Racist Grindr - privilidge or prference

[brnbk]

Since Grindr is a global company or at least is allowed to operate in other countries outside of the US and is not banned in Canada/Mexico and rest of the world, is it that hard to understand that given the health crisis that HIV AIDS is, it should have simultaneously rolled out similar campaigns in Canada and Mexico to show gay solidarity and respect the crisis that AIDs is ? Canadians and Mexicans are Americans too and  part of the same continent!

 

On 3/29/2023 at 6:00 PM, austin_submale said:

It may require different governmental approvals to do something like that in those countries. 

Given that gay marriage is legal in both Mexico and Canada  I doubt if the governments of either of these countries would have an opposition to AIDS at-home test kits for gays who choose to do so through a gay app, and turns out they don't. They already have such programs in place!!

On 3/29/2023 at 9:17 PM, BergenGuy said:

 part of a US marketing effort, or the tests haven't received approval outside the US.  

the Mexican state of new Mexico has such a program: [think before following links] https://betestednm.org/

and the University of Ottawa, Canada has a program, initially only for the province of Ontario but now across all of Canada, I believe:  ttps://getakit.ca/

 

On 3/29/2023 at 6:00 PM, austin_submale said:

legalities involved......probably some logistical .............. It seems unfair to smear their name with possibly false accusations if all the facts aren't known...

22 hours ago, ErosWired said:

Follow the money. There’s no such thing as a ‘free’ HIV kit.

 

So, it turns out this isn't about logistics, since both countries already have such programs in place in some state/provinces or all over the country.  One could make the point that this could be  about money since Grindr is not likely to make any money of data of  HIV poz Mexicans and perhaps Canadians but a market for such data exists in the United States. 

 

13 hours ago, ErikRaw said:

so maybe there is no need in those countries for a free test because it is already free?

12 hours ago, badubydo said:

(Which Canada btw, had a social healthcare system) so not sure why Grindr would need to distribute tests there. 

The main rationale behind at home test kits is not so much the cost of testing but to get people to get tested. There is still a lot of stigma out there, especially outside the United States and at-home test kits avoid having to see a nasty nurse or a non friendly one, who gives you an impression that you need to stop having gay sex if you want to avoid AIDS.  Unfortunately, that is the sad reality of many gays outside of the US. 

[brnbk]

22 hours ago, austin_submale said:

You were doing more than just asking questions.  You were making insinuations.  ..........but I think you maybe just have some axe to grind with Grindr.  As for what data is shared, there is probably a link somewhere on there with their privacy and data collection/sharing policies. .......

I don't need to defame a shameless company. Their recent act of being involved in the sale of data of gay catholic priests to right wing homophobes speaks a lot about what values they hold. 

 

13 hours ago, badubydo said:

Not sure how you equate Grindr distributing hiv tests kits in America, a multi-ethnic country as "racist." 

Its getting sad that everything we don't like is "fascism, or racism, or xenophobia" 

22 hours ago, austin_submale said:

Why would Grindr need to be involved if Canadian and Mexican citizens are already getting free health care?

Since Grindr operates in these jurisdictions: Canada, Mexico and the rests of the world, it needs to respect the gays that lives in these 'foreign' countries and try to act in good faith, which means that if it can arrange for HIV at-home test kits for them,  in a way that is being done, then it should; but then good faith or actions is not something that Grindr is know for. 

23 hours ago, thejadoman said:

so they do think about people in other countries, and the link to order an at home test kit is very clearly a partner with Grindr........

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://help.grindr.com/hc/en-us/articles/230933567-HIV-testing

22 hours ago, austin_submale said:

 but you seem bent on defaming Grindr.  Why?  What's your real beef with them? 

 

My problem with them is their lack of respect for people and the diverse people that make up the human race and the gay community.  I actually went on their website to take a look at their at discreet at-home text kit which turns out has 

[think before following links] https://together.takemehome.org/static/takemehome/ttmh/box_mock/TTMH_Box_Mock1x.png

JANE DOE

456 SUNSHINE LANE 

NEW YORK, NY, 110001

listed as the address. 

So my beef with them can be summed up as : its John Doe and not Jane Doe, Grindr!  Secondly, what is good for the goose is good for the gay gander.  Thus, stop any and all racist and discriminatory practices

 

[BergenGuy]

9 hours ago, brnbk said:

Given that gay marriage is legal in both Mexico and Canada  I doubt if the governments of either of these countries would have an opposition to AIDS at-home test kits for gays who choose to do so through a gay app, and turns out they don't. They already have such programs in place!!

