XPost LGBT: Daily Beast "journalist" joins Grindr in Rio and is Shocked! Shocked I tell you! UPDATE

[Saviolo]

Last edited Thu Aug 11, 2016, 09:53 PM - Edit history (2)

I won't link to the original journalist's article, because it's the worst sort of tripe, but Nico Hines, a straight, married journalist in Rio for the Olympics, joined various gay hook-up apps and had a pearls-clutching moment about how to-the-point these men were about hooking up:

I expect you’ve heard the legend of the athletes’ village; tales abound that the Olympic Games is a hotbed of partying athletes, hookups, and sex, sex, sex.

Perhaps the question most people have is: How do the rest of us get an invite? Can an Average Joe join the bacchanalia?
After 60 minutes in the Olympic Village on Tuesday evening, I’m surprised to say that the answer is “yes.”

Armed with a range of dating and hookup apps—Bumble, Grindr, Jack’d, and Tinder—your distinctly non-Olympian correspondent had scored three dates in the first hour.

No prizes for guessing that Grindr proved more of an instant hookup success than Bumble or Tinder, which is owned by IAC, the parent company of The Daily Beast.

For the record, I didn’t lie to anyone or pretend to be someone I wasn’t—unless you count being on Grindr in the first place—since I’m straight, with a wife and child. I used my own picture (just of my face…) and confessed to being a journalist as soon as anyone asked who I was.

And he then proceeded to name sports, finish places, and rough descriptions of the athletes that pinged him back on Grindr, including indicating that some of them are from "a notoriously homophobic country."

They've since scrubbed the article of some of the more damning personal stats, but you know how the internet loves to forget things, right?

So, he may have outed athletes as gay from homophobic countries? Good job Mr. "Journalist." The article is basically content free, but there have been some incredible take-downs from around Twitter and the web. The Guyliner has a great blog about it here:
https://theguyliner.com/2016/08/11/time-to-cage-the-daily-beast-within/

Nico, like every good journalist, wanted to put himself at the heart of the story, so he uploaded his avi to a series of different apps, put out a few ‘stats’ and sat and waited. Whether it was a slow day at the Olympic village, or the Brazilian humidity had short-circuited everyone’s wires, I couldn’t possibly say, but soon our intrepid reporter was inundated with replies on Grindr, the most popular hookup app for gay men.

The story – its news angle so toothless it can barely manage soup and liquidised veg as it lies dying on its hospital bed of irrelevance – goes that gay men short on time are usually pretty direct when it comes to asking for sex. They ask for photos, share their stats and locations and cut straight to the chase. Nico claims that he was only ever honest with these guys in his replies – that he was not only a journalist but straight and married – but the act of putting your photo on an app like this is an understanding you are available. It is an invitation to be wooed, propositioned or demanded of; it is an acceptance of an invisible, unspoken code. “I am here for the same reason as you. I understand you. I want this too.”

Among the most malevolent aspects of this noxious, patronising horror show is Nico’s disrespect for these guys’ anonymity. He reels off guys’ stats, their countries of origin and even the sports they compete in, under the guise of showing the variety of guys available and looking for sex. This is not only cruel, it’s irresponsible. As I said, a lot of these sportsmen come from countries where any revelation of their sexuality could result in their lives being made difficult or, in some cases, snuffed altogether. Whether we like it or not, a great number of people – increasing if the current political climate is anything to go by – think homosexuality is wrong, or shameful, or disgusting. These guys aren’t just hiding their sexuality because they’re worried about product endorsements – they’re trying to stay safe. Nico shows no regard for this, however, he’s got 1,500 prurient words to file. And, pardon my hyperbole, but this could get someone killed. Sexuality isn’t a game; it is not content. It is our life.

The sad thing is it’s a missed opportunity for the Daily Beast, if not for Nico. While the author may like to tell himself his was a human interest story and not a patronising smirk, there was a genuine tale to be told here. The story of how the Olympics, and the availability of hookup apps, is allowing gay athletes from homophobic countries to express themselves and have sex could’ve been genuinely informative and enlightening. It could have held these countries to account, asked what “inclusive” events like the Olympics can do to reinforce themes of freedom from oppression, maybe even talked to these athletes about what it was like to hide who they really were – and it could’ve provided work to a gay journalist to tell it.

