Grindr use triples at Sochi Olympics despite anti-gay laws

Grindr has become nearly three times as popular in Sochi since the Winter Olympics began, a spokesperson for the gay dating app has revealed.

When the games got underway last Friday (February 7), there were 185 active users on Grindr in Sochi, a representative for the hook-up tool told Vocativ. A week later, as of yesterday (February 14), there were some 541 active users.

The total number of Grindr users in Russia is around 55,000 despite the increasingly hostile atmosphere towards the country’s LGBT community.

In June 2013, Russia passed laws banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” and Channel 4 recently aired a shocking documentary called Hunted spotlighting anti-gay violence in the country.

Before the games began, Russian President Vladimir Putin said gays visiting Russia for the Sochi Olympics have nothing to worry about – provided they “leave children in peace”.

More on Sochi:

> Blondie’s Debbie Harry refuses Sochi gig over gay rights
> Olympics advert: ‘The games have always been a little bit gay’
> UN secretary-general condemns Russia over anti-gay laws