They created the account together, intending to connect with other queer people in their small Midwestern city of Appleton, Wis. Smith, who’s 32, shares a profile with his partner. Lately, he’s questioning whether it’s worth keeping Grindr on his own phone. border to the racial dynamics in BDSM pornography. An assistant professor of ethnic studies at Lawrence University, Smith’s research frequently explores race, gender and sexuality in digital queer spaces - ranging from the experiences of gay dating app users along the southern U.S. Jesús Gregorio Smith spends more time thinking about Grindr, the gay social media app, than most of its 3.8 million daily users.