And Attitude Magazine UK went straight to the danger it placed the potentially closeted athletes in:
http://attitude.co.uk/daily-beast-potentially-outs-lgbt-athletes-in-controversial-olympic-grindr-hook-up-article/

Many were quick to point out the unjustifiably salacious – and potentially dangerous – nature of the article.

“These hookup apps exist to protect us from YOU,” wrote one user. “We have to hide, in plain sight, because you still don’t get it, or us.”

Another added: “Unless queer outing is now an Olympic sport, can we just all agree that @NicoHines piece is outright homophobia? Needs to be withdrawn.”

And this fellow's Twitter thread pulls no punches, and hits all of its targets:
https://twitter.com/meakoopa/status/763679800603082752

Once again, the LGBT space is being defined by straight people who are looking in from the outside. From the end of the Guyliner article above:

LGBT people don’t need straight people dipping their toe in to our sexuality and dutifully reporting back how weird and wonderful we are. We need them to make room – LOTS of fucking room – for us to tell our stories under our terms. We’re not here to entertain you, or amuse you; our life is not a cabaret act and you are not the peanut gallery. We’re here to tell you: you don’t get to speak for us anymore. You don’t get to expose us for your own pleasure, to out us before we’re ready, to control the conversation. You don’t get to show us off like an artefact, to be brought down from the top of the cupboard and dusted off whenever you remember we exist.

Move over. You’re getting it all wrong. We can drive from here.

*** Update: Daily Beast has taken the whole story down:

https://twitter.com/c_9/status/763909581210869760

[bluedye33139]

1. Putting their lives at risk

The original piece has a sneering and mocking tone that is extremely offensive.

[Saviolo]

2. And all too familiar

When coming from straight journalists about gay spaces.

[Blue_Tires]

3. I don't get it...

The news is that when people go to Rio (regardless of reason) they expect to have a good time??

Hell, the author would have gotten just as much action on Grindr/Tinder even if the Olympics wasn't in town...

[Saviolo]

4. The news appears to be

Hey, lookit that! This closeted gay athlete from a gay-unfriendly nation is on Grindr to hook up quietly while he's in a place with like-minded and open individuals. Also, here are his measurements, the sport he plays, and the country he's going home to!

It's just prurience masquerading as journalism, and it's dangerous, to boot. He could literally get someone killed with the information that had originally appeared in his article. There's no story here. He even said in his own opening para that everyone's heard about how the Olympic Village is all sex sex sex.

[tblue37]

5. And despite subsequent edits, it is certain that screenshots and downloads of the

original version still exist.

I hope he loses his job over this.

[Saviolo]

6. Slate has a no-nonsense response to it

Here: http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2016/08/11/the_daily_beast_s_olympics_grindr_stunt_is_dangerous_and_unethical.html

[tblue37]

7. Slate? (Thanks for the link, though). nt

[Saviolo]

8. Dur!

Thanks for the heads up. Corrected.

[renate]

14. how absolutely horrible. I'm literally feeling sick right now

These poor men--even in RIO, of all places, where they can finally breathe free... turns out they can't, because assholes are everywhere. What should have been a glorious experience for them (and I don't just mean the sex, of course, but the whole accomplishment of having made it to the Olympics) has been shat all over. Best case, in what should have been the best two weeks of their lives some of these men come home humiliated, worse case, their lives are now at risk.

This is beyond horrible. In this day and age, for an article to get published as if the idea of people hooking up is new and exciting... everyone involved should be utterly ashamed.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. This is a direct result of...wait for it...

HETEROSEXUAL PRIVILEGE.

Yes, Bobby and Janie Sue, heterosexual privilege is a real thing! Despite the constant conversations about other forms of privilege, this is one most people ignore or deny outright as existing. Once again, we see a majority making a spectacle of a minority in order to "better understand them" (at least that is often the excuse given). What this shows, as many have already explained, is the tone deafness many non-gay people have in regards to the real lives of the GBLT and the dangers we face. From minor things, like being able to find an appropriate anniversary card or holding hands in public without fear of having the ever-loving shit beat out of you, to losing one's hosing or job, all the way up to imprisonment and death in TEN countries.

