Gaydar (website)

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This page is about the site, for the term as a generic intuition, see Gaydar

Gaydar is a worldwide, profile-based dating website for gay and bisexual men, women, and couples who are at least 18 years old. Although many of the individual profiles are publicly accessible on the Internet, to gain more functionality and interact with other users, a registration is required and a guest profile must be created.

It was founded by in 1999 by South Africans Gary Frisch and his partner Henry Badenhorst, after a friend complained that he was too busy to look for a new boyfriend.[1][2] It was launched in November 1999.

Profiles typically include standard information on age, location, physical features, sexual predilections, hobbies, and pastimes; profiles usually include a free description about their owner and what he or she seeks in a prospective partner. There is provision for profile owners to upload a number of photographs, typically of themselves—one as the 'main photo', several as 'secondary photos', and several more as 'private photos' that can be sent as attachments to private messages. Some of these photos are sexually explicit but only paying members may view these; images that are not sexually explicit may be viewed by both members and guests. All uploaded images are first screened by a staff member at gaydar for legality.

Registered users are able to browse through online lists of other users who are logged into the site at that time. They are able to send messages to each other and to participate in chat rooms, which, except for the Australian chat rooms, tend to be dominated by UK users. Users can upgrade from 'guest' to 'member' status by paying a subscription that allows access to all the site's functionality. Members may add more photos into an 'album' attached to their profile that are viewable by other members. Guests face other site restrictions, such as a daily limit of about 10 messages that they can send and 25 profiles that they can view, and a limit on number of chat rooms accessible at the same time. Guests cannot view archives of sent messages, and cannot use the friends list and some enhanced search options. About a third of users are members.

Gaydar and similar sites are widely regarded as having had a major impact on gay communities in many parts of the world. Gaydar allows users to display and receive more detailed and intimate information in many personal areas than is possible in live venues. Some people speculate that Gaydar may have played a part in shifting the emphasis from cruising grounds—both outdoors and in sex-on-premises venues—to the net^{[citation needed]}. Gaydar is popular in the UK and Australia and Ireland, and to a lesser extent in North America, continental Europe and South Africa.

Media attention was drawn in 2003 when the website was used by Labour Party MP Chris Bryant, and in 2006, when married Liberal Democrat leadership candidate Mark Oaten used it to find gay sexual partners.[3]

1 Criticisms
2 Death of co-founder
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Criticisms

A July 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study described sites including Gaydar as contributing to Sexually transmitted infection (STD) clusters^{[citation needed]}. Other critics allege that it facilitates sex addiction, underage sex, barebacking (anal intercourse without a condom), and drug use [4].

[edit] Death of co-founder

The chairman and co-founder of Gaydar, Gary Frisch died unexpectedly at his home in London on Saturday 11 February 2007. No-one is yet sure of the full circumstances but it was either an accident or suicide. Gary was 38 years old. No foul play is suspected and an inquest will open shortly.