It’s a well known fact that gay white guys generally prefer to date other gay white guys. Gay Asians know it all too well, but we’re mostly complaining in our own echo chamber while white guys party on.
But there’s another form of subtle racism that we rarely talk about – gay Asians discriminate against themselves in favor of whites.
I’ve seen many an Asian stricken by potato fever, but I wanted more than just anecdotal evidence. So I dug around for some data, turning to Jack’d, one of the most popular gay mobile dating apps. After going through 200 profiles, I was shocked at what I found.
Jack’d is a treasure trove of data
Ok, so where is this Jack’d data? As an unpaid user, you only see other guy’s reply rates, however if you cough up the dough for a Pro subscription, you get access to statistics showing which age groups, scenes (twinks, bears, etc.) and races another user is interested in. There are two features in Jack’d that are used to tabulate a user’s racial preference: Match and Favorite.
For Match, Jack’d shows you random profiles of people in your city and you either click Interested, Not Interested or Skip. The Favorite button bookmarks guys you like while you’re browsing. When you Favorite a guy, he’ll be saved in your Favorites folder and he’ll get notified of it.
Methodology
I randomly picked 100 Asian guys and 100 white guys who were last online in San Francisco.
San Francisco, the gayest city in the US, was a natural choice for this study. The city is 34.4% Asian and 41.6% non-Hispanic white. Because both races are roughly equally represented in the city, one can study their preferences for each other without having to account for Asians being a small minority, which they are in most of the US.
To ensure a reliable sample, every profile needed to have a face picture and a plausible age (i.e. not 99). They also had to have an interest in at least two different age groups and two different scenes in order to select for people who’ve used the Match and Favorite features extensively. I wanted to target only San Francisco residents so I excluded anyone whose profile said they were visiting.
Diversity of Jack’d Users
I picked a random point in central San Francisco and counted all Jack’d users within a one mile radius. This one mile radius covers a diverse array of neighborhoods in the city, with bits of the Mission, the Castro, the Haight, SoMa and the Tenderloin.
You might be wondering how well Jack’d users represent the whole rainbow of races out there. It turns out that Jack’d users in central San Francisco form quite a colorful rainbow.
One might say that Asians are over-represented on Jack’d, which isn’t surprising given Jack’d’s reputation as an Asian-heavy app. If anything, the over-representation of Asians is a good thing because if we observe a bias against Asians, it can’t be attributed to their low numbers.
Determining Racial Preference
For each of the 100 Asian and 100 white guys I studied, I recorded their age, reply rate and the ethnicity distribution of guys they’re interested in.
For example, we can see in the following example that 92% of the guys Freddie’s interested in are Asian, 5% are Pacific Islanders, and the remaining 3% are split between Middle Eastern, Mixed and Other. He’s never Favorited a white, Latino or black profile.
After recording the ethnicity preferences of 100 Asian and 100 white profiles, I analyzed the data to see if I could find any obvious patterns. It didn’t take long…
Asians and Whites both avoid Asians
It turns out that both white and Asian men are somewhat allergic to Asians.
Not many rice eaters
There’s a strong bias against Asians. A significant proportion of white guys (40%) and Asians (29%) are never interested in Asians. That jives with OkCupid’s data showing that 43% of gay whites preferred to date their own race.
Plenty of potato love
Whites don’t have many haters. The vast majority of white and Asian guys are interested in white guys to at least some degree. I’ve heard many white men complain about sticky Asians, but the fact is that 93% of Asians are open to dating a white guy.
Whites prefer whites, but Asians prefer whites even more
A person prefers a race if 51% of the guys that person is interested in are of that race.
Asians have a stronger preference for white guys than white guys have for each other
The majority of gay Asians, 57%, prefer to date white guys. By contrast, only 45% of white guys prefer to date other whites. Also remember that 40.1% of users are Asian and 28.2% whites. The supply and demand dynamics are incredibly unbalanced and quite frankly sad. Why do Asians have such a gravitation towards potatoes?
