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Because general acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community continues to hold strong in spite of backlash from some extremist groups, it’s not at all difficult to meet hot, single gay men. Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, whatever your interests or hobbies, finding a partner in the gay community is easier than it has ever been.
If you’re just getting started on exploring your sexual orientation, or want to expand your dating pool, our dating experts recommend these strategies for finding potential partners without running the risk of harassment or slurs.
1. Join a Gay Dating Site or App
Studies on dating app and site usage consistently show that members of the LGBTQ+ community use online dating platforms even more than straight singles. It should come as no surprise, then, that more and more sites and apps cater to the queer community, offering safe spaces to find new friends, casual dates, potential long-term partners, or one-night stands.
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match has a massive and extremely active gay user base, as over 1 million gay, bisexual, and curious men use the site to find dates and partners…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Although Match isn’t a dedicated gay dating platform, the app and site both have a lot to offer gay men seeking serious relationships. You won’t find a lot of singles on the site looking for a one-night stand or a hookup, but if your goal is a long-term relationship, Match can help you find Mr. Right.
Match brings singles together on the basis of compatibility, as well as each user’s preferences, lifestyle, and goals. The algorithm gets smarter over time, suggesting new matches based on how you respond to the suggested picks you receive. As a free Match user, you can browse profiles, add them to your favorites, and even send and receive messages with Top Picks, but if you want more flexibility to contact other Match users, you’ll need a premium membership.
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “Not only is EliteSingles exclusively for educated professionals, but it also has a diverse user base made up of millions of gay and bisexual men…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
Elite Singles plays host to top-classe singles of all sexual orientations, but gay men will find plenty of quality partners to choose from on the dating site. Although Elite Singles takes a somewhat barebones approach to features and tools, the site lets users set their preferences when it comes to factors like gender, age, and other traits you want in the partner of your dreams.
Instead of browsing endless loops of user profiles, Elite Singles takes a more targeted approach, sending each user daily, verified matches based on the preferences they set. Although you don’t have to do any legwork yourself, you can make the choice to explore more options via the “Have You Met” section, which shows user profiles that aren’t quite a perfect match for your stated preferences, but which the Elite Singles team thinks could still offer a promising relationship.
You can send smiles or add other users’ profiles to your favorites free of charge, but you’ll need a premium subscription to send and receive messages on the platform.
Relationships: Daters & Hookups
Match System: Search by age, zip code, more
Our Experts Say: “With more than 79 million users, MenNation is among the largest gay and bisexual dating and hookup sites in the world. A basic membership is 100% free, and it allows you to upload info and photos, browse, and chat…”
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Singles & Couples* |
95%*
5%*
|
780,000* | Start for Free |
MenNation is more than just a hookup site, although the judgment-free approach that the site takes means that there’s plenty of explicit content and a lot of casual sex seekers. If you’re looking for gay men, MenNation is one of the best places online to find them: The site welcomes men of any sexual orientation, as long as you’re interested in sex with other men.
Instead of a standard matchmaking model, MenNation provides a lot of different tools for the men on the site to connect. All users can post in the forums and participate in chats, and you can also browse profiles on an unlimited basis without having to pay a single fee.
There are even some ways to make contact one-on-one with other MenNation users without the need to buy the premium membership package. But the premium subscription comes with a lot of perks, including Buzzmode, which lets you remotely control a sex toy that a live cam performer is using.
2. Visit a Local Gay Bar or Club
Because the LGBTQ+ community has a long history of facing harassment and discrimination around the world, gay bars and clubs catering to the queer community are a popular destination for single gay men. These watering holes provide safety and security, making it easy to relax and chat comfortably with anyone you meet.
Gay bars and clubs also help you connect with the broader community in your area, so beyond meeting hot single gay men for dates or sex, you can both find and offer support, get advice, and forge new friendships. A local gay club or bar gives you the opportunity to be yourself without fear of harassment or having to deal with misunderstandings or “panic” from other men.
3. Attend Pride Events or Community Celebrations
Whether you’re ready to step out of the closet or not, Pride events and celebrations within the queer community are definitely a great way to meet plenty of hot, single gay men. These events are a beacon for every member of the LGBTQ+ community in a given area, and they’re generally open to the public (or at the very least, to allies), so you don’t have to Out yourself to participate, if you’re not ready to tell the world.
If you are an Out gay man, Pride events and queer community celebrations give you the opportunity to meet plenty of potential partners at once in a relaxed and casual atmosphere where there are no set expectations of the outcome. You can get someone’s phone number without having to feel the pressure to act on your interest right away. You can strike up conversations without any specific goal in mind, and you can blend into the crowd if you want to.
4. Sign Up for an Educational Class or Local Theater Workshop
It’s a bit of a stereotype that gay men love theater, but the stereotype exists for a reason. Local theaters are magnets for the gay community, in no small part because the arts — and especially theater arts — have always welcomed outcasts, odd ducks, misfits, and queer people. Signing up for a local theater workshop is a great way to meet new people, in general, and you’re more likely to find hot, single gay men at a theater workshop than at some other local events.
