India, June 25 -- For decades, queer dating in India largely lived online.

Long before Instagram DMs and Tinder swipes, there were chatrooms, anonymous websites and online forums that allowed LGBTQIA+ people to find each other in a world that often offered few safe alternatives. Dating apps later made those connections easier, putting entire communities at people's fingertips.

But lately a quieter shift has been taking shape: digital dating detox.

Queer matchmaking services, speed-dating events, mixers, potlucks and community gatherings have started drawing people who look for something that dating apps struggled to offer. According to many users, the answer lies in genuine connection.

The reasons varied. Some were tired of ghosting a...