Hinge says the big questions LGBTQ daters have

It’s Pride Month, and while LGBTQ daters are queer all year round, the spotlight is on them this June. That’s why Hinge launched its annual DATE (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) report to shed light on what dating is currently like for today’s queer singles.

This year’s report is titled “Clarity Builds Chemistry” and discusses the uncertainty young LGBTQ daters feel. (Given the amount of uncertainty in the world at large right now, it’s no surprise that it permeates into individuals’ personal lives.)

In a January 2026 survey of more than 31,000 respondents around the world, Hinge found that LGBTQ daters feel more or less uncertain about the world than straight daters (76% to 52%, respectively), but they also find uncertainty helpful. 74% of LGBTQ daters say uncertainty helps them figure out what they want in a relationship. Uncertainty helps us identify who we date, clarify our preferences, and identify what feels right and wrong.

Connection app that anyone can use

adult friend finder

— Casual Connections Selected by Readers

crater

— Top picks for finding a date

hinge

— A popular choice for regular meet-ups

You can purchase products through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

The community is also helpful for LGBTQ daters. Hinge found that queer daters were asking, “Should I have this person around my friends?” Rather than “What are we?” This may be because chosen families are important to LGBTQ youth.

So queer daters are 33 percent more likely than straight daters to say it’s important that their friends like their date (rising to 37 percent for trans daters). They’re also 20% more likely to want to see if a potential partner fits into their friend circle. In a world of high uncertainty, having a strong support system is important.

Mashable Trend Report

Hinge also found that consistency gives LGBTQ daters a sense of security in an uncertain world. 86% said consistent communication from a new partner reduces their anxiety. 78% said having a clear plan also reduces anxiety (compared to 56% of straight daters).

More than half (65%) of LGBTQ daters feel more secure when they engage in PDA early in a relationship, but they are 50% more likely than straight people to hesitate to show affection on a first date because they felt unsafe around them. “You don’t have to share the same comfort level to have a great date,” writes Moe Ali Brown, a love and connection expert at Hinge. “Staying present and being responsive turns potential tension points into moments of real connection.”

“PDA can provide a sense of security by asking each other what kind of affection feels good in public and what kind of affection feels good in private,” Brown continued.

And forget about timelines. LGBTQ daters, especially bisexual daters (76 percent and 83 percent), are more focused than straight daters (64 percent) on building a relationship with someone slowly, rather than moving along a specific timeline. Overall, LGBTQ daters are more likely to say that settling down is a mindset, not a step.

This finding contrasts with Hinge’s November 2025 DATE report, which was about communications and AI. Less than a year later, daters, especially LGBTQ daters, have begun to value clarity more, whether it’s in public expressions of affection or personal affirmations.