The results of Hinge’s annual LGBTQIA+ DATE Report are here
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES
Queer daters are looking to build connections in times of uncertainty, Hinge’s fourth annual LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E Report states. In these troubling times globally and socially, Hinge found that more LGBTQIA+ daters are looking for intentional communication and clarity when dating. 74% of LGBTQIA+ daters even said that uncertainty helps them understand what they’re looking for in a relationship.
Drawing insights from 31,000 Hinge daters’ experiences, this new report gives insight into the ways dating is changing in 2026. The report found that LGBTQIA+ daters are over 30% more likely than heterosexual daters to say uncertainty increases their need for reassurance in dating.
TikTok star Joy Julia Callwood told Hinge: “Uncertainty in the world has made me slow down and pay attention to the basics: communication, consistency, and whether someone actually follows through on what they say. Big romantic gestures are nice, but they don’t mean much if someone is unreliable. When everything around you feels unpredictable, the small signs that someone is steady and emotionally safe start to matter a lot more.”
The report also explored how LGBTQIA+ daters respond to PDA. Over half of LGBTQIA+ Hinge daters said PDA in an early relationship helps them feel secure. Nearly all lesbian daters (94%) surveyed chose holding hands as their preferred type of PDA.
There were also differences between millennial and Gen Z daters, with Gen Z 19% more likely to hesitate when dating someone new in fear of being too vulnerable. Over 80% of LGBTQIA+ daters prioritise values when it comes to relationships and three-quarters prefer to focus on slowly building a connection with someone rather than moving on a certain timeline.
As Moe Ari Brown, Hinge’s love & connection expert, explains: “For LGBTQIA+ daters today, it’s not the timeline that makes a relationship work. It’s the psychological safety, emotional readiness, and emotional intimacy built along the way that actually move people toward commitment.”
When it came to introducing new partners to friends, LGBTQIA+ daters were 18% more likely than heterosexual daters to say that they would introduce someone to their friends so that the other person could understand them better.
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
