In 2010, YouTube introduced a “restricted mode” setting that would allow parents, schools, libraries, and institutions to protect minors from explicit content. Unfortunately, that “explicit content” recently has included LGBT videos, regardless of whether they were raunchy or G-rated. Videos referencing same-sex relationships have been censored. Queer video creators have had dozens their own videos filtered out when in restricted mode. Same-sex weddings, coming-out videos, makeup tutorials, videos with the pride flag, and gay proposals are blocked. Musicians Tegan and Sara, an indie-pop sister lesbian duo, gathered more attention to the situation when they spoke out when music video, BWU, being censored.
Google has begun to address the outpouring of concerned users who say that YouTube is targeting LGBT content. Google responded by claiming it will “better train [their] systems” by manually reviewing videos and adjusting their algatotiums.
So in honor of the LGBT YouTubing community, here's a couple of my favorite music videos out there that involve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans identities.
NSFW Warning: Keep in mind that some of these songs contain explicit language and their videos have some sexual or violent imagery. I’ve also put some trigger warnings in there for safe viewership.
Lesbian:
Hayley Kiyoko’s “Sleepover”
Hayley Kiyoko has become a staple in the sapphic community for her positive, sensual depictions of sexuality and women. Her videos promote inclusiveness by having WOC and honest body sizes, including stretch marks. Her video for the song “Sleepover” captures the bittersweet relationship between two “gal pals,” and features beautiful colors, lighting, set design, and hair and makeup.
Zolita’s “Holy”
tw: hanging, hate crime
Zolita’s music video for her song “Holy” is a commentary on a girl’s role in the patriarchy and how a lesbian relationship can shatter those societal expectations, with sometimes dire consequences. The contrast of Christian and pagan imagery represents the religious strictures against sexuality versus the taboo desire to be free. It’s a heavy piece that takes into account the suffering of wlw relationships, but also the beauty within them.
Dodie’s “Sick of Losing Soulmates”
“Sick of Losing Soulmates” is a music video that encapsulates a couple’s relationship from perfect beginning to unhappy end. I don’t believe in the stereotype that lesbian breakups are somehow worse than straight ones, and I think this video gives that painful process its due respect, depicting the best and worst moments with artistry and intimate detail.
LP’s “Into the Wild”
“Into the Wild” is a Thelma and Louise adventure is Thelma and Louise also had a ukulele-wielding, poodle-haired Laura Pergolizzi in the backseat the whole time. Pergolizzi, who is also a proud lesbian, writes powerful ballads for loving and losing women. “Into the Wild” is about trust and choices, and I am glad I choose to watch the music video!
Gia’s “Only a Girl”
Gia’s video combines images of sexuality and rebellion with innocence and purity. The video for “Only a Girl” is a look into the bond between girls in love, exploring the depths of intimacy. The repetition of smoke and the bright white shades creates dreamlike scenery, while the dimly lit scenes on the streets invoke ideas for forbidden love.
Mary Lambert’s “Hang Out With You”
This music video is so wholesome it hurts. If you like dogs, girls who like dogs, and lesbians, then you’ve found the music video of your dreams. There’s been a Mary Lambert shaped space in my heart ever since Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were in her song, “She Keeps Me Warm,” and since then I’ve loved her music. She remains her unapologetically soft, vulnerable self yet carries such strength in her vocals. And she likes dogs.
HONNE’s “Warm on a Cold Night”
HONNE is one of my favorite male singers out there, and his music contains such a physically touching element to them. His video for “Warm on a Cold Night” uses dance to embody the act of two girls sneaking out to meet. For a male artist to show a lesbian relationship and not shove the male gaze in there was refreshing and just makes me like HONNE even more.
Avicii’s “Addicted To You”
tw: murder, suicide
If girlfriends committing armed robberies is up your alley, then Avicii’s got you covered. This beautifully shot and lit piece about a couple who live dangerously is as sexy as it is tragic. Avicii’s electronic beats combine with smooth Westerns-inspired guitar and piano to make a catchy beat.
Gay:
Miike Snow’s “Genghis Khan”
I should warn you beforehand that if you listen to this song, you WILL get it stuck in your head. With that said, it’s a delightful tune and the video is equally adorable. The villain with a heart of (gay) gold is a trope that gets me every time, and this particular villain has smooth dance moves! Think James Bond meets La La Land, but gay and better. I would love to have this be made into a full length feature, but for now I’ll just play the song in my head 300 times.
