Over the past year, a troubling movement called “Gays against PrEP” has been making waves on social media. It’s a movement fueled by a mix of misinformation, shame, and confusion that’s causing harm, especially with rising STI rates in our community. Some people are misinformed, while others are unintentionally shaming their own community, creating a stigma that harms everyone. The thing is, we don’t have to be stuck in this cycle of misinformation. There is a proven tool that can help prevent STIs called DoxyPEP. Yet, too many people still don’t know about it or how to access it. That’s why the recent move by popular gay dating platform Grindr to introduce DoxyPEP and condom profile tags is so important. It’s more than just awareness; it’s also about giving us the tools to take control of our sexual health in an easy visible way that invites others into the conversation.
Grindr has always been a very important platform in bringing the LGBTQ+ community together. But now, it’s stepping up its game by making it easier for users to share their safer sex practices. By adding DoxyPEP and condom profile tags, Grindr allows us to now make more informed choices. This new update comes at a very important moment, with LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week just around the corner and with political forces trying to limit our access this is the moment we all need to get loud about taking care of our sexual health.
There is still so much stigma surrounding sexual health within the LGBTQ+ community. Many of us have experienced the internalized shame that comes with being told our sexual lives are something to be hidden, or worse, shamed. The backlash against PrEP is a perfect example of how stigma can cloud our judgement and harm our collective well-being.
Grindr’s decision to make it easier to share your DoxyPEP and condom use is very revolutionary. It’s a small change that has a big impact. For the first time, we can start openly talking about our sexual health practices without fear of judgement or shame. This is about visibility, about saying, “Yes, I care about my health, and I’m going to do what I can to protect myself and others.” It’s about normalizing prevention and making it part of the everyday conversation.
DoxyPEP ( Doxycycline Post-exposure Prophylaxis) is an antibiotic that can be taken after possible exposure to certain STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. When taken within 72 hours of exposure, it can drastically reduce the risk of getting infected. Yet, despite how effective it is, awareness of the DoxyPEP has been surprisingly low.
As we all know, homophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment are still widespread, especially in politics and media. Conservative lawmakers are pushing to limit healthcare access, and misinformation continues to spread like wildfire. It’s up to us to protect our health and our well-being, and Grindr’s new features are a big step in that direction.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Grindr for Equality, it’s clear that this isn’t the end of the conversation but just the beginning. There is still so much work to be done, and we all must keep pushing to ensure that sexual health becomes part of the everyday conversation for the LGBTQ+ community.If you haven’t already, update your Grindr profile to include whether you’re using DoxyPEP or condoms. Share your health practices with others, and encourage those around you to do the same. The more we normalize these conversations, the easier it will be to for everyone to make informed choices and take charge of their health.
