Tyler Oakley

Tyler in his first video, raindrops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIdT_tIPomw ())

Tyler Oakley was born in Jackson, Michigan on March 22, 1989. He started making youtube videos in 2007 while still a freshman at Michigan State University. Raindrops (his first video) was uploaded on October 1, 2007, receiving over 4,000 views. Since then, he has built an empire on YouTube with over 8 million subscribers, with his most popular video having a little over 11 million views. Many call him the Queen of Youtube.

Tyler taking a selfie with Jimmy Fallon (http://www.wetheunicorns.com/news/watch-tyler-oakl ())

Tyler has done a lot since 2007. He was in PBS's documentary called Generation Like. He wrote an autobiography about his life called Binge and launched a 21 city book tour, while shooting his behind the scenes documentary called Snervous. Along with his book tour he also launched his Slumber Party Tour with 20 locations ranging from the UK, West Coast and East Coast (America) and Australia. He has been nominated for may awards and won several including; entertainer of the year (2013), best LGBTQ podcast (with co-host and best friend, Korey Kuhl) at the podcast awards (2015), and two Teen Choice Awards (2015). He has been a guest on many shows including; Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, Ellen and The Tonight Show. In 2015, he launched his Hear Me Out campaign and closed captioned all of his videos. Has been in several magazines including: Seventeen and Bop Magazine. Tyler and his best friend Korey Kuhl were on season 28 of the Amazing Race.And was part of Youtube's campaign, Dare to be You. The list goes on and on. To learn more about his childhood and life before becoming a internet star watch his "Draw My Life" video from 2013. And to learn more about his accomplishments watch his "100 Things I Did In 2013", "100 Things I Did In 2014" and "100 Things I Did In 2015".

(http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/04/11/tyler-oakley- ())

Tyler has also done a lot with The Trevor Project, a non-profift organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth. In 2008, he read a suicide letter on The Trevor Project's website talking about one man's pain and suffering, this letter sparked something in Tyler and because of it he uploaded a video called "Be The Change", inspiring hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth to share their vision of the future. Then in 2010, started at The Trevor Project team as a social media intern. He also co-hosted The Trevor Live Red Carpet Pre-Show annually since 2011. As of 2015, he is their largest independent donor, raising $555,157 (announced at Trevor Live 2015), and was awarded the Trevor Youth Innovator Award (at Trevor Live in 2015). In an interview before Trevor Live, Tyler says, "...I think the reason why I am able to be here is because my fans have come together with me to try to support Trevor, so to have them be a part of today is crucial. I think it's really meaningful for me because my audience is really young, and to think that they may be going through anything that The Trevor Project works to solve breaks my heart, but to be able to supply them with the knowledge that this resource exists is a huge thing for me and a moment for me." It has been a tradition of his, for his birthday month of March, to hold a birthday fundraiser. I have contributed to a few of his fundraisers for the Trevor Project, and it is great to know that he is doing as much as he can to help prevent suicides.

Tyler being Tyler (http://www.out.com/art-books/2015/10/16/tyler-oakl ())

Tyler Oakley is my hero. He is not only an LGBTQ+ activist, author and youtuber, but he is a friend. Yes, he has done some amazing things that I only hope I can do one day, but that's not the real reason why he is my hero. In his first video, Raindrops, he says "I've just been lucky," and that's what I feel like when I know that he puts out videos for his fans to watch. Watching his videos always make me smile and allows me to forget the overwhelming amount of homework and just laugh with him about whatever. Most people think that being a youtuber doesn't really do anything, but to me he is allowing me to be best friends with him. I think I can speak for every Tyler Oakley fan when I say, he makes me feel like I am right there with him while he is doing some challenge or ranting about some ridiculous thing that happened at Taco Bell. Sometimes if I get a bad test grade or my presentation didn't go that well, I have a folder on my computer with my favorite pictures of him or gifs of him; seeing those will make me forget about that test grade or the presentation. Knowing that I am subscribed to him and support him with all the amazing work he has done, even the things I don't know about. It just makes me realize that I, in a small way, can help him to be the best that he can be.

(http://seekingbookboyfriends.com/?cat=3)

Although he is my hero, Tyler is just an awesome person in this world who is great at making you smile.