Top 10 LGBTQ YouTubers

Although the internet can be a toxic space, the 10 LGBTQ YouTubers outlined in today’s blog provide hope for the future of YouTube. If acceptance and equality are what you’re after, keep reading, because I have created a list of the top 10 LGBTQ YouTubers of 2020 just for you! This list is full of creators and influencers that are helping their subscribers love and accept themselves as well as each other. From heartwarming coming out videos to talents like no other, the following 10 YouTubers represent the LGBTQ community well. Through their authenticity and courage, they serve as advocates for equality and acceptance in the YouTube community.  

1. Shane Dawson

• 23.2M subscribers
• 5.4B views
• Joined Sept. 21, 2005

Shane Dawson is an American YouTuber, actor, writer, comedian, make-up artist, and musician. He was one of the first people to gain fame on YouTube. Shane Dawson has been on YouTube for almost 15 years now! With a following of 23.2 million on the platform, he continues to expand his following through his creative content. His early videos featured comedic skits, where he would play different characters and impersonate famous celebrities. Among his most viewed videos is his very emotional coming out story posted in 2015, in which he announces to his millions of fans that he is bisexual. In addition to being an LGBTQ YouTuber, he is an author of two New York Times best-selling books, “I Hate Myselfie” and “It Gets Worse”. Interested in learning about Shane Dawson’s net worth? Check out our blog post about it!  

2. Jeffree Star

• 17.3M subscribers 
• 2.1B views
• Joined Feb. 14, 2006

Jeffree Star is a popular makeup artist, entrepreneur, songwriter, internet celebrity, and YouTuber. He is among the highest-paid YouTubers, as he is worth $75 million. He brings in $150 million from his cosmetics line Jeffree Star Cosmetics. In fact, in 2018 Jeffree was ranked the fifth highest-paid YouTuber on the Forbes Highest-Paid YouTube Stars list. Read more about Jeffree Star’s net worth. Jeffree is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and has donated thousands of dollars to the LGBT Center of Los Angeles. Jeffree Star rightfully deserves his spot on his list, given his many successes and the fact that he was named one of the top fastest-growing YouTubers of the year!

3. James Charles

• 16.7M subscribers 
• 1.8B views
• Joined Dec. 1, 2015

James Charles is best known for being an LGBTQ YouTuber and successful makeup artist. He started making YouTube videos in 2015 and very quickly rose to fame when we became the first male CoverGirl. His channel is now 16.7 million “sisters” strong! Some of James Charles’s greatest accomplishments include the launch of his palette with Morphe and his Streamy award. However, his greatest project yet is coming to YouTube this year! It is a reality TV series on YouTube, where he will be inviting a few rising makeup artists to compete for a grand prize. James will be the host and producer! You can find more details about James Charles’s newest endeavor in our recent blog post.  If you are interested in learning how James Charles went from makeup to millions, check out this article outlining his net worth and rise to fame. 

4. Nikkie Tutorials

• 13.1M subscribers
• 1.2B views
• Joined June 23, 2008

Nikkie recently broke the internet with her coming out video. She announced that she is transgender and has been overwhelmed with love and support since releasing her hit on January 13th, 2020. The video has received 32.3 million views and counting! Nikkie, better known as NikkieTutorials, is a Dutch makeup artist and YouTube vlogger. She is a professional hair and makeup artist who features videos that showcase her professional work. Her looks are exquisite, and her uploads are very informal and entertaining to watch. Her most popular audience is people between the ages of 17-29. Her reach is seen internationally, and her channel is very popular in New York. 

Her YouTube content is almost all beauty based, with uploads featuring cosmetic tutorials. She gained online popularity in 2015 after her YouTube video, “The Power of Makeup”, went viral. Nikkie has become one of the most successful and inspiring beauty influencers on YouTube, as she encourages others to be themselves regardless of labels.

5. Tyler Oakley

• 7.3M subscribers 
• 600K views
• Joined Sept. 18, 2007

Tyler Oakley is an American YouTuber, activist, and author. He is a very influential figure in the LGBTQ community, as is an advocate for what he believes in. He dedicates his time to LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ rights, and is passionate about the prevention of suicide among LGBTQ youth. In addition to his dedication to the LGBTQ community, Tyler Oakley is one of YouTube’s top LGBTQ creators. Tyler began making YouTube videos in 2007 and gained a large following upon the release of his first video titled “Raindrops”, which received 500k views. It is no surprise Tyler Oakley remains popular and prevalent, as his positive attitude and energetic nature are simply irresistible!