Quantifying Rice Queens and Potato Queens
Let’s raise the bar even higher and see what happens when we try and pick out the rice queens and potato queens. A rice/potato queen is someone who prefers Asian/white 70% of the time or more.
Can you say potato addiction?
41% of gay Asians are potato queens. Gay Asians really, really love white guys. Almost half of gay Asians love white guys to the point where it’s an obsession. Compare this to only 18% of gay white men are rice queens. This is great news if you’re a white guy who eats rice.
Rice queens have the upper hand
A couple weeks ago I argued that the Gaysian dating world is stacked in favor of rice queens. Now we have the numbers to back that up. For every rice queen, there are 2.3 potato queens. White guys have their pick, but Asians have to settle for whatever they can get.
The only way all those gay Asians will settle with white men is to lower their standards and date older and/or less attractive white men. There’s no other way all those gay Asians’ desires can be accommodated.
Echoes of the Asian vs. White Grindr Experiment
I’ve put all the numbers we’ve seen so far onto one chart.
Notice that Asians and whites both prefer white guys by a substantial margin: the white guy is always more desirable than the Asian by a factor of 1.5-2x.
If you remember my Asian vs. White Grindr Experiment from a while back, you’ll recall that a hot white guy can expect 1.5-2x as many Grindr messages as a similarly endowed Asian. That’s almost identical to the margin by which Jack’d users prefer whites over Asians.
Asians are racist too
We often think of racism and discrimination as something whites are guilty of. But it turns out Asians are equally guilty of discriminating against themselves. You might write off the racism of whites as simply a preference for dating people who look like themselves, but how do you explain the preferences of gay Asians?
At least in the minds of gay Asians, white men are the gold standard of beauty and desirability. Maybe it’s an unavoidable consequence of growing up in American culture, where seeing almost nothing but whites on movie screens and fashion runways has indoctrinated us to the idea that only whites are attractive.
You might think that gay Asians, having grown up with the dual stigma of being both a racial and sexual minority, would be more open-minded than your average person. Some certainly seem to think they are:
Oops. I guess he meant to say he’s open-minded unless you’re Asian. 😉
I once said that gay Asians have no realistic chance of dating a hot white guy their own age. It turns out they might have the same struggles finding a hot Asian their own age too.
Recently I’ve been seeing lot of Jeffery Dahmer on my Facebook newsfeed to point out how many white people get away with murder without being shot to death by cop in light of the recent events #blacklivesmatter #icantbreathe.
Then I see many of Dahmer’s victims were men of colour. Most recently, Luka Magnotta murdered Lin Jun, a gay Asian man in the most horrific way. White men know very well in the gay community that men of colour are easily available to them. They knew it’s easy to exploit the body of men of colour. Many men of colour are willing to do almost anything to satisfy their infatuation for whiteness-even at the cost of their own lives? Is it really worth your life?
I hope Asian men and men of colour really wake up to value their lives completely even in the sphere of pleasure and sex. You are worth it! Protect your life and body!
What you just wrote reads like something written by a social conservative – the enemies of all gays. By the way they have picked up on the white/non-white divide in the gay community. You should be proud of yourself.. You picked out a gay serial killer and used him to paint all gay white men.
White men don’t see us as human beings. Asian men are just fodder for their yellow fever. So shut the fuck up, Steve.
Funny you should say conservatives are the enemies of all gays when currently there’s a growing right wing conservatism among the gay community. Recently it seems the gay community is lacking in showing any solidarity with #blacklivesmatter protests. I’ve also had the misfortune of many white, cisgendered, gay men condemning the protests seeking justice for Black lives taken away by police violence. It was a disappointing thing to witness on my own Facebook newsfeed. I think many gay men have forgotten that riots is the language of the unheard as Martin Luther King said. I think many gay men have forgotten they have many privileges and rights today because of the Stonewall riots.
http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/12/3-ways-the-gay-rights-agenda-has-perpetuated-oppression/
http://www.mattcomer.net/705/the-greatest-of-hypocrisies-gays-condemn-black-riots-over-racism-forget-our-movement-started-with-one/
Maybe if the words ” Hands up Don’t Shoot ” were actually used by a an alleged criminal during an altercation , rather than by “peaceful protesters” maybe , just maybe things might have been a different turn out .
