To mark the 2015 Queerties Awards, we’ve compiled lists of outstanding LGBTQ folks and allies (and, yes, some of our foes) in a variety of categories. At the end of each list, we ask you, the reader, to cast your vote for who should come out on top.
Kicking off this year’s program is the category YouTube Standouts. Social media is saturated with personalities vying for attention, but these ten queer YouTubers are the cream of the crop. From comedy to politics, each brings to the table positive visibility for the LGBTQ community.
Be sure to vote for your favorite, below the fold…
Riyadh K
Call it conscious awkwardness or cringe-worthy activism, but whatever Riyadh K considers his brand to be, it’s always an entertaining ride. He’s enlisted his mother to read his Grindr messages, confronted Westboro Baptist’s Shirley Phelps head-on and dialed up his childhood bully all for the sake of building his channel. But where some YouTubers only seem to be seeking views, Riyadh always has a positive message mixed in with the laughs.
Arielle Scarcella
Strong (not to mention hilarious) role models aren’t exactly a dime a dozen for young lesbians, and Arielle Scarcella has built an impressive fan base by staying honest and always being willing to laugh at herself. But it’s Arielle’s cast of friends that make her videos stand out, giving young queer visibility a good name.
We’re not sure from which comedy alternate universe Brian Jordan Alvarez seems to have recently transported, but we do know we’re happy to have him. He’s produced a string of fantastic videos this year. Some have ventured into the realm of the obscure (like this exaggerated take on gay rejection), but they always strike a real chord. Those gay age gap videos? Brilliant.
Raymond Braun
Raymond isn’t just another pretty YouTube face (though let’s be honest — he is that also). He’s produced some noteworthy videos, from documenting marriage equality in Ireland, to interviewing trans activist Jazz Jennings about what kids can do if they think they might be trans, to profiling Jim Obergefell, the man behind the Supreme Court same-sex marriage case.
Tyler Oakley
While Oakley has been producing YouTube videos since 2007, he’s still only 26 years old and continues to be an excellent role model. In between the irreverent pop culture and silliness, Tyler has tackled issues like suicide prevention and healthcare. With over 7 million subscribers, that’s quite the platform for positivity.
Joey Graceffa
With his gaming channel and daily vlog, Joey Graceffa has over six million subscribers on YouTube. Since coming out (on YouTube, naturally), he’s started to skew his videos from implicitly gay to, well, explicitly. And while the contrast may seem superficial, to questioning youth seeking role models online, it makes all the difference.
Cole Escola
Sometimes, it’s enough just to be comically gifted and seriously talented. What Cole lacks in “message,” he more than makes up for by continuing to crack us up. To pieces. If you’re one of those people who always says “oh, my sense of humor is dark” like a badge of honor, you’ll either adore Cole, or quickly realize your humor isn’t actually that dark after all. Never before have we laughed so hard at things like murder and addiction. But in reality Cole really does offer the world something invaluable — if we can’t laugh, what’s the point? — and we hope he never stops.
Hart
Hart is the full package. Her videos range from serious to silly, but what always comes through is the feeling that she cares. From tackling real issues like transgender workplace discrimination to demonstrating how she chills, Hart is someone you’ll wish was actually in your living room with you instead of on the screen. What we mean to say is, Hart has Heart.
Jonny McGovern
He’s come a long way since 2011’s Sexy Nerd, but Jonny McGovern is still keeping us wildly entertained on his channel as only the Gay Pimp could. From his shade-fest of a show Hey Qween to standup clips and music videos, he’s one YouTuber that refuses to be put in a box. Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.
Skarlet Starlet
If you’ve ever had a hankering to dip your toes in the world of drag, Skarlet is your girl. She’s got tutorials for her tutorials, but it never feels like a drag watching this queen explain the dos and don’ts of wigs, makeup, padding — you name it. Anyone helping out young queens-in-the-making look their best is OK in our book, and Skarlet’s attention to detail earns her a rightful spot on our list.
The 2015 Queerties: Who Is The Biggest Douche Of The Year?
KM201
None of the above, but especially not Jonny McGovern. He’s a rapist.
Billy Budd
I could vote for any of them, except for Davey Wavey. I hate Davey Wavey and I am glad he is not on the list.
JessPH
Where is that annoying twink who made a video about his slutty Halloween costumes and let his mom choose over them?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
The Ingrid Nilsen & Hannah Hart slow cooking sapphic Singularity
Hillers
@KM201: Wha’???
Xzamilio
I would vote for Raymond Braun, as he seems to be one of the few on that list that uses his platform to actually advocates for LGBT rights instead of being a glorified attention whore… not that there’s anything wrong with that.
moldisdelicious
Asap science/thought.
Quingcess
@JessPH: Are we still on that or Are you jealous that you didn’t get the idea first?
OzJosh
If there were a Hunger Games-style contest to see which of these annoying professional attention-seekers would be permanently eliminated from the known universe, then I would vote.
sportsguy1983
People shouldn’t be feeding this youtubers narcissistic need for attention and validation.
Cagnazzo82
No Marcus Butler? I’m assuming Queerty missed out on his twinkie abs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtWBnL_A7eI
🙂
Arcamenel
I would vote for Jack Merridew if he was on this list.
nitejonboy
where’s my sweetie Troye Sivan ??
Daniel-Reader
Riyadh, Raymond, Tyler, Joey, and Johnny are all really entertaining.
crispy111
None of them please, especially not Tyler Oakly, He’s terrible.
kafal
where are the asap science guys, the only gay youtubers who are not narcistic and teach people about science and something important other than gay stupid stuffs, but yeah this is lgbt community all we think about is dumb narcistic things,
at least you don’t include stupid davey wavey or whatever his name is. i really want to punch him every single time he open his mouth.
loujourtajour
Brian Jordan Alvarez – Stick to the short clips and improv, but refreshing new queer voice in humor.
Jonny McGovern – Bitch, you put in your time. You get a vote.
jag4313
What about Jenna Marbles, Mamrie Hart or Miranda Sings? Those are the funny ones.
Penholder
These are really bad choices. What happened to Vsqared, TrentandLuke, Callum Mcswiggan, Mike Rizzi, Matthew Lush?
zooby
Out of those? Tyler… At least he owned his sexuality from the beginning unlike Graceffa.
And Raymond is annoying and tries too hard (just like those Rhodes twins…)
ingyaom
None of the above.
verylittlegravitasindeed
I’m going to go with Mark E. Miller and his bf Ethan Heathcote..too freaking adorable.
JolovesKris
Can you add people on here that a lot of people love. Just not me like…Bria and Chrissy, Kaelyn and Lucy, Ashley Mardell , Jellyandday, RoseEllenDix etc. They had this vote on lizzy the lezzy facebook and a lot of people wanted you to put these people on and are not voting because you are missing them. Just a thought! Thanks
Dwik27
Where is JACK MERRIDEW????
Dwik27
That is Jack Merridew – he should be on this list
Markajv
@sportsguy1983: How are they not any different than Actors and Actresses in Hollywood who do Interviews to promote themselves in a movie or tv show. They go through an entire season of awards, Your gonna have to face the fact that YouTubers with talent have figured a way to build a following. A lot of them get upwards of 4 million subscribers and they are making some bucks.
FnameLname
Brian Jordan Alvarez, hands down. Cole Escola is equally as talented but he hasn’t had as many videos lately.
robho3
@KM201:
Jonny a rapist? How’s that?
meghanada
Who are these people?
JessPH
@Quingcess: Are you that annoying twink?