Asbjørn’s “The Love You Have In You (Fifth Pseudo Vision)”
tw: cutting
The Danish pop singer-songwriter Abjørn uses contrasting color imagery in his video for “The Love You Have In You.” The actors communicate through physical touch and looks alone, leaving us as the audience to interpret what they are trying to say. The stark, white shades of the room and the soft green tones of their clothing clashes with the intermittent flash of swirling colors and the blood from their hands. Though slow, “The Love” is a visual journey.
Tom Goss’s “Son of a Preacher Man”
tw: suicide imagery, conversion therapy, hate crime
Tom Goss takes a very political approach in a cover of Dusty Springfield’s “Song of a Preacher Man.” In his video, two young boys foster a friendship that grows to young love. The boys are caught, and face the wrath of their hyper-religious and violent community. This is a story that is well known and all too common among gay youth. This story doesn’t end with suicide, but many do. For that reason, this video promotes donation to The Trevor Project and PFLAG.
Neon Trees’s “Songs I Can’t Listen To”
Another breakup song on the list, and this time it’s the poppy electronic group Neon Trees. This video shows the sugary sweet relationship between two men, and their ultimate bitter end. It is heartwarming and heartwrentching at the same time. Bonus gay points for the plaid flannel.
X Ambassadors’s “Unsteady” Official Dance Video
The X Ambassador’s “Unsteady” was one of the songs that hit mainstream radio this past year that I actually appreciated listening to three times an hour. The official dance video depicts a mlm couple and their relationship through the art of dance. The very end of the video lists those who were lost at the Orlando Pulse Shooting.
Aquilo’s “Calling Me”
tw: hate crime
“Calling Me” by Aquilo captures the harsh reality of being a gay man. It depicts the awkward, and dangerous, moment of misunderstanding when approaching a love interest who turns out to be straight. The male star suffers from the torment of violent neighborhood bullies. In the end, he expresses his pain through his passion through dance.
Troye Sivan’s “Wild (Blue Neighbourhood ⅓)”
tw: alcohol abuse
Troye Sivian has a lot of gay and queer content with his music, and in “Wild” he depicts two boys who slowly fall in love after years of close friendship. They bond over shared experiences and protect each other from an abusive, alcoholic father. The video is lit in a soft blue lighting and capsulates the gentle, innocent nature of childhood love.
Bisexual:
Shura’s “What’s It Gonna Be?”
This video is like the Breakfast Club meets Shakespeare. Two nerds hatch a plot to hook each other up with their friends, but instead…. well, I’m not going to spoil it for you. Just watch it.
Troye Sivan’s “Youth”
Troye Sivan was in this list once already, but he deserves to be in here again. This video shows carefree relationships between het and same sex couples, so for that reason I put it in the bisexual category. The lighting switches between jewel-toned neons and smokey pastels, and has soft masculinity and a diverse cast.“Youth” is reminiscent of Hayley Kiyoko’s videos to me, and maybe that’s why I can’t stop watching it.
Rayvon Owen’s “Can’t Fight It”
“Can’t Fight It” begins with two men who frequent the same club, picking up different women each time. But by the end, the men don’t deny their attraction to each other and finally get together. The smokey lighting and smooth, jazzy beat is like a slow dance for your heart.
Trans:
Angel Haze’s “Same Love” Remix
tw: suicide mention, cutting mention, conversion therapy mention
Angel Haze identifies as agender and pansexual, and her “Same Love” rap speaks out against intolerance for alternative sexualties.
Stromae’s “Tous les Mêmes”
I stumbled upon “Tous les Mêmes” when I was deep into the French electro-pop side of YouTube. It has Stromae, the Belgian singer, switch between femme and masculine, living two different lives. In the video, Stromae combines the two aspects of themselves in dance. The amount of effort put into the sets, lighting, hair and makeup, and choreography is stunning and it’s a fascinating watch, even if I can’t understand the words.
Hayley Kiyoko’s “One Bad Night”
tw: transmisogyny, hate crime
Kiyoko makes it to our list again, this time with her track “One Bad Night” where a man and two women meet under unlikely, and violent, circumstances. The video captures the harsh, brutal realities that trans women, in particular, face when living their everyday lives, but it also ends on a heartwarming note of friendship and allyship.
That’s it for this list, everybody. Please share this along with your favorite LGBT music videos and content. No matter what happens and who tries to silence us, remember that love always wins.
