Tag: dating apps

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Scruff Bans Bikini Swimsuits & “Sexually Suggestive Embraces” From Profile Photos

Earlier this week, users of the popular gay dating app Scruff were greeted by a message from the company of a change in policy regarding profile pictures.

Titled, “Profile photo guidelines are changing,” the alert went on to state, “To comply with platform policies, photos in underwear, jockstraps or bikini style bathing suits are no longer permitted in profile photos.”

In a statement on the site’s support page, Scuff CEO Eric Silverberg wrote, “All gay and queer apps must enforce app store content policies or risk being removed from the app stores altogether, and this happened to SCRUFF earlier this year.”

“Had this removal been permanent, it would have been devastating to our company and our community,” he added.

Silverberg didn’t elaborate which App Store had temporarily removed his app.

“The primary profile photo may not show jockstraps, underwear, or bikini-style swimwear,” explained the CEO.

Also, profile photos that show “sexually suggestive embraces” might not “align with App Store guidelines.”

Additional guidelines include:

• No exposed genitals (not even a small, tiny part)

• No visible erections or visible outline of genitalia in clothes.

• No shower shots

• No shots of genitalia obscured by towels or hands

• No cropping of shots to make the crotch focal point of the photo

• No collages or compositions of multiple photos

The complete list of no-no’s regarding profile photos is posted here.

“Given that Scruff is a community that speaks openly and positively about sex, bodies, and intimacy, some feel that such policies are at odds with those values,” wrote Silverberg in closing. “Such criticism is not unfounded,”

“Scruff respects the concerns voiced by our community on this matter, and we encourage everyone to continue to hold us, and all tech companies, accountable for the content and conduct standards we enforce,” he added.

The CEO told Out that all profile photos will be “graded on a case-by-case basis.” He also noted that the app doesn’t require a public profile photo.

Scruff had apparently received a warning earlier this month by distributors of their app with a warning on the subject following the recent ban of adult content on Tumblr.

Here’s an example (pulled from Scruff’s own Instagram account) of what is NOT allowed as a profile photo now:

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Gay Dating Apps Weigh In On Grindr CEO’s Marriage Equality Debacle

Last week, the blog INTO, which is owned by Grindr, wrote that Chen had shared an article on his Facebook regarding Cher Wang, the CEO of HTC, who apparently supported anti-LGBTQ organizations in the recent public referendum on same-sex marriage in Taiwan.

Responding to commenters on the post, Chen apparently wrote, in part, “There are people who believe that marriage is a holy matrimony between a man and a woman.”

Many folks took his comment that “marriage is a holy matrimony between a man and a woman” as being anti-marriage equality.

INTO updated its report when Chen later issued a statement saying, in part, “The words I chose related to marriage between a man and a woman were meant to express my personal feelings about my own marriage to my wife – not to suggest that I am opposed to marriage equality.”

He went on to say that he has long considered himself “an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.”

“ I support gay marriage and I am proud that I can work for Grindr,” he added. “I apologize that my words did not clearly convey these feelings.”

Now, other gay dating app companies are chiming in on the subject.

CEO and co-founder of SCRUFF, Eric Silverberg, posted a video message expressing his concern that comments from the leaders of gay-centric businesses can have the power to set LGBTQ progress back in terms of equal rights and representation.

He began his message by stating up front that he is “unequivocally in favor of gay marriage.”

“When leaders in the gay community say these things, they disrespect the decades long work of marriage equality activists and give credibility to far-right politicians who are trying to roll back these rights.”

Silverberg also urged tech leaders to understand and further the moral agenda of the communities they serve.

“Let’s move our swipes and ‘likes’ to online communities led by people who stand behind their beliefs and actions, and who have a moral intuition that reflects our community,” he said in closing.

And dating app Jack’d posted a short video response via Instagram which shows Grindr’s recently announced ‘Kindr’ campaign, but it’s quickly overwhelmed by screen shots of the Chen/Grindr story.

Jack’d ends the message with the words “Love is Love.” Watch below.

A post shared by Jack’d (@jackdapp) on Nov 30, 2018 at 12:22pm PST

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Music Video: Christopher Sorensen “Afterglow”

The new music video from Christopher Sorensen, “Afterglow,” explores the dynamic between an 18-year-old teen and an older man who connect through a gay dating app. The video chronicles the first meeting of the pair at the older man’s home, complete with cocktails and a swim in his pool. Things do go the way of romance and there are follow-up encounters.

But when one night goes late, there are fireworks at home after what looks like a missed curfew. As his parents argue, the young man erupts in anger and goes looking for his older paramour, only to find a surprise. Sorensen’s reps told Towleroad that the storyline is “very personal to Christopher.” “His goal is to create a safe space for young gay men to talk about any experience where they have felt taken advantage of,” the statement continued. “Afterglow” is the first time Sorensen has included his own LGBT identity in his music. His 2015 music video, “Balloon,” addressed bullying. Any readers have a similar experience with dating apps? Let us know in the comments. Watch the video below.

(h/t Towleroad)

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Video: Dating While Asian

Model Kevin Kreider shares his experience of discrimination on dating apps because he's Asian

An actor and friend of mine shared this video on Facebook and it really struck me.

First of al,l because my friend and the man in the video, model Kevin Kreider, are both really good looking.

Kreider is straight, my friend is gay, but both encountered the same bias and discrimination in online dating – “No Asians.”

And this isn’t new. From early dating websites to hook up apps today, gay and straight, this is something folks see all the time.

No Asians. No Blacks. No fats. No femmes.

That’s what folks put in their online profiles.

Now, some might say, “Well, that’s their preference.”

But look at what you’re missing out on by putting that out there, up front. You’re missing a great guy whose hot like Kevin Kreider.

It’s important to note, as well, the sinister, negative effects these messages have over time on people.

“I remember growing up wanting to be white. I didn’t want to be Asian. But after all this, I realized I didn’t actually want to be white, I wanted to be treated like I was white.”

Imagine the toll that would take on your psyche over a lifetime.

As Kreider says, he began to abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with slow-growing depression over being constantly dismissed.

It’s a short video, but definitely worth a watch.

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Meet new Scruff cover guy Ross Milam

Ross Milum for Scruff
Ross Milum (image via Scruff)
Well hello new SCRUFF cover model Ross Milam.

Hailing from Portland, OR, Ross is both an accomplished athlete and scholar. He wrestled at the national level for his college team — of which he was the only openly gay member — and holds degrees in math and biology. Scruff clearly has good taste. Check out a few more pics of the new guy on the virtual block: Ross Milum for Scruff Ross Milum for Scruff