Freddie Sayers, Editor-in-Chief of UnHerd, interviews George Arison, CEO of Grindr, tracing his remarkable journey from growing up in the Soviet Union to leading the world’s largest dating and hookup app for the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. Openly gay, Arison shares insights into his personal life with his partner and family, reflecting on how his background shapes his leadership at Grindr. The conversation dives into Grindr’s pivotal role in transforming the hookup and dating scene for gay men, its ongoing evolution, and its future direction as it adapts to the changing needs of its users, particularly as gay relationships increasingly embrace traditional aspirations like marriage, partnership, and family life.
The interview explores the shifting dynamics of gay culture, questioning whether gay men are becoming more conservative in their life goals, seeking settled lives with husbands and children, and how Grindr is responding to these trends. Arison and Sayers also tackle the evolving politics of gay men, contrasting the U.S. and UK landscapes, with a focus on the surprising absence of openly gay Republican elected officials despite strong LGBTQ+ representation within the broader party and voter base. With a humorous nod to the alleged Grindr app crash during the Milwaukee RNC convention—prompting former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to quip, “Grindr is for Republicans”—they discuss the pro-gay stance of Donald Trump’s administration, potential threats to LGBTQ+ healthcare, and the broader representation of gay men in Western politics.
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