Apparently, being a gay man on Grindr is now something that needs to be investigated if you happen to be a politician.
Because somehow, Paul John O’Neill being single, gay, and on a dating app became a topic of public discussion after people found his profile, screenshotted it, and shared it on social media.
O’Neill, a Labour and Co-operative councillor representing North Heywood on Rochdale Borough Council, responded on September 23 with something that was part cheeky comeback, part privacy reminder, and part very obvious question: why exactly is this anyone’s business?
Yes, He’s Gay. Yes, He’s Single.
O’Neill explained that two people had apparently created accounts on Grindr specifically to find and verify his profile before circulating screenshots accompanied by negative commentary.
His response was refreshingly unbothered. In part, the post read:
“I’m glad that my photos were recent, as I’ve lost 3 stone since February. I’m only sorry these two characters couldn’t wait a few more weeks before invading my privacy, as I’ve just started going back to the gym, and I might have looked even more fabulous than I already did at the Manchester Pride 2026 event most of the photos are from.
Joking aside, there are more revealing photos of many straight men and women at the beach or at the gym all over social media, I am not remotely ashamed to have a social and dating life, and it obviously affects not a jot my work as a proud ward councillor for the brilliant people of North Heywood.If you think I’m rubbish at being a councillor, that’s fine. But it isn’t because, like millions of other people, straight, gay and everything else, I have a profile on a dating app.”
Rather than pretending the Grindr profile wasn’t his or acting as though having a dating life was some scandalous secret, O’Neill said he was not ashamed of having a social and dating life. He also pointed out that being on a dating app does not affect his ability to represent residents.
And honestly, what a concept.
A gay councillor can attend meetings, deal with constituents, work on local issues, and then go home and potentially flirt with someone on an app. These things are not mutually exclusive.
READ: Dating Apps Are Everywhere. So Where Did the Organic Encounter Go?
The Leather Vest Is Not a Criminal Record
Some of the commentary surrounding O’Neill’s Grindr profile also reportedly focused on his clothing, including a leather vest, with insinuations that his appearance somehow demonstrated something sinister about him.
Let’s take a breath.
A man wearing leather and looking good does not suddenly become evidence of moral failure.
Gay men have spent decades being told that their clothing, bodies, sexuality, nightlife, relationships, and sex lives are somehow available for public inspection. We know where that road leads, and it is not exactly somewhere we need to revisit.
The fact that someone is comfortable enough to present himself confidently on a dating app like Grindr should not automatically become ammunition for people looking to embarrass him.
Being a Politician Doesn’t Cancel Being a Person
There is, obviously, a legitimate distinction between someone’s private behavior and conduct that genuinely affects their public duties.
But having a dating profile isn’t misconduct.
O’Neill himself made the point that if residents think he is doing a poor job as a councillor, they are perfectly entitled to criticize his work. His dating profile, however, is not a performance review.
That distinction is particularly important for LGBTQ+ politicians, who can sometimes find their private lives scrutinized through a completely different lens.
Would we be treating a straight councillor having a dating profile as breaking news? Would we assume a straight woman on a dating app was somehow unfit to serve her community?
Probably not.
So why does the existence of a gay man’s Grindr profile suddenly become a morality play?
And Yes, He Might Get a Date Out of It
Perhaps the funniest part of O’Neill’s response was that he didn’t just defend himself. He managed to turn the whole situation into a dating opportunity.
He noted that he’s single and joked that the worst possible outcome might be getting a couple of dates from all the unwanted attention.
Honestly, we love the attitude.
O’Neill has essentially reminded everyone that being a public servant doesn’t mean surrendering your humanity.
You can be a councillor and still want romance. You can care about your community and still care about looking hot. You can sit through council meetings and then open Grindr.
The man is single. Let him date.