But if theater isn’t really your thing, you can also look into local educational events, classes, or festivals. Shared interests are important in a relationship, and if you find a class in your community that’s interesting to you, you’re more likely to meet someone there who you’ll be interested in too. If you’re a gay man interested in a particular topic or area of study, there’s a good chance there are other gay men in your area who are just as interested.
5. Volunteer at a Nonprofit or LGBTQ Advocacy Organization
Volunteering is an excellent way to meet new people and take an active role in your community, and members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to be more involved with helping vulnerable people than the average. Perhaps that’s because members of the queer community are more likely to experience discrimination, family hardships, and other life events that put them in a vulnerable place, but the fact remains that you’re likely to meet plenty of gay men through volunteering, regardless of the cause.
While you’re likely to find hot single gay men volunteering at just about any nonprofit organization from time to time, you’re far more likely to find members of the gay community working for LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations.
After all, charity starts at home, and helping the vulnerable members of the community that you have the most in common with is an obvious choice. Whether you want to find a date, or just want to make new connections in a safe space, volunteering is a good way to expand your social circle without the pressure of a more dating-specific venue.
FAQs: Can I Stay Safe While Finding Gay Dates Online?
There’s a certain amount of risk that comes with online dating, no matter who you are, so it’s wise to take precautions. Dating site users typically encounter two key problems: strictly online threats, like scammers and sexploitation, and in-person threats, like stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and battery.
The best way to protect yourself from online threats is to avoid giving out personal or sensitive information. Learn to spot the warning signs of a scammer in your inbox, and take reasonable precautions to avoid engaging with fake profiles.
If a potential match comes on way too strong from the beginning, or has profile pictures that are too good to be true, or a personal history that just doesn’t add up, it’s best to disengage and flag the profile. Sexploitation or blackmail-based scams are hard to avoid, but overall, taking an approach of not providing any information or photos that you wouldn’t want anyone else to see makes it harder to fall victim.
Take the time to get to know your date before you meet in person. Voice or video chat can give you a sense of who a person is before you commit to meeting them, and it serves to weed out people with hostile intentions. When you’re ready to go on that first date, make sure you meet your potential partner in a public place, rather than going to their home or inviting them to your place.
It can be dangerous out there for gay men, but keeping some safety tips in mind and practicing them consistently makes it a lot safer.
How Do I Attract a Hot Gay Man?
Everyone has their own preferences and types when it comes to a mate. As burlesque legend Dita Von Teese put it, “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there will always be someone who hates peaches.”
Fear not! You don’t have to be the most gorgeous man in the world to get with a hot gay man. There are some things that attractive people of all genders find appealing, and gay men are no exception: self-confidence goes a long way, for example. Being confident in yourself tends to set you apart from the pack because attractive men constantly have to deal with self-conscious admirers who don’t feel worthy.
Having a sense of style will also take you far when it comes to attracting the man you desire. You don’t have to wear designer clothes or buy bespoke suits. But you should have a personal sense of style and know at least a little bit about how to dress yourself to look your best.
Whether you’re a T-shirt-and-jeans guy or you’re all about starched collars and shiny oxfords, wear something that makes the most of your best features and you’ll attract the attention of any gay man you want.
What if I Want to Meet Gay Men for a Hookup?
Even though Gen Z seems to be driving “hookup culture” into an early grave, gay men who don’t want to settle down with a partner still have plenty of sites and apps to work with.
Adult Friend Finder is an old name in online hookup sites, with around 25.5 million active monthly visitors to prove that it’s still one of the most popular choices for singles looking for their next erotic adventure.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn’t about making friends, it’s about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
Although the site doesn’t cater specifically to gay men, you’ll find plenty of men on the platform looking for casual encounters with the same sex, as well as opportunities to explore your own sexual interests in a judgment-free space. You can be as open or as anonymous as you want on AFF, since you can pick and choose the information that you put in your profile.
Grindr is another obvious choice for gay men seeking a hookup, with millions of men around the world using the app to find casual sex and relationships. While the app isn’t just for hooking up, most Grindr users are definitely open to keeping things simple, and since the platform understands that not all members are comfortable being Out, you can keep your sex life discreet by limiting how much information you share. Premium membership also grants the ability to swipe on profiles outside of your area, as well as other perks.
You Can Find Hot, Single Gay Men Online or In Person
Whether you’re just out of a relationship or exploring your sexuality, there is no shortage of ways to find hot, single gay men online or in person. By expanding your social circle and trying new things, you won’t just meet new people — you’ll improve your overall quality of life, and get to know yourself better, too.
Dating sites and apps make it easy for introverted singles to connect in a low-pressure environment, while extroverts can soak up the vibe and maybe find a new interest or hobby to share with a new friend or partner.
Get out there and find the hot gay men you’re looking for!
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