The african american community has long spoken about this. Some families fear it, because if something happens who is going to look out for their love one. With j dahmer they made the aa guy go back in after he escaped. They didnt care cause he was gay and black. I think it was more cause he was gay.
very true, and could have told ya without the data – when you have had enough experience, you have a good idea. i’ve hooked up with no more than 5 asian guys in my life while being asian myself. and this has nothing to do with my preference – it has to do with how other asians never seem to be interested. it has come to a point that when i see an asian profile, i skip it to save myself some dignity – it’s a vicious cycle. even when i do end up chatting with an asian guy, i can just sense it sometimes, that he tries to like me but he can’t, as if settling for less because of a small purse. what’s worse, i prefer talking to straight guys a lot more, because when you talk to a gay man, immediately, he knows your ‘worth’ in the community and will regard you accordingly.
I know exactly what your talking about! I think I’ve hooked up with only five Asian men at most in my life so far. I am open to befriending and sexing up with my Asian brothers but their obsession with whiteness is a major barrier.
This is so sad 🙁 I honestly don’t get why so many asians think white people are the hottest. They age faster, they get dark circles even before their 20s, they sweat a lot, they are way too hairy, I could go on and on….
“After going through 200 profiles, I was shocked at what I found.” Holy smokes! That must have been a head ache! All that data and keeping up with who’s who….
Is it safe to infer then that there is more rice queens then there are sticky rice? Thus, increasing the likelihood of an Asian man to have slightly more responses from white men then other Asians?
It seems this article also dispels the myth of sticky rice being a barrier to hooking up with an Asian man.
Sometimes I wonder what’s the point? What’s the point of working out and trying to look you best as a gay, Asian, man if no one is going to notice or appreciate how you look? Are all these gay men in gyms trying to get the perfect body but negligent of their mind and heart working in vain?
I’m not sure if most people have caught on to something here but Jack’d allows you to view every user’s racial preference in the form of a pie chart simply by clicking the “insight” section of their profile. What I love about Jack’d is it shows people’s racist tendencies without having to say a word.
IKR ? Lol it’s eye-opening, but also a big time-saver since you know right away what you are dealing with.
http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/11/12/op-ed-big-gay-love-advice-asians-america
In the article Ringo Le says, “I don’t remember much, but I remember that it was a gabfest with lots of crying — not from me, but from the more mature men who had experienced discrimination firsthand. They talked about gay bars in the ’70s in the Castro that had signs or bouncers, or both, that stated, “No Asians.”
According to the article there was a time not too long ago racism was so blatant and rampant in the gay community the literally had signs that said, “No Asians.” This is the pain and continued plight the Asian, gay, community faces today. I’m still surprised gay business like clubs and bath houses don’t have a “white’s only entrance”. The racism towards gay Asians has a history of systematic oppression. One that is still untold and swept under the rug.
White men are usually more attractive and masculine than the typical Asian … it’s not rocket science. I go to a very diverse university full of Asians, and I’ve only seen one Asian who had natural masculine features and I thought was attractive. And let’s not forget the Asian penis situation …. that’s not a myth (most fit the stereotype).
But with all that being said, I feel like too many Asian men have an unhealthy obsession with white men. I would like to see more gay Asian couples … I hardly see any. It’s always white-Asian. Some Asian guys are hot though … such as this Asian Stud in the video I posted!! Goodness, he’s hot, nice feet, and even a nicer dick!!! Enjoy fellas …..
[EDITED BY ANGRY HOMOSEXUAL: NO LINKS TO PORN PLEASE]
White privilege has given you a severe case of bovarism.
Yeah dude you don’t get out much do you?
“I once said that gay Asians have no realistic chance of dating a hot white guy their own age. It turns out they might have the same struggles finding a hot Asian their own age too.”
So what’s left? To be honest there not too many Black guys and Latinos interested in Asian either.
Celibacy here I am!
