Grindr Exec Tristan Pineiro on 'Grindr Pleasure Ball' – 'It Was a Joy!'

Last Thursday night, Oct. 24, saw the dawn of a new tradition with the advent of the inaugural Grinder Pleasure Ball, a Billy Porter and Frankie Sharp-hosted night of glamour, Georgian costumed elegance, and music sets DJed by Kevin Aviance and Kim Ann Foxman.

The by-invitation-only event lit up the autumnal night from 9 pm - 1 am, and was just the latest way in which Grindr has made the switch from users' phones to the analogue world. Not only that: The ball had an impact on the real world that reached far beyond the venue, Ideal Glass Studios in New York City, with the popular dating app dedicating $500 for each guest in attendance for the Grindr for Equality initiative, which is "dedicated to advancing health and human rights for Grindr users and the global LGBTQ+ community," as text at the initiative's webpage explains.

"Launched in 2015, Grindr for Equality leverages the unparalleled reach of the Grindr app, the world's foremost social networking platform for GBTQ+ individuals with more than 14M monthly users, 80% of whom are outside the U.S., to improve lives through partnerships with public health authorities, non-governmental organizations, and grassroots advocates," the Grindr for Equality page adds. "Grindr for Equality works to make a world where the lives of the LGBTQ+ community are equal, free, healthy, and just."

And what better way to push for equality than through pleasure – the pleasure of community, of celebration, and, of course, intimate connection?

EDGE interviewed Tristan Pineiro, Grindr's Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications, to get the inside scoop on the Pleasure Ball, hear who showed up, what the costumed finery was like, and what's behind Grindr's continuing emergence from the digital realm into the real world.

EDGE:Kevin Aviance and Kim Ann Foxman were in charge of the music. Are we talking a full-on DJ experience here?

Tony Pineiro:  Absolutely. The legendary Kevin Aviance kicked the night off getting everyone in the right mood and quickly filled the dancefloor, and Kim Ann Foxman didn't disappoint, keeping the dance floor packed 'til the lights came up. It was high energy and full of people enjoying Kevin and Kim's mixes throughout the evening. And the costumes seemed to bring the best out in people - I saw several friendly dance-offs during the course of the night. It was a joy.

EDGE: Billy Porter was an emcee. Who else showed up for the occasion?

Tony Pineiro: Aside from our hosts Billy Porter and Frankie Sharp, event attendees included Alexander Hankin, CT Hedden, Daniel K. Isaac, David Casavant, Drew Lausch, Linux, Eric Sedeno, Harrison Vail, Harry Hill, Laurence Milstein, Michael Musto, Mac Joseph, Michael Graceffa, Spencer Clark, Pieter Henket, Spencer Hoddeson, Spencer Thomas, The Zakar Twins, Tomas Matos, Twink and a Redhead, with a lineup of New York's most influential figures in LGBTQ+ nightlife and entertainment.

EDGE: The night featured some special attractions, including "naughty Georgian era-themed poetry inspired by Grindr chats" and "live portrait painting." What else did the revelers get up to?

Tony Pineiro: It was a lavish Georgian-era-inspired affair where seduction met celebration. Hosted in an opulent mansion space within the West Village, the main room featured a high-energy dance floor and DJs. The night was fueled by decadent midnight feasts and an array of custom cocktails.

There was also a more intimate experience in a connecting townhouse upstairs. The townhouse experience included "Gossip Whisperer" gentlemen in wigs and corsets (and very little else) indulging the guests in cheeky repartee, poetry inspired by Grindr chats from queer poet, Kay Gabriel, and live portraits by notable UK artist James Davison. Moreover, on behalf of every guest in attendance, Grindr provided a donation to Grindr For Equality, the company's social impact initiative advancing health and human rights for the global LGBTQ+ community.

EDGE: Grindr has been expanding from the online world to the "IRL" world for some time now, in diverse ways that range from offering fact-based health information on Mpox to the "Who's the Asshole" podcast, and now the inaugural Pleasure Ball.

Tony Pineiro: When Grindr initially launched 15 years ago, it focused on enabling casual encounters. Over time, our community has identified new uses for the app, ranging from long-term relationships and networking to local discovery and even travel advice. Today, the app is the connective tissue for the gay community all over the world. Our vision is for Grindr to become the global gayborhood, giving access to most things you'd find in a gayborhood to everyone, regardless of how close you may or may not be to a physical gayborhood - democratizing access (everything from sex to love, friendship, community, entertainment, wellness resources, travel...), and that includes outside of the app and in IRL too!

EDGE: What other "IRL" experiences or outreach does Grindr have in store?

Tony Pineiro: Stay tuned! 2025 will be a big year for Grindr ;)