Interested in learning how Tyler Oakley turns his vlogs into millions of dollars? We are sharing information about the lucrative styles of YouTube videos.

6. Eva Gutowski (MyLifeAsEva)

• 10.8M subscribers 
• 1.2B views
• Joined July 24, 2011

Eva Gutowski is a Californian YouTuber and internet personality. She has inspired many over the years as a proud member of the LGBTQ community. In 2016 Eva came out as bisexual on Twitter. Today, she remains a successful LGBTQ YouTuber, posting videos that involve fashion, lifestyle content, and comedy. Her music videos, how-to’s, funny skits, and day-to-day vlogs receive millions of views and entertain her many subscribers. Within the last few years, Eva Gutowski released her YouTube Red original series. She was ranked No. 4 in Variety’s Famechangers Digital Star Rankings list and was once referred to by People as YouTube’s fastest-growing star.

7. Joey Graceffa

• 9.37M subscribers 
• 2B views 
• Joined Oct. 25, 2009

Joseph Graceffa is an American YouTuber, actor, author, producer, and musician. He is best known for his highly followed YouTube channel, which has 9 million subscribers and counting. He runs three channels: a main channel for vlogging, a second channel for video gaming content, and a third channel for daily vlogs. You may recognize Joey Graceffa from season 22 and 24 of The Amazing Race, in addition to a handful of short films. His newest gig includes a role on Escape the Night, an unscripted series on YouTube with Liza Koshy, Shane Dawson, and a few other big names in the YouTube community.  

8. Manny MUA

• 4.76M subscribers 
• 4.4B views 
• Joined July 16, 2014

Manuel Gutierrez is a YouTuber and makeup artist from San Diego. He is best known for his unique makeup looks and from being the first male brand ambassador for the make-up brand Maybelline! Manny MUA loves to keep his videos exciting and fun, as he features products and looks the world has never seen before. For instance, his most viewed video features his experiment with the world’s first foaming foundation! One of the many reasons you should love Manny includes his passion for equality. In the description of his YouTube channel, Manny expresses his belief that men can be glamorous too, “Honestly I believe that men can wear makeup, teach makeup, and vlog about it just as much as girls can and I am fighting for that equality with my channel.” If you are interested in hearing Manny’s coming out story as well as what life as a member of the LGBTQ community in Mormon culture is like, watch his coming out video.

9. Nikita Dragun

• 2.6M subscribers 
• 1.1B views 
• Joined Feb. 1, 2013

Nikita Dragun is a popular makeup artist and vlogger on YouTube. She got her start, in 2014, by sharing her jaw-dropping go-to glam looks with her followers. Nikita is transgender, and during her transition from male to female, she took her fans along for the ride, being completely open throughout the process. According to Forbes, Nikita was in preschool when she first realized that she was different, “I wanted to put on a dress and look cute. Everyone else can nap, but I’m going to be a princess over here! But one day a teacher came over and asked why I was dressing up like this and then she called my parents.” Nikita is already a successful businesswoman. She recently launched her own cosmetics line called “Dragun Beauty”, which sold out in only 12 hours!

10. Gigi Gorgeous 

• 2.89M subscribers 
• 4.7B views 
• Joined Jul 6, 2008

Giselle Loren Lazzarato Getty, better known as Gigi Gorgeous, is an LGBTQ YouTuber, socialite, actress, and model from Montreal, Canada. Gigi was named by NeoReach one of the top ten Canadian influencers. She began posting videos on YouTube in 2008, where she quickly gained a large following. She came out as a transgender woman in 2013 and documented her transition through her YouTube channel. In a series of videos, she informed viewers on the process and procedures of her transition. These videos went viral, and Gigi Gorgeous soon became a well-known LGBTQ YouTuber. Gigi’s videos range from lighthearted vlogs to heavy topics regarding the struggles she faces as a transgender woman.

Want more of the top LGBTQ YouTubers? Here are some who didn’t make the cut: