Equality Wins: Grindr Rallies Users in Record-Setting 2012 Elections

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Nov 08, 2012, 08:00 ET

Landslide Victory for GLBT-Friendly Candidates and Initiatives Nationwide, Underscoring the Importance of Equality for Americans

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grindr for Equality created awareness about equality issues nationwide by delivering in-app messages directly to its users in an effort to generate noticeable change during the 2012 elections. In a historic election for equality, Grindr users and voters across the United States made their voices heard by voting on marriage equality in four states and electing openly gay and GLBT-friendly candidates who will fight for equality.

By reaching out to its 1.5 million users in the U.S., Grindr for Equality made a difference by sending approximately 135 in-app messages with specific calls to action that garnered more than 40,000 click-throughs. According to a post-election survey conducted by Grindr for Equality, 91 percent of users saw the in-app messages regarding equality issues, and more than a quarter of those users – hundreds of thousands of guys -- were compelled to take some action, such as volunteering, donating or signing petitions in favor of equality. The result was the passage of marriage equality acts in four states and openly gay and GLBT-friendly candidates scoring victories across the country.

"What we've just seen is a huge step forward for our community. This election proved that the American people care about equality and that voting and being politically active as gay men can yield real results. The years we've spent fighting for our rights are starting to pay off on a massive scale," said Joel Simkhai, CEO and Founder of Grindr. "I'm proud of the fact that Grindr was able to help mobilize key blocs and educate our tremendous user base on the important issue of voting for equality."

The nationwide survey, conducted on the morning of November 7 with approximately 12,000 respondents from all 50 states, showed that 87 percent of Grindr users voted on November 6, and 80 percent of those users voted to reelect President Barack Obama for another term. In addition, 94 percent of the candidates that Grindr for Equality was campaigning for won their respective seats, including Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin, who became the first openly gay person elected to the Senate.

In addition, Grindr for Equality created awareness about gay marriage initiatives in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. As a result, Maine, Maryland and Washington joined six other states –Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia – in passing gay marriage acts. Meanwhile, Minnesota voters rejected an amendment to their state's constitution that would have solidified a ban on gay marriage.

Grindr for Equality was used to rally Grindr's mobile user base of gay men into a nationwide force of informed citizens who voted with equality as their unified goal.

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About Grindr for Equality

Grindr for Equality was established by Grindr to raise awareness for GLBT issues and spur action across the globe.

Individuals and like-minded groups are encouraged to send an email with basic contact information and a brief description of how the issue relates to the GLBT community and how Grindr for Equality could provide assistance. Submissions can be sent via email to [email protected], or visit Grindr.com/Equality for additional information.

About Grindr

Launched in 2009, Grindr is the premier all-male geo-social network that uses location-based technologies to bring together a global community of more than 4.5 million users in 192 countries. Leveraging its geo-targeting software and massive global user base, Grindr has the capacity to provide assistance within the GLBT community and harness the power of its location-based network to contact people in specific geographic areas en masse. This has included participation in recent significant GLBT campaigns, such as the overturning of Proposition 8 and the recent passage of marriage equality in New York State. For more information about Grindr for Equality, please visit Grindr4Equality.com.

The Grindr app is available for free on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android and BlackBerry devices. For more information on the app, please visit Grindr.com or Grindr.com/Press.

SOURCE Grindr