Coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or any other orientation one can identify to, can be an extremely emotional and difficult process.
While it has already proven to be quite the isolating experience for some, others have found strength through social media outlets such as YouTube, where a few of the Internet’s biggest stars have posted videos of them coming clean, talking about their sexual orientation, making life-changing confessions, transitions, or providing precious advice to viewers who might share the same struggles.
Here are some of those brave souls and their inspiring coming out stories.
Three years exactly after coming out to his family, Australian actor, singer and YouTuber Troye Sivan (who was 17 at the time) decided that his few million online followers also deserved to know everything. Ever since then, his video keeps receiving encouraging comments, testaments of love and appreciation, as well as countless thank-yous from other teenagers who also chose to embrace their own individuality.
After having dealt with school bullying, the stress of being a professional athlete and the loss of his father, British diver Tom Daley, who won a bronze medal during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, decided to come clean about his private life… On his own terms. He wanted to reach out, but to do so away from journalists and mass media, which is why he chose YouTube as his safe place to be honest with the world, and himself.
Born in a male body, Canadian vlogger, actress and makeup artist Gigi Gorgeous (formerly Gregory Lazzarato) always knew, deep down inside, that she was meant to be a woman. After posting this video, in which she states : “Basically, this video is kind of me just telling you guys that I want to be female”, she became one of the first transgender people to have documented almost every step of her transition via YouTube. Her channel is now a great testament of her past struggles and present successes.
Growing up small-town Minnesota, Connor Franta never truly felt “normal” until 2014, when he felt inspired by other YouTubers (including aforementioned Troye Sivan) and decided that he was officially done pretending to be something he isn’t. With more than 4,5 million followers at the time, being genuine to them felt crucial, especially if he could help some of them with their own personal conflicts.
Last June, beauty guru and social media maven Ingrid Nilsen, a.k.a. Miss Glamorazzi, posted a video titled Something I Want You To Know. Announcing that she is gay in the most honest, heartfelt, charming and inspirational way, she states : “This is not something that I chose. It is something that is a part of me and has always been a part of me.”
After being a YouTuber for 6 years and amassing over 5,4 million loyal followers, 24-year-old Joey Graceffa decided to come clean last May, when he posted a music video for his song Don’t Wait, which ends with him kissing his male co-star. Two days later, a video titled YES I’M GAY popped up on his channel, featuring a beautiful close-up shot of him opening up about his decision to share the news with the world.
The Rhodes twins might not have the biggest number of followers compared to these previous YouTubers, but their coming out video is the most viewed of them all. With almost 21 million clicks to date, it is a very emotional moment in which they both come out to their father, who was the last person in the Rhodes family who didn’t know about the brothers’ orientation. Watch if you want to hear his (and their) touching reaction!
