The LGBTQIA+ community has always been a beacon of creativity, advocacy, and joy — cultivating spaces for people to show up authentically and showcase all aspects of who they are. At TikTok, we continue to be inspired by the vibrant diversity on our platform and are honored to be a space where so many share their stories and identities. Each day we laugh, learn, and are uplifted by talented LGBTQIA+ creators, inspiring us to continue to provide a safe and supportive environment where everyone can be their true and authentic selves.
This Pride Month, we're celebrating LGBTQIA+ creators who continue to inspire, educate, and make an impact. To recognize the LGBTQIA+ community, we’re excited to debut our 2024 LGBTQIA+ Visionary Voices list, alongside our featured in-app initiatives #ForYourPride, including our first-time #ShopWithPride program, in-app TikTok LIVE events, #PrideAnthem music playlists, and IRL events to celebrate our diverse LGBTQIA+ community both online and offline. Read more about our 2024 LGBTQIA+ TikTok Visionary Voices and Pride campaign, You Belong Here below.
Meet Our 2024 TikTok LGBTQIA+ Visionary Voices
Our 2024 LGBTQIA+ TikTok Visionary Voices List recognizes 15 LGBTQIA+ creators, industry disruptors, and small business owners who use their platforms to champion the LGBTQIA+ community. Their vibrant content not only captivates audiences worldwide, but also educates, advocates, and drives positive change on and off of TikTok.
Creators
@kissyduerre [she/her] (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) - Kissy is a multi-platform digital creator who started creating content on TikTok to educate others on how sexism, racism, and transphobia intersect and affect her as a Black trans woman. She creates self-love, motivational, and lifestyle content through fashion, beauty, humor, and advocating for trans and queer youth. Kissy sprinkles a little bit of love, kindness, and humor in the content she shares with audiences around the world, hoping that one person might feel inspired, happy, a sense of freedom, or not so alone.@thedarcymichael [he/him] (British Columbia, Canada) - Darcy and Jer are married comedians, creating content that celebrates hilarious conversations around relationships, mental health, and getting by in this wild world. After five years of creating content, Darcy and Jer embarked on a 50-city North American stand-up tour, "No Refunds," that has now expanded to Europe. The two also recently filmed their new comedy special, coming out this fall worldwide. Married for 20 years, these two creators are also dads to their daughter, Grace, and their equally famous dog, @YumaDog.@theeglamnaija [she/her] (San Diego, CA) - Nai-Jelee is a 26-year-old beauty influencer, known for her high-energy GRWMs and #storytimes. She is a pillar of confidence, composure, and class for the underrepresented communities she supports in every post.@thelipsticklesbians [she/her] (Brooklyn, NY) - Alexis Androulakis and Dr. Christina Basias Androulakis, known as "The Lipstick Lesbians," stumbled into content creation on a fateful trip to Sephora. Using their platform to educate around beauty products and empowerment, they have built a thriving online beauty community. Alexis, with over 17 years of experience in the beauty industry, brings expertise in product development, sales, and education, having worked with high-profile brands and celebrities. Christina, an award-winning educator with a Ph.D. in Education and Technology, has transitioned from teaching to leading strategy and is also the key videographer behind the platform (aka camera wifey). Together, they are elevating beauty literacy with a collective mission to foster a community where beauty serves as a tool for empowerment and self-expression.@undos [he/him] (Los Angeles, CA) - Zach Jelks is a creator from Atlanta, GA, based in Los Angeles, CA, who showcases his personality through fashion, humor, and lifestyle. He uses his platform on TikTok to spread joy to others and make his audience’s day a little easier.
