Sixteen-Year-Old YouTube Guy Asks “What if I Was Straight?”

Sixteen-year-old Derek is one of the interwebs more popular YouTube talking heads and while we got a real kick out of his open letter to one of the people he follows on Twitter, this video, where he explains how he would be different if he were not gay, will stick with you all weekend. It’s both brave and honest. Watch it after the jump.

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By: Japhy Grant
On: Jan 16, 2009
Tagged: Gay Teens, YouTube

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28 Comments

No. 1 · Chip
I can’t get his words in the very last line–”I wouldn’t be half as …..as I am now.” Can somebody fill in that blank for this old geezer?

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:24 am · @Reply ·
No. 2 · Anon
thats brilliant. so cute so sincere

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:28 am · @Reply ·
No. 3 · jeremito
half as FABULOUS of course ;)

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:29 am · @Reply ·
No. 4 · Japhy Grant
@Chip: “fabulous”

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:29 am · @Reply ·
No. 5 · Nick
Fabulous – “I wouldn’t be half as fabulous as I am now”.

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:30 am · @Reply ·
No. 6 · Brian
Amen, Brother.

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:35 am · @Reply ·
No. 7 · Eminent Victorian
I’m trying to imagine the kind of parents and/or family that would reject such a kid; it makes me mad.

Jan 16, 2009 at 11:47 am · @Reply ·
No. 8 · Hint
This kid has got charisma. His first video about coming out is very intense.

Jan 16, 2009 at 12:03 pm · @Reply ·
No. 9 · The Gay Numbers
It’s funny, for a kid- he’s right. These are same question that I would ask when I was a kid about anything that made me different. Like, if I weren’t gay, what would I be? If I weren’t black, how would they see me? But as you grow into yourself, you realize for everything that society tries to take away from you, it does give you a strength too.

Jan 16, 2009 at 12:46 pm · @Reply ·
No. 10 · dizzyspins
Granted, he’s a little affected and silly, but he makes a good point. The one undeniable benefit to being gay is that it makes us responsible for our own identities. So many people just regurgitate the values and opinions of their families and communities. I came from a religious background, and my family can answer every ethical question they face with some Bible passage. I have to decide for myself what is right and wrong, rather than lazily rely on an outside force, and it’s made me much stronger. And, though its sad, realizing there are limits to unconditional love can make you a lot more self-sufficient. I know I made sure I could pay my own rent and take care of myself before I came out. Things are better with my family now, but had I come out in college, Im sure my parents wouldve blackmailed me into going to some “treatment center.”

Jan 16, 2009 at 12:58 pm · @Reply ·
No. 11 · Justin Allen
It was unapologetic and great- it took courage. Bravo.

Jan 16, 2009 at 2:43 pm · @Reply ·
No. 12 · EdWoody
I think it’s one of the great wonders of existence that such incredibly cute and intelligent boys turn out to be gay. Proof of a loving god, says I.

Jan 16, 2009 at 2:48 pm · @Reply ·
No. 13 · Michael vdB
Excellent.

Jan 16, 2009 at 3:23 pm · @Reply ·
No. 14 · Peter
Does is bother anyone else that his syntax if woefully wrong; it should be “If I Were Straight”? Subjunctive, hello?

Jan 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm · @Reply ·
No. 15 · Peter
Does is bother anyone else that his syntax is woefully wrong; it should be “If I Were Straight”? Subjunctive, hello?

Jan 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm · @Reply ·
No. 16 · bb
Stupid age of consent laws… somebody laughs in the background at one point though… I hope he has a super hot and awesome boyfriend. He deserves it.

Jan 16, 2009 at 4:49 pm · @Reply ·
No. 17 · getreal
@EdWoody: Amen Ed preach on!

Jan 16, 2009 at 5:36 pm · @Reply ·
No. 18 · Puddy Katz
Gives me hope for the future.

Jan 16, 2009 at 5:49 pm · @Reply ·
No. 19 · RDM
Too too too cute.

Jan 16, 2009 at 7:17 pm · @Reply ·
No. 20 · Scott
@Peter: All adorable things have poor grammar. It’s a law of The Universe.

Jan 16, 2009 at 8:32 pm · @Reply ·
No. 21 · David
I’ve been subscribed to his collab channel for a long time! Very pleasantly surprised to see him featured here!

Jan 16, 2009 at 9:06 pm · @Reply ·
No. 22 · Chloe
r0sewhip137. . .smart kid that gives me hope. . .as I wind down in life I see a bright spot for the future.

Peter . . .grammar is overrated.

Jan 16, 2009 at 10:02 pm · @Reply ·
No. 23 · Stephen
@Chip: Fabulous

Jan 17, 2009 at 4:17 am · @Reply ·
No. 24 · backekuchen
“If I were straight” is how I personally prefer to say it (that’s what my secretary mama taught me), but the way he said it is perfectly okay–even grammatically. He got the message across quite well, I think. I always think, “what if I had been able to come out when I was his age.” I got married (like I was supposed to), have three beautiful children, and two wonderful grandsons. Then I came out. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They all accept me (even my ex-wife and her family). When I was Derek’s age I wasn’t sure why girls didn’t catch my eye in the same way as boys did. George

Jan 18, 2009 at 8:28 am · @Reply ·
No. 25 · t
Someone needs it in the butt…..

Jan 18, 2009 at 6:59 pm · @Reply ·
No. 26 · Winter
If I were a boy even just for a day
I’d roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted
And go drink beer with the guys…

Seriously though, you had to suck cock to learn that your parents loved you unconditionally and accept your friends for who they are? Blah.

I remember running across this on teh YouTubez, and decided to go watch “Put A Ring On It” because it was far more entertaining.

I agree w/T btw.

Jan 19, 2009 at 4:38 am · @Reply ·
No. 27 · Sara Rosecrans
I think your hot. Yes I’m a girl. are you single? if you are where do you live? I turn 16 in one week. When did you turn 16?

Jan 25, 2009 at 2:55 pm · @Reply ·
No. 28 · Insideguy
If his grammar error is your only assesment of his comment then you need to rethink what is important to you. Not everyone speasks with arch perfection like William F. Buckley, which was a gimmick anyway. Give the kid a break and make welcome his awareness and activism.

Jan 26, 2009 at 7:05 pm · @Reply ·