There’s some interesting questions and hypothesis that I’m starting to think about after reading the articles on this website.
1. If gay Asian men are currently having sex with white men-almost exclusively-is there a relation to that event and the rise of STIs among gay Asian men?
2. Do Asian gay men have trouble saying “no” to white men when it comes to unsafe sexual practices?
Also….according to the data and my own personal experience….Do white men have a higher reply rate and attraction to Asian men then Asian men do toward other Asian men?
Dear white people,
It’ is not required nor desired of you to read every article about a person of colour’s unique life experiences or watch a video about it on Youtube and say how much you personally relate to everything they talked about.
Sometimes you just have to take an article for what it’s worth and that’s okay. There is no need for you white people to dominate every conversation or comment section online. If you were provoked to think deeper than you normally do about justice and equality and fairness go ahead and reflect. Learn from your reflection and enact the good that you learned into your behaviour in your daily life.
You don’t need to pour your heart out or compete for attention about how social aware you are.
Sincerely,
People of Colour
#dearwhitepeople
You presume to speak for all non-white persons?
“I once said that gay Asians have no realistic chance of dating a hot white guy their own age. It turns out they might have the same struggles finding a hot Asian their own age too.”
I don’t know about you but this conclusion is alarming! The gay, Asian community is in serious crisis! Their attitudes and behaviours are harmful to themselves and others in the Asian community. This cannot be allowed to continue at least not without discussion.
If everyone is after a white man but no one finds a person of colour desirable this doesn’t help the self-esteem of gay men of colour. How do gay men of colour find self-esteem and empowerment when this is the current reality?
It always makes me laugh when Asian men say they’re equal opportunity lovers or “open minded” as the dumbass in the article when all they do is admire and talk about how hot white men are. When was the last time they found an Asian guy attractive and expressed it let alone acted on it?
Love this study you have done here! But perhaps you should add that the conclusion only refers to gay male online interaction, when one has not studied if gay male interaction in real life is comparable to that of online interaction. Perhaps gay asians who like other asians are more likely to meet in real life, perhaps via their networks, local watering holes, cultural interest/hobby groups etc. Perhaps those asians who desire white men can’t meet them in real life (for whatever reasons be it time/geographical constraints etc.) so they choose to do it online hence the results of the study.
But the point is Asian men desire only white men. Why?
This is sadly true, but not so much where I live. i have never experienced it myself be discriminated by fellow asian, but I’ve read so many articles about it that made it sound so true. this is quite alarming for me, and the for gay asians sake. The numbers and figures here speak so loud. Can someone initiate a gay asian only gathering where all asian gay man can meet and greet. About settling, I would not settle for an ugly white guy even if I’m so horny, hell no. Don’t lower your standards just wait for the right time. Think of it as real estate, you dont lower the price of your property, you wait for the right buyer. So you get the value you deserve. But if you know your level of attractiveness then pick someone of similar level, dont aspire for those above you. Be realistic. If they mean just Ignore them. I love my fellow gay asians! and fyi, not all older white guys are undesirable, I went as far as 37 at leadt twice and both are handsome, good, and really attractive minus the stuble, it irritates my skin. Furthermore, this asian self hating is not only known to us but also to plenty of other races already, which makes us all undesirable in general. cos nothing can turn off a white boy than a low self esteem and confidence. If youre unattractive, Try improving yourself. and try to smell good. I swear some asians smell different down there, have a good hygiene! Learn Gay 101. PS I’m a loyal asian.
I’m the most undervalued and lonesome piece prime of Asian real estate living in Canada then. But unlike real estate this body decays and will eventually die-hopefully I can at least find peace from the cycle of karma after death and enlightenment.
Hang in there brother, try not to think about your decaying body. The more you think about it the faster it will happen. So relax and be happy. Enjoy being alone and single for now and do the things you like to do. And when you feel better hopefully your man will come.
I don’t need a man no more! It’s not for me in this life time.
Wtf….
“t’s called imperialist white capitalist patriarchy supremacy. Y’all motherfuckers need bell hooks!”
Hahaha! Love it!