Industry Disruptors
@elliemedhurst [she/her] (Birmingham, UK) - Eleanor Medhurst is an independent fashion historian and the author of “Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion” (2024). After completing her master's degree at the University of Brighton and working on the exhibitions “Queer Looks” and “Queer the Pier” at Brighton Museum, she launched her lesbian fashion history blog, dressingdykes.com. She continues to share queer histories online through her platform on TikTok.@sashacolby [she/her] (Los Angeles, CA) - As a proud trans-Hawaiian woman, Sasha is a staple in the American drag industry. She’s been hailed “A LEGEND” by castmates of Drag Race past and present and is a former Miss Continental 2012 (one of the most, if not the most, prestigious titles in the drag community). She has been an influential figure of personal empowerment for the drag and trans community for over a decade. Sasha is also the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15, marking a monumental moment in Drag Race history as the first Hawaiian and trans contestant to be crowned.@theebillyporter [he/him, she/her, they/them] (Los Angeles, CA) - Billy Porter is an award-winning actor, singer, and director known for his Emmy-winning role in the drama "Pose." He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has starred in films like "Our Son," "80 For Brady," and "Cinderella." He made his directorial debut with "Anything’s Possible" on Prime Video in 2022 and directed an episode of Fox’s "Accused" in 2023. In 2021, he released his memoir "Unprotected" and as a recording artist, Porter most recently released his latest album "Black Mona Lisa" under Island Records and Republic Records. Upcoming, Porter will co-write and star in a James Baldwin biopic.@underthedesknews [she/they] (Rochester, NY) - V Spehar is a Webby Award-winning digital journalist and activist. Dubbed the “Walter Cronkite of Gen Z” by the New York Times, Under The Desk News™ started out as a series expanding on news events in a nutshell and quickly became Gen Z and Millenials go-to source for news. V has mastered the art of short-form digests, giving audiences brief recaps of notable headlines daily. Internationally, they were recognized for outstanding journalism by Mozilla FireFox as part of the inaugural Rise25.@unlearn16 [she/her] (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) - Joanna Johnson is an educator with a solid sense of sarcasm and an even stronger sense of justice. With a quick 'hun' or 'my dude,' they are able to disarm bigotry and prejudice through education and awareness.
Small-Owned Businesses (SMBs)
@onesize [he/him] (Los Angeles, CA) - In 2020, digital icon, celebrity makeup artist and licensed esthetician @patrickstarrr launched his very own beauty brand, ONE/SIZE — a brand redefining beauty by elevating the voices of the unseen and unheard, where makeup is ONE/SIZE fits all. Before becoming a Brand Founder, Patrick launched his YouTube channel in 2013 and has amassed 14M+ followers to date across all his social channels. Patrick has since worked with renowned celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Naomi Campbell.@rainbowcertified [she/her] (Ontario, Canada) - Sarah Couvillon and Rachael Newby are the creators of Rainbow Certified. Combining their love for creativity and their passion for the LGBTQIA+ Community, they created a brand that celebrates Pride 365 days of the year by creating apparel and accessories. @shopvenvs [she/they] (New York, NY) - Haley is the visionary co-founder of Shop VENVS, a trailblazing non-traditional engagement ring company devoted to celebrating love in all its forms. With a deep commitment to inclusivity, Haley has transformed Shop VENVS into a sanctuary for LGBTQIA+ individuals, offering a safe and welcoming environment to discover the perfect symbol of their love and sharing her work with her online community on TikTok. Her dedication to diversity ensures that every couple finds unique and meaningful options that reflect their individuality and love story.@the_underbelly [she/they] (El Sobrante, CA) - The Underbelly is a Black and Queer-owned app that offers a safe space and culture for you to be authentically you and navigate your wellness path with classes rooted in self-acceptance and curiosity. The Underbelly is a small, diverse team of dreamers and doers including the co-founder, yoga instructor, and Chief Creative Officer, Jessamyn Stanley. Jessamyn is an award-winning yoga instructor and the author of "Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance" and "Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get on the Mat, Love your Body."@woxer [she/her] (Miami, FL) - Founded by Alexandra Fuente, Woxer is a direct-to-consumer company that specializes in creating comfortable apparel designed to enhance everyday life. The company is known for its innovative approach to women's boxer briefs, providing comfort without sexualization and promoting inclusivity for all sizes, genders, and sexual orientations. Woxer prioritizes eco-friendly practices, using sustainable materials and partnering with socially responsible manufacturers. Under Alexandra's leadership, Woxer supports various causes, including LGBTQ+ initiatives, women's sports, youth programs, and mental health.
