Cops Sting and Shame Gay Men on Grindr
Traditional naming and shaming goes virtual
Think gay sex stings are a thing of the past?
Do you assume since Stonewall or Lawrence v. Texas, that cops in the United States leave private sex to the private realm where the Supreme Court has ruled it belongs?
Sadly, you’d be wrong.
Police forces all over the US conduct sting operations in public spaces like parks and beaches, arresting gay men for “cruising” behavior that stops short of public nudity or sex.
Stings and ’name and shame’ operations are common
As I reported last summer, police forces from Washington DC, to San Jose, to Florida’s Volusia County routinely set up sting operations, arrest gay men, print their mug shots in local papers, and take them to court.
Stings have continued even though prosecutors lose most of the criminal cases defendants contest, and even though local governments have lost civil cases forcing them to pay huge monetary damages.
He’s right of course. From all appearances, this was an ordinary Grindr hookup. You look hot. Wanna come over? Cool. Got weed?
