The dating app Grindr’s first-ever participation in events as part of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) weekend sparked mixed reactions. The party, held at a luxurious mansion in Georgetown, became one of the most talked-about topics after the main Saturday dinner was canceled due to an assassination attempt.
From a dating app to political lobbying
Grindr's event clearly demonstrated the service's transformation from a "edgy" dating app into a major technology corporation valued at $2.8 billion, seeking to build connections in political circles.
Grindr CEO George Arison, who describes himself as a conservative, and his chief lobbyist, Joe Hack (a former Republican Party official), used the evening to network with the Trump administration.
Among the distinguished guests was Nebraska Republican Senator Deb Fischer, who had previously voted against the Marriage Respect Act. Her presence confirmed that the purpose of the evening was indeed lobbying, specifically to promote age verification laws on social media, which Arison calls one of the company’s priorities.
"This isn't a queer party in Brooklyn"
Despite its eye-catching elements—an ice sculpture shaped like the Grindr logo, truffle ice cream with caviar, and rainbow gummy bears—the atmosphere of the event was a far cry from traditional LGBTQ celebrations.
One of the guests described the evening as "quite prim", noting that there were more heterosexual politicians and journalists in the audience than representatives of the gay community.
Among the guests were media personalities such as Don Lemon, Kaitlan Collins (CNN), and podcast hosts Pod Save America.
Guests were particularly outraged that the party ran out of alcohol just a few hours after it began. Obama’s former speechwriter, John Lovett, appeared on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* and sarcastically compared this incident to historical moments:
"Marsha P. Johnson threw a brick during the Stonewall riots, and now the gay community has run out of alcohol."
The surreal nature of the event was accentuated by the subdued red lighting and the absence of Hollywood stars, which, according to observers, reflects the strange nature of the current political era in Washington.
Thus, Grindr’s first attempt to make its mark in the world of big-time politics will be remembered not as a “bacchanalia,” but as an ambitious, albeit unconventional, corporate event.
This article was prepared based on material from the website lgbtqnation.com
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