Grindr Hosts High-Profile White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend Party

On April 24, 2026, Grindr held its first White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) weekend party at LXIV, a 12,000-sq-ft. Georgetown mansion. Promoted as a WHCD pre-party, the event drew a line around the block, with about 300 waiting and hundreds turned away. Staff wore black shirts with the Grindr logo, projected onto the building and on an ice sculpture. The party occurred amid heightened security after an attempted WHCD assassination and a politically charged atmosphere under President Donald Trump’s second term, intensifying scrutiny of the dinner’s relevance.

The Advocate

Attendees included Grindr CEO George Arison, head of global government affairs Joe Hack, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, Don Lemon, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, DNC Chair Ken Martin, and journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist. Other guests included tech journalist Taylor Lorenz, activist Charlotte Clymer, strategist Keith Edwards, Crooked Media founders Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett, and reality-TV personality Bronwyn Newport.

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Inside, deep-red lighting, a live DJ, and garden terraces created a lounge feel. Staff shucked oysters, served wagyu burgers, truffle ice cream with caviar and gummy bears, and ran multiple champagne and martini stations. By 9:30 p.m., bar lines persisted and alcohol supplies dwindled.

The Advocate

The Human Rights Campaign launched an ad campaign targeting users near the dinner and Grindr party, linking them to its “My Body, My Health” and “100 Days of Healthcare” initiatives focused on HIV prevention, care access, and stigma reduction. HRC officials said the effort aimed to inform partygoers about public-health stakes amid Trump administration’s health agenda.

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CEO George Arison drew criticism after social-media posts resurfaced in which he called himself “a conservative” and voiced support for some Trump policies. Critics argued that a leading LGBTQ+ platform aligning with a politically hostile environment raised concerns about the party’s symbolic messaging and the platform’s commitment to queer health advocacy.

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The party highlighted the growing presence of LGBTQ+ interests in Washington’s elite circles while exposing tensions between queer advocacy and a federal administration perceived as antagonistic to LGBTQ+ health policy. It also gave HRC a high-visibility channel to promote public-health messaging to influential attendees.

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HRC’s “My Body, My Health” campaign will run throughout the WHCD weekend, while its “100 Days of Healthcare” initiative will monitor Trump administration health policies for impacts on LGBTQ+ public-health infrastructure.

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• “There are paparazzi outside and a line around the block,” — Taylor Lorenz, tech journalist

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• “0 feet away,” — Phrase embroidered on Grindr gift-bag hat

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• “a conservative” — Phrase from George Arison’s past social-media post

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• “Dinner guests and partygoers are going to rub elbows with folks undermining access to HIV prevention and care here in D.C. and across the country, and we want them to know what’s at stake — and to stay safe, no matter who they go home with,” — HRC spokesperson

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