Last year, YouTube launched its #ProudToLove video to celebrate LGBT Pride Month and the Supreme Court’s rulings on same-sex marriage. This year, YouTube has followed up its LGBT-inclusive campaign with its #ProudToPlay video, which celebrates LGBT athletes in light of the Sochi Olympics and the World Cup. In the video, YouTube creators, LGBT athletes, and sports stars celebrate the changing atmosphere of LGBT inclusivity in sports and encourage athletes to be open and proud of their sexual or gender identities.
Both videos went viral, with #ProudToLove gathering almost three million hits and #ProudToPlay getting over four million hits. According to Braun, the latest video saw an overwhelmingly positive response:
We saw many comments that the #ProudToPlay campaign inspired people to come out or helped give LGBT people a catalyst to have a conversation with family members, teammates, and colleagues about their sexual orientation.
I think one of the most powerful effects of being able to connect with others through YouTube is that it provides hope, inspiration, and a sort of lifeline to LGBT people, particularly youth, who feel isolated. For LGBT people who live in communities where there aren’t many out role models, YouTube can provide a safe haven for them to connect and watch content made by and for LGBT people. It’s a great place to provide hope and a positive vision of the future.
YouTube Aims to Build Community, Hope for LGBT Youth Online
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