LGBTQ+ youth are at a much higher risk for mental health issues as well as suicide, and supporting them helps them to know that they are never alone in their struggles. I remember being that teenager and thinking that I’d just been born completely wrong, and as I got to know more and more people who felt the same way I realized that it wasn’t as scary as I thought. I loved watching YouTube when I was growing up, and those creators are a lot of the reason I am so okay with myself as I am now. The thing about YouTubers of the old days (2009-2014ish) was that they were almost always completely normal people who just happened to make a name for themselves by making videos on the internet.
Here’s a list of some of my absolute favorite coming out related videos that I know made me feel a little less alone in the world. I highly recommend watching through a few of these, if not all, because it is so important to listen to everyone’s stories and honor people’s experiences. The longer that we are silenced, the more we will suffer. Just as Harvey Milk once said, hope will never be silent. Hope is speaking up for each other and sharing our stories.
- Tyler Oakley
Tyler Oakley is probably one of the first people that come to mind when you think about gay YouTubers. He has been out for many years and has done so much to promote positivity and raise awareness for queer issues online. Here’s a video of his from 2011 that he made on how to come out and what it feels like:
- Joey Graceffa
Joey Graceffa came out in a music video he posted in 2015. Rumors had spread for a while about what his sexuality was, but he used this video to finally come out to the world. At the time, it was such an amazing statement and a novel way for a creator to come out as most people would typically just sit down and film a speech-type video to talk about the topic.
He also later released a longer sit-down chat video where he explained everything and talked in more detail:
- Ingrid Nilsen
I watched Ingrid off and on for a few years, but I really got invested in her content when she posted her coming out video. I remember it popping up on the YouTube trending page and immediately going to watch it. Her video is very real and emotional. I also love this because we hear about gay men coming out online a lot more than we hear about lesbian women. I really connected with her story, and that’s why these stories are so important!
- Daniel Howell
More recently, Daniel Howell came out in a very long and emotional video in June 2019. As a popular vlogger since 2009, his sexuality had also unfortunately long been the talk of many (even though it’s really nobody’s business unless they want to tell you!). In his video, “Basically I’m Gay”, he goes through all of the issues he has experienced throughout his life related to being gay in his own unique and typical style. It’s definitely a different tone than most other coming out videos, and is pretty long for a YouTube video, but for Dan’s specific experience I think it was really appropriate. Not only does he talk about his own experience, but he gives hope to the people watching that may need to hear it!
- Eugene Lee Yang
Most people know Eugene from The Try Guys and how he has always been about being androgynous and breaking the binary. In his extremely artistic video “I’m Gay”, he uses dance and film to show his experience with queerness and to express who he is. If I were to try and type out a description of it, I do not believe it would do it as much justice as just watching through it would. You won’t regret seeing this one; It’s truly amazing.
For all of these creators to come out, it means a whole lot to the LGBTQ+ youth today. These kids are growing up following these creators’ content and viewing them as role models. Those who choose to come out and share their story are using the power and fame they have gained to do something positive, and I think that’s extremely strong and commendable.
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