The queer community, unfortunately, has a love-hate relationship with dating apps. A majority of the people online are just seeking one-night stands, and although I am fine with that, it sometimes becomes difficult to come to terms with the reality that I am possibly never going to find a long-term companion through these apps.” It has been hard to find meaningful long-term relationships. “I have been shamed for so many things, starting from my body, my English accent, my dark complexion.
I did not go to the police because I did not want my sexuality revealed.”Īnand’s journey with dating apps has been fraught with bad experiences and disappointments.
I had to cough up a huge sum of money to get out of the ordeal. He snatched my phone and threatened to out me to all my friends and relatives. “I was physically and verbally abused by the man I was chatting with. He narrated a horrifying experience to this writer of financial extortion and blackmail, when he once used a dating app to meet another man for a hookup. He says the apps promote abuse and they lack sufficient security features to weed out impostors. For Anand, the main problem with dating apps has been that of safety. He has lived in three different cities and has used dating apps to find partners for hookups or to seek long-term relationships. I feel that there are now quite a few physical spaces for queer people to meet each other safely, at least in major urban centres.”Īnand, who is in his mid-30s, identifies as gay. Since I live in Bangalore, I have also met queer people organically in events like marathons and quizzes. I have always looked for people to have a good time with. “I don’t focus on anything specific when I use dating apps.
HOW DO I DATE IF THERE ARE NO GAY MEN NEAR ME SOFTWARE
Vikram, 25, a software engineer from Bangalore who identifies as bisexual, says that he uses dating apps for several purposes-to seek friendship, to go on romantic dates, for casual hookups, or sometimes even for something as simple as finding someone to go bowling with. Grindr is specifically catered to gay men.