It is opposition to the concept, it is legalities.  As I understand it, there is one at-home test approved in Canada.  If that same kit isn't also approved in the US or the manufacturer doesn't want to work with Grindr on this, then you seem expect Grindr to manage the logistics of two manufacturers and two different distribution systems, not to mention absorbing the entire cost if the Canadian manufacturer doesn't want to participate.  Given that the Canadian government and/or provinces already have programs in place for making these kits available for free, I think that one could forgive Grindr for concentrating on its largest market, one where at-home testing isn't so easy accessible to underserved populations.

Just because all three countries have same-sex marriage and all three have at-home testing doesn't mean that their medical regulatory regimes are aligned.

[badubydo]

12 hours ago, brnbk said:

Since Grindr is a global company or at least is allowed to operate in other countries outside of the US and is not banned in Canada/Mexico and rest of the world, is it that hard to understand that given the health crisis that HIV AIDS is, it should have simultaneously rolled out similar campaigns in Canada and Mexico to show gay solidarity and respect the crisis that AIDs is ? Canadians and Mexicans are Americans too and  part of the same continent!

 

 

Canadian is a NATIONALITY. So is American. 

 

Mexican is not. 

 

They are countries that are part of the North American continent. But they are not part of the USA and have different laws and regulations in health and medicine. 

 

Again you insinuated Grindr is racist because they don't offer free testing kits in either of those countries without ever knowing why. 

 

And the fact that you are having an issue with a PRIVATE company because they aren't offering tests in other countries that have 'stigma" against gay men is fucking ludicrous. 

AIDS is prevalent in many countries. Should Grindr be handing out test kits to all countries as well? 

 

And because a box says Jane Doe not John Doe that makes Grindr racist? Come the fuck on

Edited March 31, 2023 by badubydo

[austin_submale]

Continued use of "racist" allegations against Grindr, when nothing race based about this has credibly been shown it discredits the whole argument.

The truth here is that all three of the countries mentioned are multi-racial.  I'd guess that Canada is even more white majority than the US, but both the US and Canada have significant Hispanic and black populations.

Grindr does not discriminate in the US based on race, so no racism exists.  They offer the kits to white, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc,  Reasons why they might not be able to offer these things in Canada or Mexico have been discussed.  Not offering services in other countries is not racism.  They don't offer kits to white people in Canada or Mexico either.  It isn't a racist policy.

[BergenGuy]

20 hours ago, brnbk said:

So my beef with them can be summed up as : its John Doe and not Jane Doe, Grindr!

Why is your beef with the use of "Jane Doe" on the sample packaging?  "Jane Doe" is a perfectly acceptable way of indicating anonymity.  Since you're nitpicking, I'm surprised that you didn't complain about the fact that there's no Sunshine Lane in zip code 10001.  That must signal some sort of -ism on Grindr's part.

[ErosWired]

On 3/31/2023 at 10:43 AM, badubydo said:

Canadian is a NATIONALITY. So is American. 

 

Mexican is not. 

?

A citizen of Canada is a Canadian. A citizen of the United States of America is an American. A citizen of Mexico is a Mexican. They are all indicators of nationality.

An argument might be made that all three, as inhabitants of the North American continent, are americans, but that’s little a, not capital A.

[brnbk]

On 3/31/2023 at 8:52 AM, BergenGuy said:

 I think that one could forgive Grindr for concentrating on its largest market, one where at-home testing isn't so easy accessible to underserved populations.

No, it is not  forgivable because there are lots of underserved populations in Canada and Mexico: folks who didn't immigrate from Europe like Native Americans (who never immigrated from anywhere else!), Immigrants of west and south Asian descent in Canada to name a few. In a story that sounds like one of the late 50s and 70s  US, a serial killer Bruce McArthur used Toronto's Gay Village as a hunting ground for victims almost all of whom where of Asian descent and the police refused to intervene or investigate inspite several clues and request by the friends and families of the victims, until the gay serial killer targeted a white man. In most of the Americas, the native American race after the arrival of the whites mainly the Spanish and the Anglo Saxons  have been reduced to servitude and hardly get any services or even a place in the line!

These population groups would definitely benefit from a at home-test kit.  Sadly, being closeted seems to make guys more horny or adventurous and I bet people who are not Out, are having more hookups and breeding sessions than those in gay marriages. Given that these non European groups don't have Equal Access - the native Americans to health care and the Asian immigrants to HIV testing sites that are culturally sensitive, the need for at home Aids test kits is greater in these populations!

