If you want to know where the Bears are, they’re here. Even the stars of that popular gay web series say they are fans. Coly Cummiskey, a resident of Columbus, Ohio, who describes himself as a “very out” bear, created this ursine app almost three years ago.
It’s clear from the profiles on this app that guys who define themselves as Bears come in many varieties, but generally they are hairy and, when shirtless, more likely to show a beer belly than a six-pack. Bears are not the most popular crowd in West Hollywood (see the count on Grindr above). In fact, only 148 showed up within a 4.6 mile range of our researcher’s West Hollywood apartment on a recent morning. That may also reflect the fact that, unlike Grindr and Scruff, GROWLr only shows guys who are actually on the app when you search, and our researcher is up and working earlier than most lazy Bears.
GROWLr lets you send any messages, include 19 pre-programmed ones, some of which are likely counter-productive. Think about it! If someone responds to a GROWLr stock message like “if you were a booger I’d pick you first” or “my love for you is like diarrhea, I just can’t hold it in,” he probably is institutionalized and unavailable for coffee. And if you were to send such a message, perhaps you should check your health insurance policy for psychotherapy coverage. Luckily the app also offers more standard words and phrases like “Woof!,” “Grr,” “Thanks bud” and “You’re hot!”
GROWLr, like Scruff, offers a search-by-location option so the cubs in West Hollywood can see what the bears are up to in Silver Lake or even Boise, Idaho, for that matter. It also offers the longest list of profile search criteria. In addition to looking for someone by height and weight, you can search for someone who identifies himself as HIV positive. The relationship search options include “widowed” and “triad.” The “types” search includes 15 options, one of which is Trucker and another of which is Sugar Daddy, for those cubs looking to pay off a college loan.
GROWLr allows you to post two “private” photos that you can unlock for selected viewers. Its $3.99-a-month premium subscription gives you more options, including access to a number of “galleries” that include photos of the most popular guys on the site, the newest guys on the site, those you’ve unlocked your photo gallery for and those it has deemed, in some mysterious way, to be your matches. It also gives you the option, with one click, to lock all previously unlocked private photos in the event that you’ve decided to run for public office.
Finally, GROWLr offers two other unique services. One is the ability to blog. You can look at a guy’s blog posts by clicking on Blog in his profile. The other is a chance to sell your “services” or promote an event with a shout-out to everyone within a five-mile radius for $4.99.
[hr]
Don’t miss our gay app overview:
The Perfect Gay Mobile App? WEHOville Reviews the Top Four
[hr]
