At VidCon 2025, Nick Bornstein, general manager of the Webby Awards, hosted a very demure, very mindful panel with LGBTQ+ creators. The panel included creators Briel Adams-Wheatley, Jools Lebron, Ruba Wilson, Hailee and Kendra, and Naomi Hearts.
The panel covered viral fame, the intersectionality of queerness, balancing work and personal life, and future ambitions.
Lebron, who blew up the internet last year with her "Very demure, very mindful" content discussed how viral fame had changed her life. While she was able to finance her own transition through the monetary success of content creation, while working with GoFundMe, she was also able to leverage her platform to fund the transition of a woman in Puerto Rico.
Hailee and Kendra, who create content as a lesbian couple, discussed how making content together helps them both stay authentic.
Bornstein asked Ruba Wilson about his work as a host and breaking into television. He urged others to tap into their inner child and follow a path that honors them.
Much of the discussion at the panel centered on bringing light and levity to the front of their content. The creators reiterated that there are so many who will try to diminish the presence of queer joy online, so their role is to represent the underrepresented. Naomi Hearts said, "there are so many different types of people, and I think that's what makes us so special."
Mashable will be live at Anaheim Convention Center this week covering VidCon 2025. Check back in the days ahead at Mashable.com, where we’ll be talking to your favorite creators, covering the latest trends, and sharing how creators are growing their followings, their influence, and making a living online.
