Recession Woes Helping Gay Men Place a Higher Value on Love?
Filed by: Nina Smith
January 28, 2009 5:30 PM
The 
gay dating service myPartner.com issued this press release today:
As the nation's economic news worsens, and Valentine's Day approaches, many gay men in America are re-assessing the value of true love in their lives.
"We've been hearing from our clients across the country that the recession has helped them re-prioritize," said Patrick Perrine, a professional private matchmaker for gay men, and the founder and CEO of the gay dating service myPartner. "Suddenly it's clearer to everyone that material things can be temporary, but finding the love of your life is priceless."
This will be the first Valentine's Day since the passage of Proposition 8 in California last November. Many expect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to be more attuned to the ideas of love and marriage for that reason, and more inclined to view Valentine's Day as both a personal, as well as a political, milestone.
Of course, this "research" is followed up by an offer for new members to join between Feb 1st and Valentine's Day (Feb 14, 2009) and receive a free three-month Premium Membership (regularly $89.95 - coupon code LW4NM "Love Waits For No Man") as a way to encourage gay men everywhere to find love.
Marketing ploy? Or do you really think the recession is helping gay men place a higher value on love? We know that booze sales are up because the economy is down. Are gays buying up love too?
Photo credit: myPartner.com.
Share
Like what you read? Subscribe to The Bilerico Project by Email.
Want others to read it too? Use the buttons and links here to share this entry with others. (Move your cursor over a button or link to learn more about it.)
5 Comments
« Ted Haggard on Oprah live-blog | Home | Creating Change, Day 1: Racial and Economic Justice »
Total marketing ploy, of course. Plus the implication is that gay men are placing a higher value on love NOW, whereas we were all just shallow Manhunt sluts when the economy was better.
I'd even bet that hookup sites are getting more traffic now that economic gloom is setting in, just like booze sales going up.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with being a shallow Manhunt slut. Down with bourgeois normativity!
(Yes, it's the end of the work day and I'm getting a bit silly...)
Mike B. | January 28, 2009 6:01 PM
Reply to this comment
Reading too much into things. Some people have epiphanies, others do not.
I do find it reasonable that people would grow closer in times of crisis.
Lucrece | January 29, 2009 8:25 AM
Reply to this comment
Mike: Seeking carnal comfort in others appears to be as much of a trend as seeking love! Everyone just wants to feel better in a depressed economy.
Nina Smith | January 29, 2009 10:33 AM
Reply to this comment
I guess I am a manhunt slut. However, I do believe in romance, cuddling, hugging, kissing, holding hands and showing affection to another man I care about. The recession has nothing to do with that. Perhaps I should find another dating online service that emphasizes these. I gotta believe there are nice, compassionate guys like me looking for more than a typical "one and done" hookup. write me seanmagic1964@yahoo.com
timothy | January 29, 2009 10:36 AM
Reply to this comment
I wish people were becoming less materialistic! But I doubt it.
Alex Blaze | January 30, 2009 1:53 AM
Reply to this comment