It is this privilege which leads to events like losing one's home in Kentucky, like Pulse in Orlando, the hanging of a gay teen in Iran, the arrests of LGBT people in Uganda during a pride event and many, many more examples...just from the past two fucking months! Sadly, for most people, unless it is something overly horrific (Pulse), most can't even be bothered to register a minimum amount of disgust, let alone interest. Many even support rainbow colored icons and fancy themselves "allies", yet, they are far from it. They may not be foaming at the mouth homophobes or even the "lookie loo" types, such as the author of the piece, but they aren't engaged with our community in any meaningful way; in some cases, they even see our dignity, rights, and equality as "boutique issues" to be discussed and championed at their convenience. Any GLBT shopping for a pony?

Heterosexism, in which this author is engaged, is nothing more than the wicked, albeit less famous and less powerful, step-sibling of homophobia. It predominates our politics, our culture, and our laws. It is codified in the media and is a side-issue for many. However, for those of us who are GLBT, for those who are our real friends and allies, homophobia and heterosexism are two things never far from our minds. Yes, other forms of bigotry are important, and, yes, some may be more "in your face," but homophobia and heterosexism are very real and they cost us jobs, homes, families and in some instances, our very lives; from state sanctioned murder to suicides.

It is time for some people to wake the fuck up and realize GTLB people are important too!

[Saviolo]

11. Our old "friend" heteronormativity

And it doesn't seem to get any traction until you get patronizing hot takes from straight guys like this:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/09/watch-straight-guys-hold-hands-discover-homophobia-exists/

Thank you for validating the fact that homophobia exists, jackasses. Apparently homosexuals and trans people getting bashed and killed isn't evidence enough, no... we need two privileged straight dudes to walk down the street and get dirty looks.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Yup.

It is the ole, "If I didn't see it, it didn't happen" phenomena, something we see here quite a bit. My favorite line is how many of them think they are the ones who got us our rights, not us! It is, again, a majority taking credit for the work of the minority, then demanding homage and respect for something they had shit to do with it (or very little). It is why we have self-professed liberals and progressives demanding we put our lives and struggle on hold until a more convenient time, of which they will inform us when that is.

[Saviolo]

16. 100%

We are on the same page


I'm fortunate with where I live, in Toronto, Canada. Gay marriage has been legal here for years, now (and I am in fact gay married), and the Pride Parade is a huge money maker for the city, but I've still been called "faggot" on the street, and friends of mine have been bashed on the streets of this city.

So, it's really sick when Trump brings his concern trolling about Hillary supporting regimes that kill gays, while he and Pence are hoping to undo all of the protections that LGBTQ people in the USA have earned. I've got friends in the US who fear for their safety, especially LGBTQ POC, and it breaks my heart. Nothing I can do or say.

[Iggo]

10. "We’re not here to entertain you, or amuse you..."

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Engagement parties or bridal showers going to a gay bar!

[closeupready]

15. He's "straight" like the guys at gay bars "doing research for a term paper"

which was the cliché employed back in my day by men with closeted gay desires, whether those men were gay, bi, "bi-curious", "ambisexual", "asexual", "uncategorized", etc.

Not impressed. If he wants to continue making HIMSELF the story, he should set up his own damn media outlet. On second thought, with his narcissism, he'd make a great co-host with Megyn Kelly.

[Saviolo]

17. Yeah his assertion, "I'm straight, no really."

Then why even try to sign up with a gay hookup app? I mean, I really don't get it.

Aside from the long and storied history of straight people colonizing gay space in order to validate the abuses that LGBTQ people have suffered. It's like they won't believe that LGBTQ people are attacked, bashed, hurt, and killed unless they can occupy that space and see it for themselves directed at themselves.

Gross.

LGBTQ people do not need straight people to validate the abuses we've suffered, they are already valid. Can they please just accept that it happens and be allies instead of having to make it about their own experience of it?

[closeupready]

18. As I've aged, I'm understanding that the idealization of heterosexuality serves

a purpose in capitalist societies, and members who promote heterosexuality are rewarded for their loyalty - formally and informally (i.e., until recently, the thousands of rights which were given to married heterosexual couples to the exclusion of gay couples who'd wanted to marry and been denied that recognition by the state).

I'm going to leave that idea there for the moment, but yeah, we're on the same page.