If People of Colour Had a “white fetish”…..
http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/11/white-fetish/
As an anglo, I find the interpretation that racial preferences in dating are racist but could there be another explanation for these preferences? My first generation latino partner/husband is culturally very different than me. I celebrate enough of these differences that the challenges we face on the others we can deal with. I have met others that prefer “not to deal with such things.” Asian is a pretty broad racial description, but it would not surprise me if there we more than occasional “irreconcilable cultural differences” between particularly first generation Asians and their American gay male counterparts. While this may not explain why a disproportionate percentage of Asians seek out anglos, it may explain why many often do seek out those of similar race in general. Just a thought
As an anglo you know nothing about racism and the breadth and depth of your white privilege.
Now THAT’s a racist comment! What irony.
It’s terribly amazing to read this level of racism is prevalent in one of America’s most diverse cities….
It’s only diverse on it’s face. Dig a little beneath the surface and you’ll find that the Bay Area is incredibly stratified in terms of wealth distribution, and hidden racism. It’s like the Twilight Zone because how it’s sold to the outside world is different than the experience of actually living there.
Here I am thinking maybe the grass is greener on the other side. Maybe I could move to Vancouver or San Francisco where I could gain a better chance at community with gay, Asian, men. Unfortunately, Pepito is correct. And as evidenced by this article: the crisis in the gay Asian community is global. White people don’t care about the plight they cause others with their white privilege-its a given. You don’t need to be a racist to benefit from the spoils of racism-you just have to be white. It’s up to Asian men to stand up and begin to love themselves and find redemptive ways to communication with each other because truth is no one else will care.
The Asian, gay, male community is in serious crisis. What hurts is it is continuing without meaningful discussion as a community nor addressed enough for the impact to be felt in the public sphere.
“The only way all those gay Asians will settle with white men is to lower their standards and date older and/or less attractive white men. There’s no other way all those gay Asians’ desires can be accommodated.”
Generalize much? Is it racist to like a particular set of body features and attributes? Just because I don’t choose to seek out Peruvian guys to date doesn’t mean that I have a bias against, hatred for, or want to discriminate against them.
Also, this snip within the article seems to imply the author is ageist and is only attracted to the classical and limited view of male attractiveness.
What a limited and bitter little world he must live in. I pity him.
You’re completely missing the point Terry Fischer.
I agree with Terry. We diminish the presence of actual racism in society when we use the word to describe situations that aren’t actually examples of racism.
Someone who chooses not to date Asians is not necessarily racist.
Too late. The train has left the station. Anything and everything can be categorized as racism if it can be tied in to white men.
It’s called imperialist white capitalist patriarchy supremacy. Y’all motherfuckers need bell hooks!
But it’s funny. I see the same one or two white guys using the same handle saying the same thing. And you know what the definition of insanity is?
I think I’m seeing a pattern of white guilt from the whiners that are always trolling the comments section. They’re projecting their own bitterness after experiencing cognitive dissonance yet for some reason they keep coming back to this website because I bet they love the exciting way the author writes his articles.
Maybe we should abandon the homosexual agenda. since plenty of white men are turning gay lets go for white girls instead. 😀
Asians and whites avoid Asians. When? When will I meet an gay Asian ally who has moved beyond internalized racism? When can I meet an non-white Asian gay Asian without the horizontal violence?
I just had an awful weekend trying to connect with Asians online. They are fucking moronic lemmings who are so mean to other Asians and I bet if my profile was a white guy they’d flood me with replies.
What are ways an Asian man like myself can find empowerment? It’s definitely not coming from the Asian community right now.
It’s called internal racism. We are all so inured to Western facial and bodily standards as our reference point for beauty and desirability, that of course it is difficult to find Asians who fit that mould. I would think the results would be even more skewed if you did the study with other apps like grindr or hornet which don’t have an Asian focus. What’s worse is that it is a vicious cycle: the rarity of having a hot young white boyfriend means that even more gay Asians will strive for it as a status symbol and as a way to distinguish themselves from the heap. Which equates to a lot of bitterness and loneliness…