Privacy Policy

How we protect your data — and what we never do with it.

Last updated · October 11, 2026
We never sell your data

Not to advertisers, not to anyone. Period.

Your identity is never profiled

No ad targeting based on your sexual orientation or LGBTQ+ identity.

Location only while you use it

We never track your location in the background.

Delete everything, anytime

Delete your account in the app — your profile, photos and friends go with it.

The short version. The full policy below is what counts legally.

On this page

Introduction

GayWhere ("we," "our," or "us") operates the GayWhere mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App.

We recognize that many of our users are members of the LGBTQ+ community and that privacy is especially important in this context. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy.

By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

  • Account Information: You can sign in with Apple, Google, your email address, or your phone number. Depending on the method, we collect your email address and/or phone number. We do not store your Apple ID or Google account password.
    • Email sign-in: we email you a one-time sign-in code. These emails are sent from contact@gaywhere.app through our email provider, Resend. (Some older accounts may still use an email and password.)
    • Phone sign-in: available for US phone numbers only. We text you a one-time code through Firebase Authentication (Google), which sends the SMS and stores your phone number with your account.
  • Age Confirmation: To sign in, you confirm that you are 18 or older.
  • Profile Information: Everything here is optional: a display name, a profile picture, up to 3 profile photos, up to 5 emoji, and a short bio. Your profile is visible to your friends (see Friends and Your Profile).
    • Photo screening: Every profile picture and profile photo is checked automatically before anyone can see it. The check is done by Google Cloud Vision and, when that first check flags a photo, by Anthropic's Claude. Both receive the photo only to run the check; neither keeps it or uses it for anything else. Shirtless or underwear photos are fine; a photo showing a bare butt or genitals is declined and never shown.
    • Declined photos: A declined photo is not published. We keep it in a private area that only we can access for up to 30 days, so we can review the automated decision, then delete it. Deleting your account deletes it right away.
  • Friends: If you use the friends feature, we store your personal friend code (the one behind your QR code and your gaywhere.app/u/ link), the friend requests you send and receive, your list of friends, and anyone you block.
  • Event Plans and Invites: When you save an event, we store it with the status you pick (going, maybe, can't go, or got a ticket) and whether you chose to hide it from friends. If you invite friends to an event, we store the invite and their replies (and the same for invites you receive).
  • Premium Status: If you subscribe to GayWhere Premium, we store whether your subscription is active so we can unlock Premium features. Payment details stay with Apple or Google (see below).
  • Photo Submissions: If you choose to submit photos of venues, those photos are uploaded to our servers for review by our team before being published in the App. You may delete a photo you submitted at any time.
  • Event Submissions: If you submit an event (its name, details, and flyer), we store it with your account and review it before it is published in the App. Published events do not show who submitted them.
  • Boost Purchases: If you buy a Boost to spotlight an event, we store which event you boosted and for how long. Payment details stay with Apple or Google (see below).
  • Reports and Support Requests: If you report an issue, contact support, or submit other feedback, we collect the content of your message along with your email address so we can respond.
  • Tag Votes and Favorites: When you favorite a venue, party, event, or vote on event tags, we store these preferences against your account so we can personalize your experience.
  • Selected City: The city you choose in the App is saved so we can show you the right events.

Information Collected Automatically

  • Location Data: With your permission, we collect your device's precise location to show nearby venues, events, and happy hour deals. Location data is only accessed while you are actively using the App. We do not track your location in the background.
  • Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with the App, such as features used, venues viewed, and search queries. This helps us improve the App experience.
  • Device Information: We may collect device type, operating system version, and unique device identifiers for analytics and troubleshooting purposes.
  • Push Notification Tokens: If you grant push notification permission, we collect a Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token associated with your device so we can send notifications about new events, event reminders, friend requests, invites, and app updates. You can disable push notifications at any time in your device settings.
  • Notification History: We keep a list of the in-app notifications sent to you (for example, friend requests, invites, and event reminders) so you can see them in the App's notification center, even if push notifications are turned off.
  • Crash Diagnostics: If the App crashes on your device, we automatically collect a diagnostic report through Firebase Crashlytics — including your device model, operating system version, and the technical stack trace — so we can identify and fix the bug. This data is anonymized and is not linked to your account or personal information.
  • Advertising Identifiers: If you use the free version of the App (GayWhere Premium removes ads):
    • iPhone: we only request non-personalized ads, and we never ask for permission to track you, so the App does not access your device's advertising identifier (IDFA).
    • Android: our advertising partner Google AdMob may use your device's advertising ID to show and measure ads. In the European Economic Area, the UK, and other regions where consent is required, we ask for your consent first using Google's consent form. You can reset or delete your advertising ID at any time in your Android settings.

