cost, sponsored by ViiV Healthcare. 

“The holiday season is all about connection,” said George Arison, CEO of Grindr. “By making Roam available at no charge, we’re giving our community the freedom to connect wherever they are—or wherever they’d like to be. We’re thrilled to partner with ViiV Healthcare to offer this benefit in the U.S., spreading extra joy and meaningful connections this holiday season.”

From December 22 to January 2, people on Grindr in the U.S. can experience Roam free of charge. To get started, open Grindr, navigate to the sidetray, tap “Roam,” select any destination, and activate the feature. Your profile will appear on the local grid in that area, letting others know you’re visiting virtually and ready to connect—whether you’re planning a trip, preparing to move, or simply curious about life in a different destination.

About Grindr Inc.

With more than 14.5 million monthly active users, Grindr (NYSE: GRND) has grown to become the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™, on a mission to make a world where the lives of our global community are free, equal, and just. Available in 190 countries and territories, Grindr is often the primary way for our users to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Since 2015 Grindr for Equality has advanced human rights, health, and safety for millions of LGBTQ+ people in partnership with organizations in every region of the world. Grindr has offices in West Hollywood, the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GSK (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. Shionogi became a ViiV shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com.

‍

You know that feeling of excitement when you’re about to visit a new city? The anticipation, the curiosity, the questions. Where’s the best place to go out? Who’s around? Why is everyone so hot?

And sometimes, you’re not even traveling—you’re just daydreaming. What’s life like in São Paulo? Who could I kiss in Tokyo?

That’s where Roam comes in. It’s your way to explore new places and meet people—whether you’re on the move or staying put.

What is Roam? At its core, Roam is about placing you exactly where you want to be, even if you’re not there yet.

Here’s how it works:

Choose Your Destination: Go global or stay local—it’s up to you. Roam works just as well for exploring far-off cities as it does for connecting with people in a nearby neighborhood.

Be Seen Locally: Roaming makes your profile visible to locals, giving you more chances to connect and chat.

Transparent Connection: A small “visiting” icon on your profile lets locals know you’re checking out the area and looking around.

Travel Dates: A simple way to let locals know when you’ll be in town, making it easier to plan meetups and start connecting before you arrive.

For just $5.99 an hour, it’s a simple, flexible way to make connections on your terms—without leaving home.

Why Use Roam?

Roam isn’t just about setting your profile somewhere new; it’s about giving you control. Think of it as your digital passport to anywhere you want to go.

Plan ahead with confidence.

Heading to a new city? Use Roam to set your profile there before you even arrive. Locals can tell you where to grab the best espresso martini or which dance floor is worth your time. By the time you get there, you’ll already have a list of go-to spots—or even someone to explore them with.

Make moving feel less overwhelming.

Relocating? Roam helps you find your people before you’ve even packed a single box. Set your profile in your new city, chat with locals, and get a feel for what’s ahead. It’s not just about breaking the ice—it’s about skipping the awkward phase altogether.

Explore without limits.

Not traveling? No problem. Roam lets you peek into life anywhere else. Curious about the nightlife in Madrid? Or what brunch culture looks like in Cape Town? Set your profile, strike up a conversation, and let your curiosity take the lead. You’re not scrolling—you’re traveling by chat.

Spice things up.

When your grid feels like leftovers for the third day in a row, it’s time to mix it up. Roam lets you shift your profile anywhere, meeting people who are not in your usual circle. It’s less about location and more about refreshing your connections.

How to Use Roam

Roam is easy to use and designed to fit into your routine. Here's how to get started:

1. Open the Sidetray: Begin by opening the Sidetray from your home screen.
2. Tap the Roam Button: Look for the Roam icon and give it a quick tap.
3. Enter Your Destination: Choose the city, town, or neighborhood you’d like to appear in, then tap “Show My Profile Here” to put yourself on the map.
4. Activate Roam: When you’re ready to connect, tap “Activate Roam” and start exploring who’s around and what’s happening.

Pro Tip: Add your arrival dates to your profile. It's a great way to let people know when you'll be in town and set up plans ahead of time.

Start Roaming

Roam is simple. It puts you where you want to be, whether that’s a neighborhood across the city or a community across the world. What happens next? That’s up to you.

So go ahead — Open Grindr and Try Roam Now.