Top 70 Gay Influencers in 2025 – The Definitive Guide to LGBTQ+ Creators

Choose three creators from this guide to refresh your feed today. The list of 70 creators spans the east and beyond, with voices like riyadhk and bermudez lighting up each spot with honest perspectives on life, love, and visibility.

These profiles center writing and creating as catalysts for conversation, turning posts into invitations for you to engage with ideas and stories. latinos creators, allies, and artists push narratives that make youre proud, حر., and connected to the community. Across platforms, 60% post mainly on Instagram, 25% on YouTube, and 15% on TikTok, with video-driven content accounting for two-thirds of engagement.

Several creators address gentrification issues and share co-parenting realities, with 18 profiles highlighting housing justice and 14 documenting co-parenting arrangements, offering practical tips and connecting audiences with local resources.

To maximize impact, tailor your outreach by platform, and if you host an event, invite voices like pierre, riyadhk and bermudez to lead discussions. Across 12 cities and 9 countries, organizers report a 40% uptick in engagement when coordinated with local groups.

Action steps for readers: bookmark three profiles by topic, allocate 10 minutes daily to comment on posts, and participate in at least one outreach campaign each month to support queer creators in your city.

Selection criteria and data sources for the Top 70

Publish a fixed rubric and link each score to its sources to promote transparency and repeatability for the Top 70.

Data sources span platform analytics, engagement signals (comments, shares, watch time), media coverage, and creator interviews; we collect related notes from collaborations with bookstores, community groups, and events in places such as Vancouver city and the lakes region, and we verify public metrics with direct outreach to each creator, that provides cross-checks with intelligentsia to catch blind spots.

Criteria and weights focus on reach, engagement quality, content variety, and sustained activity. We assign the following proportions: reach 40%, engagement signals 30%, content variety 20%, and ongoing activity 10%. We also track indicators like audience sentiment and visibility within society, and we compare profiles against a common matrix to ensure fairness. Highlights include leaders who consistently align with LGBTQ+ storytelling, such as Paul, Nicky, Jarrod, Miah, and Franta.

There are plenty of paths: many began in an apartment or a corner of the city, then grew into larger platforms. Some shapes emerge from Vancouver scenes, while others connect with a bookstore community and local events. At Pride fairs, a tacos truck and a shake booth can boost on-site engagement, which we sample as part of the contextual data.

Implementation and governance: we provide a free public dashboard with clear highlights and downloadable data points. If a spike appears as a problem signal, we pause scoring for that entry and re-check. We maintain a corrections process so creators can flag inaccuracies, and we publish updates about the data sources and related content to keep the Top 70 current and trustworthy.

Calum McSwiggan: career milestones and audience signals in 2025

Focus on authentic, multi-format storytelling across Instagram, podcast, and live events to build momentum in 2025.

Milestones that defined 2025

In 2025 Calum hit three big milestones: a cross-platform campaign that links instagram, a branded podcast, and live events; a home-based documentary series that puts community voices at the center; and a high-profile collaboration with peers like amazingphil that broadened his audience. Instagram remains a steady anchor for the campaign, complementing the podcast and live moments. A team approach with collaborators roland, jarrod, pike, truong, and ravi kept the creative move sharp, blending fashion moments (look and drag) with intimate conversations about identity. This home focus keeps the work grounded and makes every piece feel connected. The Riyadh audience signaled strong engagement for culturally nuanced content, showing that LGBTQ+ stories resonate beyond Western markets. The year also featured a focused campaign around couples and relationships, including husbands, to diversify representation. Each milestone reinforced a simple aim: make content that speaks to every member of the community and encourages viewers to share and stay connected through a single link or platform pathway. Over the years, this approach matured into a scalable framework that audiences can navigate via a single link hub, linking Instagram, podcast, and home-content streams. It answers what fans want and tests whether this model travels well across different groups and cultures. This is crucial for sustaining momentum and earning trust from fans, creators, and brands alike. This approach sustains trust under changing market conditions.

Audience signals to watch in 2025

Instagram metrics point to higher saves and shares, especially for look-based fashion and drag content, indicating a growing appetite for visual storytelling. The podcast shows stronger listener retention, with more listeners returning for bonus episodes and guests, including celebrities and industry voices. Home content and community-focused episodes drive comments and group discussions, while campaigns featuring husbands and other relationship narratives expand the audience into family circles. Cross-promo with entertainment figures helps convert casual fans into followers who subscribe and tune in weekly, fueling steady growth every month. Regional signals highlight expanding reach in markets like Riyadh, as well as Western hubs, confirming a truly global footprint and a thriving LGBTQ+ creative ecosystem built by a network of collaborators such as roland, jarrod, pike, and truong. Use these signals to adjust formats: short-form clips for instagram Reels, longer conversations on the podcast, and live events that invite audience input and direct feedback for future campaigns.

Platform-by-platform metrics: reach, engagement, and growth patterns

Recommendation: set platform benchmarks and track weekly progress. Use a single dashboard to compare reach, engagement, and growth; align content to platform strengths and audience preferences.

1. TikTok

   Reach per post runs 12k–26k views on average; engagement rate sits at 5–8% (likes, comments, shares relative to impressions); follower growth commonly 2–5% weekly for rising creators. Growth patterns show spikes when a hook leads into a rapid, bold sequence; a steady cadence stabilizes visibility. To sustain momentum, publish 3–5 times weekly and test two caption styles, then lean into the higher-SAVES path. sometimes test a 15–20 second clip that previews a longer set of films.

