Grindr to Host Zero Filter Awards to Celebrate "Queer Voices Who Don't Hold Back"

LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Grindr, the world's largest queer mobile social network, will host their very first award ceremony, the Zero Filter Awards, tonight, May 2 at 8:00 p.m. (PT) at the iconic Majestic Downtown in Los Angeles. Presented by BMW and the first-ever BMW X2, the award ceremony will honor several visionary LGBTQ creators, makers, activists and influencers who have had a positive impact in their communities and throughout the fashion, design, music and other industries.

Those interested in watching the award ceremony can tune in to the livestream starting at 8 p.m. Pacific time at www.intomore.com/zfa. 

"The Zero Filter Awards honor those in our LGBTQ community who are unapologetically themselves and whose voices influence and impact everyone they encounter," said Grindr's Associate Creative Director Erin Burrell. "From trailblazers in the music industry to activists who aren't afraid to speak their truths, we're honoring these members of the community for all they have accomplished, while staying unfiltered in who they are."

"We are thrilled to be able to work with such a prestigious brand as BMW and recognize this as a tremendous step forward for luxury brands who are eager to more authentically engage with LGBTQ consumers," said Grindr's Director of Marketing Kristin Moya,

Grindr's 2018 Zero Filter Award recipients include:

• Danez Smith - Forget everything you thought you knew about poetry because Danez is on a whole other tip. Smith's raw, unfiltered take on the black, queer, HIV-positive experience has made them a vital force in contemporary poetry, but their impact goes far beyond slam and literary circles—a viral video of Smith performing the scathing "Dear White America" has racked up more than 300k views on YouTube, underscoring the power of having zero filter and cementing Smith as an urgent and necessary cultural voice.
  
• Justin Tranter - Justin runs pop music and he's got the 2017 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year award to prove it. As a go-to songwriter for stars like Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez, Tranter has infiltrated airwaves around the world with a blitz of smart, stylish pop hits that have been unmistakably shaped by his queer identity. An activist and GLAAD board member committed to LGBTQ visibility in media, Tranter's advocacy on behalf of the community makes him the total pop package, having zero filter.
  
• Gavin Rayna Russom – Gavin has been a powerful force in electronic music ever since joining LCD Soundsystem in 2010. Gavin flexed new strength in 2017 when she came out to the world as a trans woman. Since then, Russom has been an outspoken voice in the fight for trans rights, speaking openly about her transition, condemning Trump's trans military ban and bringing new visibility to gender fluidity within the music industry as a sought-after DJ and producer, having zero filter.
  
• Monique Heart - When it comes to spilling tea and keeping it real, RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 queen Monique Heart always gives you the ooh ah sensation, honey. A fierce competitor and skilled shade artist, Monique never holds her tongue, and her priceless one-liners and perfectly timed reads have made her a drag force to be reckoned with. As comfortable killing comedy challenges as she is slaying the runway, Monique Heart will be snatching wigs and taking names as this year's outspoken ZFA host, having zero filter.
  
• Bamby Salcedo - Trans Latina activist Bamby Salcedo has dedicated her life to making the world a better, safer place for transgender women of color. A veteran organizer who received a "Longevity in the Movement" award from the National LGBTQ Task Force, Bamby's years on the front lines include founding the advocacy group TransLatin@ Coalition and bringing #TransLivesMatter all the way to the White House. Bamby is an open book when it comes to sharing her journey, and her commitment to speaking out in the face of violence and inequality makes her an enduring LGBTQ icon, having zero filter.

ABOUT GRINDR 

With over 3.3 million daily active users in every country in the world, Grindr is the largest LGBTQ mobile social network. Since its launch in 2009, Grindr has grown to become a fundamental part of users' daily lives globally. The company continues to expand their ecosystem to enable all users to connect to the world around them. Through INTO, a digital content channel for and by the LGBTQ community, various events, and experiential opportunities, Grindr is helping users engage across the spectrum.                                                                                                                                

Headquartered in West Hollywood, California, Grindr is powered by a team of over 100 employees. A Certified Transgender-Inclusive Business, Grindr encompasses a diverse and passionate family of makers, innovators, leaders, and most importantly, doers. Grindr employees are fueled by an endless curiosity, an ability to embrace change, a respectful and collaborative work environment, and a knack for crossing every finish line.

Grindr is proud to have been recognized by Fast Company as one of the ten "Most Innovative Social Media Companies in 2016" and by Forbes as a "model for corporate social responsibility."

Grindr is available on the App Store and Google Play.

SOURCE Grindr