You Belong Here: Celebrating the LGBTQIA+ Community on TikTok and Beyond
We are honored to empower our community with inclusive spaces to express themselves freely and embrace their identities authentically. "You Belong Here" is more than just a campaign — it's our ongoing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community as they reach new audiences, build careers, and make a positive impact. Join us as we celebrate Pride and our LGBTQIA+ community through a series of in-app initiatives, LIVE events, and special programming. This June, TikTok’s #ForYourPride in-app programming hub will feature inspiring stories from creators, LGBTQIA+ owned businesses and organizations.
Pride on LIVE
Kicking off on June 18, 2024, our Pride on LIVE series will spotlight a special lineup of LGBTQIA+ LIVE creators. The programming will be live-streamed from our @tiktoklive_us account and will feature conversations with creators and special guests detailing their journeys on TikTok. Be sure to follow @tiktok and @tiktoklive_us for more info on our Pride on LIVE lineup!
Celebrating TikTok’s #Gayming Community Keep an eye out for LIVEs from @gaymingmag's DIGIPRIDE, featuring a special livestream on Juneteenth with a takeover by Black Girl Gamers and more. In addition to programmed LIVEs with @gaymingmag, TikTok will sponsor the Gayming Awards' “Best LGBTQ Indie Game” awards category. Nominees in this category will receive support from TikTok with mentorship on marketing their indie game to power up their game’s advertising. Tune in to our #Gayming programming efforts on @gaymingmag.
#PrideAnthems: Tunes of Celebration Throughout the year, TikTok continues to celebrate the sounds and boundary-defying music from LGBTQIA+ artists with our #PrideAnthems music programming efforts. Throughout June, our Sounds page will highlight our #PrideAnthems playlist on the Sounds page with a banner featuring Chappell Roan @chappellroan and a special guest playlist from Daya @daya.
#ShopWithPride
We’re partnering with our #PrideTok community to bring immersive content from creators and exclusive must-haves from brands that let shoppers unbox with pride! TikTok Shop will be hosting a first-time in-app shoppable #ShopWithPride campaign featuring LGBTQIA+ owned businesses and allies. TikTok Shop favorite brands like @kimchichic, @thephixofficial, @danessamyricksbeauty, and @onesize will launch exclusive products, partner with creators, and take part in Pride-themed shoppable activations. Come #ShopWithPride in the Shop Tab beginning on June 1st!
Pride Inside: TikTok's Commitment to LGBTQIA+ Employee Support
This month and beyond, we continue to champion and recognize the visionary employees who power our platform. Throughout the year, PRIDE (TikTok’s LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group) hosts a series of events and internal programming to ensure that the community and allies at TikTok feels valued, honored, and connected.
Fostering a Safe and Inclusive Space for all
You Belong Here is a commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community on TikTok, and one that stands year-round. We believe that all people deserve to express themselves authentically, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race or religious background.
We remain committed to protecting the entire TikTok community, and especially the LGBTQIA+ community on our platform. We have clear policies in place and remove content and accounts that engage in harassment, bullying, hate speech, and hateful behavior, such as deadnaming or misgendering.
We recently launched an Inclusion and Belonging guide on our Safety Center for members of the LGBTQIA+ community that includes information on the tools and resources available to them to create a TikTok experience that allows for authenticity and creativity. We continuously introduce new tools to promote kindness and safety, including ways to customize your For You Feed with keyword filters and Refresh. We also empower people to create a safe and enjoyable TikTok experience by providing a range of safety features, such as confidential ways to report potentially violative content and accounts, comment filtering tools and privacy settings to choose who can engage with their content.
As a platform where everyone belongs, we are honored to empower our community with a safe and inclusive space to express themselves freely and embrace their identities authentically. This June and beyond, join us as we celebrate Pride and our inspiring LGBTQIA+ community.
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