Politics

Turkey Bans Grindr, App That Helps Gay, Bisexual Men Hook Up

Users already figuring out work arounds

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In Turkey, it just got harder to enjoy a good old-fashioned no-strings-attached hook-up—at least if you're a gay or bisexual man. Last month the Turkish government banned Grindr, the app that advertises itself as a way to "find gay, bi and curious guys near you" and had 125,000 users in the country.

If you try to access the app now—in the name of research, I tried—a message will appear stating that the Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TIB, by its Turkish acronym) has banned the site "as a protection measure." Protection, presumably, against men having sex with each other.