Wired maps Silicon Valley's powerful network of gay men

Gay men in tech built a powerful network

Wired has published a major new feature mapping a powerful, informal network of gay men at the highest levels of Silicon Valley. Reporter Zoë Bernard spent months interviewing 51 people, including 31 gay men, to document the subculture that has become an open secret.

The piece details how these executives, investors, and founders have quietly supported each other's careers and companies for years. This mutual aid spans hiring, angel investing, and leading funding rounds.

The network's bonds and its complexities

One angel investor told Wired, "The gays who work in tech are succeeding vastly… they support each other." Another source framed the social dynamics more bluntly: "Straight guys have the golf course. Gay guys have the orgy. It doesn’t mean it’s problematic. It’s a way we bond and connect."

However, the feature does not present the culture as uniformly positive. It examines the inherent power dynamics, noting that nine of the interviewed gay men described experiencing unwanted advances from more senior colleagues.

The report carefully explores the line between networking and coercion. One source cautioned against broad generalizations, stating, "This is a complex subject and I don’t think readers can draw the distinction between some bad men being gay and all gay men being bad. It can be a slippery slope into homophobia."

An open secret with real influence

The Wired story confirms what many in the industry have long observed: that personal relationships within this community have shaped hiring, investment, and the trajectory of startups. The network's influence is significant but has rarely been documented in such detail.

Key aspects of the network's operation include:

• Preferential hiring and referrals within the social circle
• Angel investments flowing to founders who are part of the network
• Senior leaders championing funding rounds for protégés
• Social events that blend personal and professional life

Bernard's reporting provides names and specific examples, moving the discussion from rumor to documented case studies. The piece shows how this form of kinship-based advancement mirrors the "old boys' clubs" of other industries, but with a distinct identity and social fabric.