 

On 3/31/2023 at 8:52 AM, BergenGuy said:

On 3/31/2023 at 11:49 AM, austin_submale said:

Reasons why they might not be able to offer these things in Canada or Mexico have been discussed. 

it is legalities..... If that same kit isn't also approved in the US or the manufacturer doesn't want to work with Grindr on this, then you seem expect Grindr to manage the logistics of two manufacturers and two different distribution systems, not to mention absorbing the entire cost if the Canadian manufacturer doesn't want to participate. 

Just because all three countries have same-sex marriage and all three have at-home testing doesn't mean that their medical regulatory regimes are aligned.

The logistic and legalities arguments just don't stand! Mexico or Canada does not have an anti gay government or sodomy laws on the books like in Jamaica. While the three countries don't have medical regulatory regimes that are necessary aligned, they do have agreement — and at home test kits would not be an issue either in Canada or Mexico.  Mexico might have more logistical challenges than Canada, however, since there are already existing programs, Grindr would have had to just align itself with local gay health groups to distribute these kits.

If Grindr takes pains to make sure it is available and operating in these non US jurisdictions, then it needs to make sure it is doing  whatever it reasonably can to protect gay men's health and well being in those places. 

 

[BergenGuy]

5 minutes ago, brnbk said:

While the three countries don't have medical regulatory regimes that are necessary aligned, they do have agreement — and at home test kits would not be an issue either in Canada or Mexico.

Of course the kits could be an issue.  Grindr can't distribute an unapproved test kit in any country.  I've worked in the medical device industry.  You seem to dismiss logistical and legal issues as trivial.  I'm telling you that they're not.  Just because a test kit is approved in one country doesn't mean that it is approved in another.  It depends on whether the manufacturer decides that the time and expense for approvals in another market was worthwhile.

You're also ignoring that Grindr probably isn't undertaking this on its one.  The expense would be huge.  The source of financing may be limited to the US.

[Ken120]

As for Canada hiv tests are already paid via taxes as part of their Healthcare system.  So why would they need grindr to pay for what they already pay for themselves?

Edited April 1, 2023 by Ken120
Typo

[BergenGuy]

A quick search of the internet turned up several articles on the free HIV kits.  There's some interesting information, including that the fact that this is not Grindr's program.  It is a partner in the "Together TakeMeHome" campaign, but doesn't run it.  The program is funded by a $41 million grant from the CDC, which explains why it is limited to the US.

[think before following links] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/22/business/grindr-free-hiv-tests/index.html

[think before following links] https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/grindr-joins-major-public-health-push-distribute-free-home-hiv-tests-rcna75751

So, in summary, Grindr isn't racist.

[BergenGuy]

2 hours ago, brnbk said:

If Grindr takes pains to make sure it is available and operating in these non US jurisdictions, then it needs to make sure it is doing  whatever it reasonably can to protect gay men's health and well being in those places. 

It turns out that this isn't Grindr's program (it is one partner among several in a bigger initiative) and the campaign is supported by a CDC grant, which would explain why it is limited to the US.

[think before following links] https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/grindr-joins-major-public-health-push-distribute-free-home-hiv-tests-rcna75751

 

[viking8x6]

58 minutes ago, BergenGuy said:

er, "...which would explain WHY it is limited to the US."

This site really needs an edit button.

It has an edit button. It's active for about 10 minutes after you make a post. You should have been able to edit your post by clicking on the "..." menu at the upper right corner and selecting "edit". If you don't see "edit" in that menu, use the report option to request that a moderator make the change for you.

[BergenGuy]

24 minutes ago, viking8x6 said:

It has an edit button.

Thanks!  I don't see that option under the "..." menu, but I might be noticing my mistakes more than 10 minutes later.

[ErosWired]

3 hours ago, brnbk said:

If Grindr takes pains to make sure it is available and operating in these non US jurisdictions, then it needs to make sure it is doing  whatever it reasonably can to protect gay men's health and well being in those places. 

Grindr is a social media app intended to facilitate hookups (in theory). Grindr is not a public health agency, or indeed an agency of any kind. It’s a business. Grindr is under no obligation to provide any service not expressly stipulated in its Terms of Service to its paid subscribers. If it has elected to participate in a program to promote sexual health, that is laudable, and it may even calculate that it has a sound business reason for doing so, but there is no requirement for it to do so for any group, and if it elects to do so for one group, it is under no obligation to do the same for all groups. Your statement about what Grindr needs to do is nothing more than a statement about what you want it to do. There’s a difference.