The UK’s Top 5 LGBTQ+ YouTubers
By Aoife Etherson
Given that its pride month, we wanted to highlight who we think the UK’s top LGBTQ+ YouTubers are.
At present, ‘Top # LGBTQ+ YouTubers’ lists typically focus on American creators, whilst lists here in the UK tend to exclude any discussion on sexuality/identity. We thought it was about time that changed; so, without further ado, here’s our list of the UK’s top 5 LGBTQ+ YouTubers.
The list is ordered alphabetically:
Abigail Thorn
YouTube: Philosophy Tube
Subscribers: 971K
Total Views: 62.2M
Thorn took to YouTube in 2013, where she began teaching philosophy online after university tuition fees increased in 2012, saying she wanted to “[..] give away a philosophy degree for free”. Since then, Thorn’s content has shifted to include skits and productions, often using props, dramatic lighting, and studio sets to continue to educate her viewers on a myriad of subjects.
Thorn came out as bisexual in 2019, before coming out as transgender in 2021 with the video ‘Identity: A Trans Coming Out Story’; garnering almost 2 million views. Thorn has recently been nominated for the Online Impact award at the upcoming British LGBT Awards.
Alex Bertie
YouTube: Alex Bertie
Subscribers: 287K
Total Views: 12.9M
Alex Bertie, a Youtuber and graphic designer is the next on our list. After seeking out transition info & advice on YouTube as a trans man, and finding very little to browse, Bertie decided to create a channel of his own. His videos primarily center around information that isn’t easy to find elsewhere for trans folk, but he also makes videos discussing the LGBTQ+ community more wildly and addresses mental health struggles.
Published in 2017, Bertie released his first novel ‘Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard’; receiving high ratings. Writing in his book, he notes;
“Nothing will ever beat the feeling I get when I’m approached by someone saying my videos have helped them”
David K Smith
YouTube: ProfessorDaveatYork
Subscribers: 3.64K
Total Views: 760.1K
Named one of the ‘175 Faces of Chemistry’ in 2015 and garnering multiple awards for his work in nanomaterials, Professor Dave is next on our list. A professor at the University of York, Smith took to YouTube to create educational science videos. Since then, as an openly gay man Smith also talks about diversity in science, and addresses the need for LGBTQ+ role models.
Speaking with C&EN in 2018, Smith has this to say about the importance of intersectionality in science:
“Being gay in science, female in science, an ethnic minority in science […] all of these things influence us as scientists”
Fox & Owl Fisher
YouTube: Fox and Owl
Subscribers: 16.7K
Total Views: 2.6M
Fox and Owl gained YouTube popularity with their candid discussions of trans and non-binary stories & issues. Their content ranges from feature-length documentaries to Q&A’s, where they provide insights into trans and non-binary existence.
Growing tired and frustrated over the lack of authentic trans portrayal in the media, they co-created ‘My Genderation’; a film project that ‘celebrates trans lives and trans experiences’. Since its inception, ‘My Genderation’ has created programming for Channel 4 (My Trans Story), the BBC (New Genderation), campaigns for Stonewall UK, and countless others.
Co-creator of the children’s book ‘Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl?’, along with ‘Trans Teen Survival Guide’ and ‘Trans Survival Workbook’; Fox Fisher received an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton for their contribution to the arts for the LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Rose Ellen Dix & Rosie Spaughton
YouTube: Rose and Rosie
Subscribers: 1M
Total Views: 232.9M
Two for the price of one; Rose Ellen Dix and Rosie Spaughton are a married pair who gained popularity through their shared YouTube channel. Having amassed a huge following of over 1 million people, they are two of the most followed LGBTQ+ YouTubers worldwide!
In 2018 they released their novel ‘Overshare: Love, Laughs, Sexuality and Secrets’ followed by their feature-length documentary, also titled ‘Overshare’.
Their content ranges from queer film reviews and gaming videos to couch comedy and celebrity interviews, and just about everything in-between. Recently, their content has focused on their IUI journey and pregnancy as LGBT people, and with Rosie currently in her third trimester, we can’t wait to see baby Dix-Spaughton!