While it sounds magical to simply come across your soul mate in the grocery store of while going for a walk around the block, this isn’t usually how life works out. If you’re looking for love, you may have to put a little bit of effort into finding your other half. The ways that we meet people have changed quite a bit in recent years, and we’re no longer coming across people at bars or by going on a blind date. If you’re looking to take matters into your own hands to find a more serious relationship, there are a number of gay dating sites that you may want to try out. They’ll save you a lot of time when it comes to meeting someone that you can connect with on a very personal level. Many people have found long-lasting love through these sites and apps. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled some information that we think will help you while preventing you from wasting time with the wrong sites and wrong people.
What Are the Benefits of Gay Online Dating?
A lot of people are turning to the internet in order to find love these days. When you’re gay, you may find that it’s extremely challenging to meet people. Gay dating poses it’s own challenges, but there are plenty of benefits of gay dating online.
-Gay Dating Online is Easy
Not everyone is super comfortable talking to somebody new in-person for the first time. If you’ve just connected with someone and you’re not sure how you feel about them, you can spend some time in the comfort of your own home chatting with them without having to meet face-to-face. If the conversations progress and you are interested, you can set something up in-person when you feel the time is right. You can avoid wasting time on people that you just don’t click with.
As far as setting up a profile goes, the best gay dating sites and apps make it very easy for you to use them. All you need is a smart phone or computer, along with internet connection. After registering an account, you can spend a little bit of time sharing some photos and information about yourself. You can make your profile as extensive as you would like, or keep the information general for right now. Keep in mind, the more you share, the more connections you’re likely to make. Don’t forget to share what you’re looking for in a partner or relationship. This will help to sort out some of the people that aren’t looking for the same thing that you are.
-You Can Make More Connections through Gay Dating Online
If you think about it, you’re only likely to connect with a few people when you’re out at a club or bar. The chance of you making a last connection with someone in this situation is unlikely. When you’re dealing with a gay dating site or app, you have the ability to connect with people all over the U.S. or even all over the world. If you’re option to a long distance relationship or you would be willing to relocate at some point if things get serious, then online dating is the perfect option for your personal life.
-Gay Dating Online is Ultra Convenient
Even the busiest professionals can use the internet to find people to go on dates with or to simply chat with. You don’t have to waste night after night going to social gatherings in hopes of finding someone that you’re interested in. You can sit on your couch in the evening and look through profiles, or you can chat with people that you find interesting. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home until you’re ready to meet somebody in-person. You’re in charge of the times that you go on the app, and you control how much time you spend on there.
-Set the Pace of Your Dating Life and Relationships
Some people are looking to dive head first into a relationship, while other people are looking to take things slow. You can control the pace of your online gay dating life. You have no obligation to meet up with anybody, and you can stop talking to someone that makes you feel uncomfortable with them never even learning where you live or where you work. Some people really value their privacy, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
-Online Dating Works for Shy People
Not everybody is comfortable walking right up to someone that they think is cute or seems interesting. If you’re on the shy side, you may have missed a lot of gay dating opportunities by chickening out on approaching someone. It’s a lot easier to send someone a message than it is to walk up to them in a public venue. By the time you’ll meet up with that person in real life, you’ll know more about them that makes you feel comfortable with the situation.
What are the Rules of Gay Dating?
Dating can be a difficult situation, and being gay sometimes makes the process even more challenging. If you’re a member of the LGBT South Asian community, you likely have a set of challenges that you face when you’re trying to date. Luckily, you can avoid some of the biggest issues that people face in this situation if you know the unofficial rules of gay dating.
-Be Honest about Your Gay Dating Coming Out Situation
It’s very important that you’re straightforward about where you’re at with coming out. If you’re still very secretive about being gay, then this is something you need to be honest about. It would be very difficult for someone to date you if they were very out about their sexuality. From a different perspective, you could very well have a successful relationship with someone that is also not quite out of the closet yet. You want to avoid any kind of power struggle or disagreements.
-Share Expenses
If you’re going to be meeting people in-person after connecting online for gay dating intentions, you’ll need to establish a system regarding who’s paying. You’re dealing with a same-sex relationship, which is very different from the traditional scenario of a man paying for a woman on their first date (or future dates). It’s a good idea to share the expenses of a night out, and make it clear upfront that this is what will occur so you are both comfortable with what’s happening.
-Avoid Talking about Ex-Partners until Later On
If a relationship progresses, it’s likely that a conversation about past relationships is going to come up. After all, it’s important that you know the history of your partner. However, it’s best to wait a bit before you both start bringing up your exes. You don’t want to appear like you’re still bitter about a breakup or that you’re still focused on someone else. Definitely leave out information about your gay dating sex life.
-Be Honest about What You’re Looking for in a Relationship
Before you’ve even met, be honest with people about what you’re looking for. You can even include this information briefly in your profile. There’s nothing wrong with looking for a friendship that could potentially evolve into something more, but you don’t want to be leading someone on that thinks there’s the potential for something more. If you’re interested in a serious relationship that involves settling down, moving in together and maybe having children together, you want to avoid partnering up with someone for gay dating that doesn’t want the same things as you. It’s a lot easier to break things off early on rather than years down the road.
Are There Any Free Gay Dating Sites?
There are benefits of spending money on a reputable gay dating website or app, but there are also free options that you can select if you’re new to the online dating world. You might want to see what’s out there before you start signing up for accounts. Some of the free gay dating sites that are available on the internet include:
-Plentyofrainbows.com
You can register your gay or lesbian dating profile for free, and you’ll have instant access to over six million members. After you’ve filled out a profile, you’ll be matched with other potential partners using the sites matching system. It matches you with people that are at least 95 percent compatible with you. The site also provides you with online chats, messaging and video chats.
-OnlyWomen.com
You can connect with other women in your area if you’re a lesbian or are bisexual using the OnlyWomen.com website for gay dating. There is also an app available for Apple and android smart devices. The company is gay-owned and operated, so you know that the people running the show understand what you’re looking for in an online dating service.
The Most Reputable and Successful Gay Dating Websites and Apps
If you’re serious about finding a partner and starting a relationship using gay dating technology, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using one of the most reputable websites / apps available to you. This will ensure you’re making legitimate connections while maintaining your privacy. Let’s take a look at some of the best gay dating sites.
-eHarmony
eHarmony is a great site to use if you’re looking to make a connection with someone, since there is about the same amount of men on the site as there is women. This is an all-inclusive website that connects people who are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. Founded by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, eHarmony is one of the longest running and most reputable dating sites out there. There are currently over 66 million people on the website. You’re bound to find some matches among that massive pool! While it may be a bit pricey to someone that has never been part of the online dating community before, most people find the cost to be worth it. The site ensures that everyone on the site is seriously looking for love, rather than just a casual hookup. You can also utilize different special features as part of your membership. When you get started, expect to fill out a lengthy questionnaire, and then you’ll set up your profile, compatibility questions, etc.
The Pros of eHarmony
-The layout of the website is pretty clean and straightforward. It’s not hard to use, and you’ll find it easy to figure out how to make connections.
-This is a very credible dating option that many people have used over the years.
-The system of signing up is designed to be very intricate so you can make connections easily.
-The program is ad-free.
-Video dating is available for members of eHarmony.
The Cons of eHarmony
-Might be a little expensive to you, especially if this is the first gay dating website that you’re considering.
-If you choose a standard membership, you only have access to a basic set of features. Messaging is only available through the premium package.
-The process of registration can take some time, so don’t expect to be chatting with someone within five minutes of signing up.
-Friendfinder-x
Millions of people are using Friendfinder-x for casual relationships that don’t come with any kind of serious commitments. Though it’s not an exclusively gay dating website, there are plenty of gay and bisexual people that you can connect with. Depending on what you’re interested in, you might enjoy the special section of the site that allows explicit content. This can include anything from photos to videos.
The Pros of Friendfinder-x
-There is a Sex Academy section of the site that provides a variety of learning material regarding casual hookups, successful relationships and much more. You can even get pointers on how to give a good massage.
-The website maintains member’s privacy very well.
-You can try the site out free at first, but you’ll need to supply a credit card if you’re looking to proceed with connections.
-Many options are available for the LGBT community.
-You can create a very customized profile for yourself.
The Cons of Friendfinder-x
-This might not be the gay dating site for you if you’re looking for a more serious relationship. This is a site geared more towards casual relationships and hookups.
-Not everyone is comfortable with the erotic-nature of certain parts of the site.
-There currently is no app available for the site.
-BiCupid
Bi-curious and bisexual singles can head to BiCupid to make connections for dating, hook ups and much more. This is a very comfortable and welcoming environment, and there are a lot of unique features that you can take advantage of. There’s a section where people share advice and recommendations for first date ideas. There is even a section where people share tips on how to stay safe while dating online.
The Pros of BiCupid
-This is one of the leading gay dating and bisexual dating sites online right now.
-The setup is very easy to navigate.
-It’s easy to make lasting connections.
-There is a pretty equal mix of males and females on the site.
The Cons of BiCupid
-A lot of the gay dating content on BiCupid is unrestricted, so might not be comfortable on this site if you’re trying to stay away from sexually explicit content.
-The demographic of people looking for a serious relationship is relatively low compared to other sites.
-HER
HER was originally created in 2013 with the name Dattch, but it became HER in 2015. This is a lesbian-only gay dating app that strives to connect matches for long term relationships. It’s great if you’re looking for a relationship, but you can also use the site to find like minded friends. Signing up is really easy through your Facebook or Instagram account.
The Pros of HER
-This is a very inclusive and friendly dating app that welcomes lesbians, queers and bisexual women.
-Being women-only, you will eliminate having to sort through male-based profiles.
-The process of signing up is free, and the messaging platform is free as well.
-You can switch to incognito mode if you’re taking a break from the app or you want to increase your privacy.
-This is a very safe and secure gay dating app.
The Cons of HER
-You have to upgrade to a Premium account if you want to view profiles and descriptions, but it’s pretty inexpensive.
-HER is a dating app, but it also functions as a social media platform. You may find it difficult to sort through the different profiles because of this.
-There is no website, you have to use HER through the app platform.
-You have to use your social media account to sign in.
Safety Tips for Gay Dating Online
Even if you’re using one of the most secure and private gay online dating sites out there, it’s incredibly important that you take some additional steps to stay safe. Technology has made it easier than ever to connect with gay guys dating profiles and lesbian connections, but not everybody out there is who they claim to be. Luckily, you have the opportunity to get to know someone before you meet them, but you never know what they could be hiding. Be careful about what you’re sharing regarding your own information. Take the appropriate steps to ensure that you’re safe while trying to find love.
-Keep Your Personal Information Private
Even if you’ve made a few connections through your gay dating app or website, don’t share your personal information right away. Never give out your full name, phone number, address, etc. This isn’t information that you’ll share until you’re making a serious connection with someone and a good deal of time has gone by. Utilize a nickname on the app if possible.
-Be Wary of Photo Sharing
Your photo may be front and center on your profile, but you may have included a photo that’s a bit more private. If it comes time to share your photo with someone that you’re chatting with, make sure that they’re comfortable sharing their photo as well. Someone who is beating around the bush regarding sharing their information might be hiding something. It’s also a big red flag if that person doesn’t feel comfortable chatting and showing their face at some point. Always make sure that you’ve chatted on a video before you go out on a date. This will confirm that you’re about to meet up with the person you think you’re talking to.
-Meet in a Public Location
When you both decide that you’d like to meet in-person, make sure that you’re doing so in a public location. Don’t immediately invite someone to your home, and definitely don’t go right to theirs. Once you feel safe after a few dates, you can take your relations behind closed doors.
-Don’t Rush a Relationship
Don’t be afraid to take your time with a relationship. The person that you’re talking to should be comfortable with this. If they’re trying to rush you through the process of meeting, then this might not be the person for you to connect with anymore.
-Do Your Research
Don’t be afraid to do a little bit of digging on social media. After all, you’re simply trying to make sure that you’re talking to someone that is legitimate and safe. If you know a person’s name, you can try to scope out their social media accounts. You may even be able to find out information on them through their friend’s pages.
-Have a Plan If Things Go Wrong
If you set up a day and time to meet in person, make sure that you let someone know what you’re doing. Tell a close friend who you’re meeting up with, where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If the person you meet with is a bit suspicious of you feel unsafe during the meeting, have a friend on speed dial so they can come to your aid.
There are countless benefits associated with online dating, and using one of the best gay dating sites for relationships can help you fast track your love life. With the pandemic still preventing people from having a normal social life, finding people online to talk to and meet up with can be a game changer. It’s important that you use the right gay dating websites to meet the right people. This ensures you’ll meet like minded people that you can connect with on a real level. Don’t be frustrated if you don’t connect with the first person that you meet. It may take a little bit of time to get used to the site you’re using, and you’ll learn what connections are worth investing more time into.
