Local resources, Pride and helplines — plus how to avoid catfishing and sextortion when you date online.
The US has the world's largest LGBTQ+ population and dating culture — from the Castro to Boystown to Hell's Kitchen — and online dating is how most gay and bi men meet. It's also where romance scams and sextortion run at massive scale: the FBI's IC3 logs hundreds of millions in romance-scam losses each year, and gay and bi men are frequently targeted. Throat Theory removes the weakest link — the unverified stranger — by verifying every profile. This page gathers the national services that help, plus city guides for the major LGBTQ+ hubs below.
Dating safely in United States
The biggest risk in online dating isn't the date — it's not knowing whether the person is even real. Before you meet someone in United States:
Confirm they're a real person first. Fake profiles, bots and catfish are the number-one complaint on mainstream apps. (Throat Theory verifies every profile, so this is handled for you.)
Meet in public the first time — somewhere like a busy, public part of town — and tell a friend where you'll be and when you expect to be home.
Never send intimate images to someone you haven't met. This is how sextortion starts. A real, verified person earns that trust over time; a scammer rushes it.
Watch for the rush. Fast declarations, requests for money or gift cards, or "move off the app" within minutes are red flags.
If you're ever pressured, threatened or sextorted, stop, keep the messages, and reach out — locally you can contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text) (988).
Local LGBTQ resources in United States
CenterLink — Directory of 350+ local LGBTQ community centers across the US.
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth) — 1-866-488-7386national
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (image abuse) — 1-844-878-2274national
FAQ — dating safely in United States
Is online dating safe for gay men in the US?
It can be, with basic precautions: confirm the person is real before meeting, meet first in a public place, tell a friend where you're going, and never send intimate images to someone unverified. Throat Theory verifies every profile to remove fake accounts at the source.
Where do I report a romance scam or sextortion in the US?
Report internet crime and romance scams to the FBI at ic3.gov. For intimate-image abuse, contact the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (1-844-878-2274) and use StopNCII.org. Preserve the messages and don't pay.
Help open Throat Theory in United States
We launch city by city — a verified, bot-free home for gay & bi men opens in United States once enough locals join. Add your name and invite a few friends. That's how United States gets unlocked.