In 2014, The Advocate said of Tyler Oakely in their 2014 40 under 40: Emerging Voices that due to his presence on YouTube, he is the first openly gay person that many people have met. Since he produced his first video in 2007, he has become a voice for the LGBTQ community, focusing his wry wit and laser insight on topics such as healthcare, education, and the prevention of suicide among LGBT youth.
This summer, he has launched an ambitious 8-part series titled “Chosen Family: Stories of Queer Resilience.’ The series celebrates the LGBTQ+ experience during Pride Month with exclusive and original new episodes every week. Oakley tackles a wide variety of topics from the plight of LGBTQ+ refugees to the process of becoming a drag queen to the devastation left in the wake of the Pulse shooting one year later.
Check out the series and his other videos at Oakley’s YouTube channel.
