BOOM TUBE

DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN SOCIAL MIXING WAS A NO-NO, ROBYN TURNER TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOUTUBE ESPECIALLY, TO MAINTAIN HER SANITY, AND FOUND A COMMUNITY OF LGBTQ+ YOUTUBERS WHO KEPT HER INFORMED, EDUCATED, MOVED, INSPIRED OR JUST MADE HER LAUGH. HERE SHE CHOOSEs SOME
OF HER FAVOURITE STARS ON YOUTUBE

BOOM TUBE

DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN SOCIAL MIXING WAS A NO-NO, ROBYN TURNER TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOUTUBE ESPECIALLY, TO MAINTAIN HER SANITY, AND FOUND A COMMUNITY OF LGBTQ+ YOUTUBERS WHO KEPT HER INFORMED, EDUCATED, MOVED, INSPIRED OR JUST MADE HER LAUGH. HERE SHE CHOOSES SOMEOF HER FAVOURITE STARS ON YOUTUBE

STEVIE BOEBI

An American living in England, Stevie’s upbeat and exuberant take on life is infectious as she makes a fool of herself (her own words), and raps about her friends and relationships, how to get laid and how she deals with her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. She’s definitely the one you’d like to be your lesbian best friend when you hit the town on Saturday night.

CONNOR FRANTA

With 5.7 YouTube subscribers Connor Franta is one of the channel’s biggest stars, letting us in on reflections on his life, his friendships and frankly anything which comes into his head. His enthusiasm for everything from baking bagels to answering all your gay questions is infectious. He came out as gay on 8 December 2015 in a moving YouTube video called Coming Out which has so far had over 12 million views and 977,000 likes.

RIYADH KHALIF

From getting advice on how to date a member of the Royal Family to tackling hate crime, this self-described “slightly delusional and occasionally annoying” Irish journalist and radio and TV presenter’s YouTube channel is a entertaining mix of the serious and sometimes just the plain daft, and has over 380,000 subscribers. A former winner of Celebrity Master Chef, Riyadh is a proud LGBTQ+ activist, and presented the BBC3 documentary Queer Britain. He also wrote the excellent Yay! You’re Gay! Now what?, the definitive Gay Boy’s Guide to Life.

TYLER OAKLEY

Currently taking a mini-break from YouTube, American Tyler Oakley whips up a variety of LGBTQ+ content including fun videos and interviews, as well as collaborations with fellow YouTubers. He also addresses serious social issues, including health care, education and is a supporter of the Trevor Project for the prevention of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people. Tyler has over 7 million subscribers and 600 million views.

GIGI GORGEOUS

Describing herself as a creator, personality, model/actor, socialite, lover of beauty, fashion and a good party, Canadian Gigi came out as a transgender woman in 2013, and in 2014 documented her transition on YouTube. As well as videos on transitioning, Gigi also offers a frenetic mix of parties, fashion, to her 2.83 million subscribers.

JESSICA KELLGREN FOZARD

Brighton belle, Jessica, who is lesbian and deaf, caused by her several “disabilities”, talks frequently about her deafness and people’s attitude towards it, as well as covering vintage fashion, disability issues and LGBTQ+ history and issues. She and wife Claudia recently announced they’re expecting a baby.

ROSE AND ROSIE

Married UK couple Rose and Rosie release weekly entertainment videos in improvisational comedy with title such as a Lesbian Couple’s Evening Routine and Very British Problems. But it’s not all jokes. Last year they talked movingly about losing their first child to a miscarriage. The good news is that they are expecting again and no doubt we will follow their progress in creating a family.

JOEY GRACEFFA

A YouTube superstar with over 9 million subscribers, there seems no end to Joey’s talents - whether it’s uploading a vlog every day, running a gaming channel, creating an unscripted web series with fellow YouTubers called Escape the Night, or - and this is really our favourite - fostering a pregnant cat and looking after her kittens. Ahh…

MYHARTO

Serving up a twice weekly of puns, cooking, travel, hugs and more puns, Hannah Maud Hart has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube. Check out her hilarious My Drunk Kitchen, a series in which she cooks a meal after a few too many sherries.

T&J FAMILY

Terrell and Jarius are two same-sex parents raising their two children in America. Charming, and funny, their channel is all about normalising LGBTQ+ parenting and redefining what marriage and family looks like.

CALUM MCSWIGGAM

Based in London, Calum makes videos celebrating LGBTQ+ lifestyle, culture and relationships.

DAVEY WAVEY

Oh, so very West Hollywood, Davey Wavey has over a million subscribers who tune in regularly for his frank and fun views on gay love and sex and coming out, often with some of his buff-bodied buddies, who are cheekily just the right side of camp. Not necessarily always safe for work (you’ll often have to sign up as being over 18 to watch), he’s always good infectious fun, which is what you’d expect from someone whose first YouTube video was called “I Caught My Hot Neighbor Masturbating (with sound)” and was watched by over 2 million people. He also runs Himeros.tv an erotic video platform.

ALEX BERTIE

Alex Ash Bertie is a transgender YouTuber, author and graphic designer from Dorset who speaks about his transitioning. Essential viewing.

JAZZA JOHN

Articulate and welcoming Jazza John describes himself as your favourite politically engaged queer on the internet. Whether it’s Eurovision, politics, sexual identities, or handsome gentlemen he never fails to be engaging and entertaining.

BRAD MONDO

With up to 7 million subscribers, if you also want to look a million dollars, top hair stylist Brad will let you in on his style secrets - as well as his follicly-challenged disasters.

WEIRD NORWEGIAN

Wildly exuberant, Victor Sotberg is a wacky and weird Norwegian who broadcasts in English as well as Norwegian. Whether it’s teaching English boys to speak Norwegian, playing Minecraft or wearing a Pride dress to Dancing with the Stars, if we could bottle his energy and infectious enthusiasm, we’d make millions overnight.

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Picture CREDITS: Franta: CREATIVE COMMONS GAGE SKIDMORE • Graceffa: CREATIVE COMMONS GAGE SKIDMORE •. Gigi Gorgeous: PICTURE CREATIVE COMMONS PAX AHIMSA GETHAN 

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