GAVIN ROACH [as told to Suz Tucker]:

For Gavin Roach Grindr was a revelation. However, like it usually tends to, the endless quest for instant gratification eventually steered into Addiction Territory. Confessions of a Grindr Addict is Gavin’s semi-autobiographical work inspired by his tumultuous relationship with the app that literally changed his life. In the one-man show he tries to answer the big existential question of modern times: Is the internet and social networking really making us less lonely? Gavin told us the story of how he became addicted to Grindr…

“I’m on Grindr all the time. Or at least I was.  Using Grindr you get the opportunity to talk with people all the time and you’re not just stuck with yourself.  If you’re lying awake at 2am there’s always someone to talk to. If you’re sitting at work bored you can jump on and just chat to someone about something light, something flirty – anything.  So after a while it really did consume my world.”

“Part of the inspiration for the show is the fact that we’re all searching to connect with someone on a number of levels but on Grindr can blur the line because a lot of it’s appeal is that you can be very blunt and evolve into a purely physical connection.”

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE @ PTV

By Oscar Raymundo
Instagram has become the accessory du jour for social media trendsetters, and this week Android users got to experience what Instagram is all about. For gay men it’s a full-on display of the self. Felice Picano once referred to us as “looking-glass victims” — and I’m pretty sure that was way before the advent of GuyswithiPhones.com. Now those rampant mirror pics first enabled by the iPhone camera have been filtered prettier and made shareable by Instagram. In a sense, the app has become our new full-length mirror — and a window for the rest of the world to catch a glimpse of us in our undies.

“I think gay men for the most part crave attention. Instagram is an easy way to get as much attention as you want,” said Cody, recently crowned TheSword.com’s number-one hottie on Instagram.

Whereas models, actors, and pornographers get away with shamelessly promoting their looks (being vain is kind of in the job description), Instagram is making ponies out of the rest of us. And the community is happy to ride along.

“It’s quite ridiculous, actually, but there’s something to be said about getting floods of compliments when posting photos,” said Mathew, a New Yorker on Instagram known for his “dirty yet artful” photos.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE @ HUFFPOST GAY VOICES!