Information from Third-Party Sources

  • Venue and Event Data: We aggregate publicly available information about LGBTQ+ venues and events from third-party sources, including Eventbrite, Meta, and venue websites. This data is about businesses and events, not about you.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide and operate the App, including showing you nearby venues, events, and happy hours
  • Personalize your experience based on your location and preferences
  • Run the friends feature: show your profile and event plans to your friends, and deliver friend requests and invites
  • Screen profile photos automatically before they are shown to anyone (see Profile Information above)
  • Review event and venue photo submissions before publishing them
  • Send you sign-in codes by email or text message
  • Improve the App through analytics and usage patterns (for example, which features get used, including the friends feature)
  • Communicate with you about updates, features, or support inquiries
  • Ensure the security and integrity of the App
  • Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your information to:

  • Sell your personal data to third parties
  • Build advertising profiles based on your sexual orientation or LGBTQ+ identity
  • Track your location when the App is not in active use
  • Send marketing emails or texts to the email address or phone number you sign in with

Friends and Your Profile

The friends feature is optional. You add friends by sharing your personal friend code, QR code, or gaywhere.app/u/ link, and both people have to agree before you become friends. Here is who can see what:

  • Your friends can see your display name, profile photos, emoji, and bio, plus your upcoming saved events and their status (going, maybe, can't go, or got a ticket). Any event you mark "hide from friends" is not shown to them.
  • People with a pending friend request (one you sent them, or one they sent you) can see your display name, profile photos, emoji, and bio.
  • Friends you invite to an event see the invite and you see their reply, and the other way around.
  • Friends may be notified when you mark an event as going, or when you have plans tonight in their city, if they have those notifications turned on. Hidden events never trigger a notification. Each person controls which of these notifications they receive in Settings, and can mute any friend.
  • Anyone with your gaywhere.app/u/ link sees a simple web page with only your display name and your profile emoji — no photos, bio, or events. You can reset your link in the App if you no longer want an old one to work.
  • Your email address and phone number are never shown to other users.

You can unfriend or block someone at any time. When you do, they stop seeing your profile and plans.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We use Firebase (Google) for authentication (including sending phone sign-in codes by SMS), data storage, push notifications, analytics (Google Analytics for Firebase), and crash reporting. Firebase Crashlytics collects anonymized crash diagnostics (device model, operating system version, stack trace) so we can fix bugs that affect users; it does not collect identifying information beyond an anonymous installation ID. These providers process data on our behalf under strict contractual obligations. See Firebase Privacy Information for details.
  • Photo Screening: Profile pictures and profile photos are sent to Google Cloud Vision and, when flagged, to Anthropic to check for nudity before they are shown (see Profile Information). They receive the image only to run that check.
  • Email Delivery: We use Resend to send sign-in codes and other account emails from contact@gaywhere.app. Resend receives your email address and the content of the email only to deliver it.
  • Advertising Partners: We use Google AdMob to display ads in the free version of the App. AdMob may collect device identifiers and limited usage data to deliver and measure advertising. On iPhone, ads are non-personalized. We do not share your account information, profile, friends, location, or LGBTQ+ status with advertisers. See Google's Advertising Privacy Policy for details. On Android, you can opt out of personalized ads or delete your advertising ID in your device settings. On either platform, you can remove ads entirely by subscribing to GayWhere Premium.
  • Authentication Providers: If you sign in with Apple or Google, those providers receive limited information about your sign-in event. See Apple's Privacy Policy and Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Payment Processing: Subscription and Boost payments are processed by Apple (App Store) on iPhone and by Google (Google Play) on Android. We do not receive your payment details. See Apple's Privacy Policy and Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Other Users: Your friends and people with a pending friend request can see parts of your profile, as described in Friends and Your Profile. We never show your email address or phone number to other users.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
  • Safety: We may disclose information if we believe it is necessary to protect the safety of our users, the public, or our rights.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as you keep your account, or as long as necessary to provide the App's services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.

Declined profile photos are kept privately for up to 30 days and then deleted (see Profile Information).

When you delete your account in the App, we immediately delete your account, profile, profile picture and photos (including any declined photos still held for review), friends list, friend requests, event invites, saved events and their statuses, and notification history. Reports you filed are kept so we can act on them, but your email address is removed from them. If you ask us to delete your account by email, we do it within 30 days. Copies may remain in routine system backups for a limited time until they are overwritten. We may keep information longer only where the law requires it (for example, purchase records). See Delete Your Account for the full list.

Your Rights and Choices

Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time in the App: go to the You tab, tap the gear (Settings) → Account → Delete Account. This works in both the iPhone and Android apps. If you can't use the App, email us at contact@gaywhere.app and we'll delete it for you. See Delete Your Account for details.

Your Profile and Friends

You can edit or remove your name, photos, emoji, and bio at any time. You can hide any saved event from friends, unfriend or block people, and reset your friend link.

Location Permissions

You can enable or disable location services at any time through your device settings. Disabling location services will limit the App's ability to show nearby venues and events.

California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we collect and how it is used
  • Request deletion of your personal information
  • Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
  • Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email below.

European Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Object to or restrict processing of your data
  • Data portability

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email below.

Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including encryption of data in transit and at rest through Firebase's security infrastructure. However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

GayWhere is only for adults 18 and older. You must confirm you are 18 or older before you can sign in, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected data from a person under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy in the App and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

GayWhere
Email: contact@gaywhere.app