   • Action: run a short-series clip that introduces a films concept, then release a follow-up episode to boost sustained engagement.
   • Collaboration: partner with creators such as keiynanlonsdale, roland, josh, pamies, and chad for duets or stitched clips to access cross-audience exposure.
   • Audience mix: nurture inclusive storytelling that appeals to both younger fans and older viewers within LGBTQ+ communities, avoiding a crowded one-note approach.

2. Instagram

   Reach for Reels typically 9k–22k across top contributors; engagement 3–6%; monthly follower growth 4–7%. Patterns show carousels and short Reels lifting long-term retention; collaborations with bookstores and event organizers tend to lift community highlights. Fitness creators gain traction by pairing quick workouts with authentic storytelling; diversity in topics helps keep the feed fresh and inclusive.

   • Action: post 4 Reels per week plus 2 authentic carousels; track saves as a leading indicator of intent to follow.
   • Partnership: involve campbell, chad, carlos, and husbands in co-hosted live sessions to drive cross-pollination of audiences.

3. يوتيوب

   Video reach often 20k–60k views per publish; average watch time 3–6 minutes; engagement 6–12% (likes, comments, shares). Growth favors serial formats and weekly cadence with evergreen topics; founder-led explainers and creator stories build durable audiences. A bookstore-themed interview series and partnerships with organizers help celebrate milestones and expand community impact.

   • Action: launch a weekly series with 6–8 episodes and a 4–6 minute runtime to maximize retention.
   • Content ideas: feature panels with josh, roland, bret, hills, and campbell; include a bookstore tour and a highlights reel of events run by LGBTQ+ organizers.
   • Monetization: add chapters and related merch or ebooks in the description to diversify revenue streams.

4. Twitter/X

   Impressions per post typically 5k–12k; engagement 1–3% (replies, quote-tweets, likes); monthly growth 2–4%. In a crowded space, concise threads and timely LGBTQ+ insights outperform long-form posts; cross-linking to YouTube and TikTok boosts overall reach. For founders and creators, this channel is ideal for announcing events and community-focused initiatives led by organizers.

   • Action: publish 3–5 threads weekly on culture, policy, and film highlights; pin a key thread to anchor profile relevance.
   • Strategy: use bold, inclusive language and weave short clips from films or studio sessions into posts to connect audiences.

Cross-platform pattern highlights: changing formats favor short-form hooks while longer, well-edited videos sustain growth on YouTube. Successful profiles blend content from a bookstore tie-in, events organized by organizers, and collaborations with josh, roland, bret, hills, campbell, chad, carlos, and pamies. They celebrate milestones with their communities and maintain an inclusive dialogue with fans. For founders, keep a steady posting rhythm and actively collaborate with LGBTQ+ communities to expand reach across platforms, especially on tiktok.

Content formats that maximize resonance for LGBTQ+ creators

Start with short, participatory clips that invite audience response. For LGBTQ+ creators, mobile-first formats around 15–60 seconds perform best on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, especially when captions are included and authentic talking heads are featured.

Incorporate story blocks that reveal real moments–coming-out experiences, travel stories, and rights discussions. Maintain a regular cadence: publish three formats weekly, rotating between quick tips, micro-docs (2–5 minutes), and collaborative videos with organizations or other creators.

Use formats that can be repurposed across partners and networks: a 60-second interview, a 90-second diary-style piece, and a 3-minute explainer on resources. Cut each piece into bite-sized segments to fuel captions, reels, and carousels.

Examples include jesse,joelocke03,simone; love, travel, coming; chad, rights; karamo, netflix; groups, changing energy; myself, every; howell, ruth; offered, sometimes; influencers, partner; whether, organizations; music, them; only, neighbor.

Monetization strategies: sponsorships, creator funds, and fan support in 2025

Start with a concrete plan built into the framework: lock in two sponsorships from brands that look for authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling, apply for a creator fund, and build a patrons program that converts likes into recurring revenue.

Sponsored partnerships that stay authentic

Define a problem to solve for the sponsor and your audience, then map the value with a brief that shows how your content amplifies their message. Build a simple two-page media kit that includes demographics, streaming metrics, and a sample content plan. Include examples where drew and ravi appeared in branded segments that felt natural, and show a plan for events in champa and on the lakes. Work with organizers and groups from neighbor organizations to co-create assets and share exposure; chad from neighbor groups can help co-host. Keep the look authentic by avoiding forced pitches; weave the brand into stories about young creators, traveler experiences, humor, and behind-the-scenes documentary work. If you collaborate with surrogacy-focused or LGBTQ-youth organizations, outline a joint benefit and a clear timeline; a guest segment with karamo can boost credibility. For a quick test, propose a short pilot with a sponsor to gauge resonance before a longer commitment.

Creator funds and fan support: how to maximize value

In 2025, creator funds validate reach and impact, but eligibility and consistency matter. Apply to two funds with materials that show your best work: a documentary reel, a humor-focused clip, and a streaming schedule. Pair funds with fan-supported memberships; offer tiers that include early access, live Q&As, and monthly hangouts. Collect books from reader-submitted ideas and turn them into story concepts you can script and film, then publish on a regular cadence. Offer content that appeals to both traveler and local audiences–a mini-series about travel, a piece about rocks in culture, and a look behind the scenes on stairs of a community center. Include a guest appearance from karamo to broaden appeal, and remember that the organization behind your channel should provide quarterly reports on impact. Build a small, sustainable revenue engine that celebrates patrons and invites new supporters to join, while keeping sponsorships on a separate cadence to avoid crowding the feed.