Watch: This is what happens on Grindr at a right-wing conference
The Conservative Political Action Conference has come under fire for its approach to gay issues – but that didn’t dissuade Grindr users at the event.
CPAC – a right-wing conference in the US – took place in Maryland this weekend.
Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson – who claims that sexually transmitted infections are God’s punishment for gays – was honoured with the ‘Freedom of Speech’ award at the event
The conference had also been condemned by the Log Cabin Republicans LGB group, who claimed they were blocked from sponsoring the event.
However, the anti-gay rhetoric surrounding the event has seemingly done little to dissuade men attending from trying to hook up.
ReasonTV reporter Paul Detrick took to the app to speak to gay men at the conference.
He said: “CPAC has done all they can to push out gays officially, but we think they’re still here.”
One man, who did not wish his face to be shown, explained: “I am not comfortable putting myself out publicly yet, just to protect myself and others that are associated with me.
“I think there’s a lot more [gay people] than people would admit. There’s just a stigma, so most people keep that to themselves.”
A second man said: “On Grindr there are a lot of conservative men on there, and they are here. Sometimes what you see isn’t what’s actually going on.”
Another man who was using the app said: “Especially for conservatives to be able to win an election, they’re going to need to be able to get younger voters. In order to do that, they need to start being more socially liberal.”
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