It is not often that I read a story in the Financial Times that would be of interest or relevant to this blog so when I saw Grindr and Tinder: the disruptive influence of apps on gay bars in Disruption and Technology section I was intrigued enough to take a moment to read the article. It starts by sharing that more than seventy gay bars have closed over the past decade in London. A trend that wouldn’t be news to anyone who is a regular reader of this blog, because the same phenomenon has been occurring here in the United States too.
Dating Apps like Grindr and Tindr are often cited as contributing to the demise of gay bars. The article reinforces that supposition, writing that gay men tend to be more open to adopting new technologies. While I would agree that most of my gay friends are early adopters of technology, I do think that is a generalization. However, the article also cites the findings from a recent survey by Match.com that suggested 70% of gay relationships start online; a staggering figure which goes a long way in explaining why so many gay men say it is impossible to meet in social settings. Sergio and I met in the late 1990s on a dance floor at a (now closed) gay bar in Cambridge called Manray / Campus. I suppose the days of meeting someone from across the dancefloor must sound like a scene from an old movie to 20-something. If you’d like to read the full article on FT visit: Grindr and Tinder: the disruptive influence of apps on gay bars.
BosGuy 
I think a big problem is social media, but part of the gay bar’s demise can be also found in social acceptance of gays in the past 20 years. Gay bars used to be safe havens for people to explore their new community, catch up with old friends, meet new ones. Younger people now hang more with straight friends and/or go to gay bars with less frequency. Without a new generation of dedicated patrons, gay bars are withering away.
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I wanted to finish reading the Financial Times article before I commented here.
First, Growlr is the only app of its kind that I use. I formerly used Scuff, Hornet, and Grindr, but I have enjoyed greater success and fulfillment using Growlr, and although I have accounts with a few other Websites, such as DaddyDater.com and Squirt.org, my mainstay is Growlr.
Second, I rarely, if ever, go to bars, Gay or straight. Between the rejection I experienced after coming out of the closet, and having a mother who is an alcoholic, bars are not a place I frequent that often.
As for clubs, having been an introvert most of my life, I have rarely frequented clubs, again, Gay or straight, although I enjoyed Webster Hall in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan, to have gone there, several times, but I digress.
I shall say that I have attended various Bear-themed Events, and have looked at the Growlr Grid to see if there are any guys who seem approachable; sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.
As for social spaces, I tend to be more of a Gay community center/cafe/bookstore kind of guy.
As usual, BosGuy, this was a cool post on your part. Thank you for all you do, and Happy Holidays.
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Thanks for sharing your experiences. Truth be told I the demise of Boston’s LGBT Bookstores I miss more than anything else.
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I find that this is a sad commentary on our culture.
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