Gay dating app cops backlash for banning HIV-positive guys
Image: DaddyBear. Image: DaddyBear.
A new dating app that connects sugar daddies with younger men is banning people who live with HIV, and it hasn’t been received well.
DaddyBear, the self-proclaimed “number one gay sugar-daddy dating app”, does not allow people who are positive to join, Pink News has reported.
The CEO of the site said, “No one would like to date people living with HIV unless he is living with it.
“Most gay sugar daddies are not living with HIV, so they wouldn’t want to bring home any unwanted souvenirs.”
A spokesperson for DaddyBear wrote, “If you are worried about meeting gay men who are living with HIV, then you can feel relieved with our app because we are trying our best to make sure all users you meet will be healthy and without HIV, starting from adding a feature that allows users to verify their health condition.”
Social media users have reacted with disgust to the app’s demonising of gay men living with HIV.
“Shame on DaddyBear,” tweeted one person.
“I’m guessing they’re completely oblivious to the fact that undetectable = untransmittable,” posted another.
https://twitter.com/MEGASheenpod/status/900689667800150018
And ppl scoffed @PMovingOnCICCEO when he said their was still so much stigma around #HIV dating. Shame on DaddyBearhttps://t.co/khk7Xdd9zw
— Pos Hugs (@PosHugs) August 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/kennylieske/status/901417536687886336
https://twitter.com/adamisaiagraham/status/900133017125101568
I’m not a “Daddy Bear” nor looking to meet a man much younger/older or the same age as myself (for starters I am now far too old, and proud of it!, to be attractive to anyone!!)
To read such a discriminatory piece of garbage makes me mad!
Why should we discriminate against HIV Positive men?
It is not as if anyone actually goes out there to get infected.
It is not as if members of our community, unless very, very mentally sick, go out with the intention of infecting anyone.
Yes, a few Heterosexual men have gone out and deliberately and knowingly tried to infect their female partners.
If I, or anyone else, wants to date someone who is HIV Positive why shouldn’t we?
So long as we know their health status and take the sensible precautions when/if sex is involved (And why should it not be?) we have nothing to fear.
This app should be taken down.
It should also be investigated by the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and unless the CEO can give valid reasons for his discriminatory behaviour he should be charged.
As a healthy, fit, reasonably successful self employed gay man living with HIV and at 47 likely part of the “daddy” demographic, I am incredulous and disturbed that such blatant HIV stigma and demonising is being perpetuated by what I can only assume is a gay owned business.
I get that gay men who are negative don’t want to get HIV and some don’t want to be with HIV positive guys but taking someone’s word for granted on a dating site is not going to save you. It is knowledge that will protect and nurture you. Appalling ignorance as demonstrated by that site does no good for anyone, well except the owner who is profiting on ignorance and bigotry.
Appalling app! Confirms that the bigotry and discrimination I have faced from many gay men constantly over 33 years is still alive and thriving. Shame on this CEO for prompting this type of discrimination.