Coming Out To The Camera: Chris Oflyng And The Subject Of Online Sexuality

What's harder when you're 18 years old, asking a few of your closest family and friends to accept you for who you are, or asking an audience of a few hundred thousand? Chris Oflyng may be best known for his hyper-energized irreverently hilarious videos, but this YouTube sensation showed viewers a whole new side of himself this past week when he stepped back from his signature brand of comedy and instead stepped directly in front of the camera to have a one-on-one conversation with his fans.

The subject: sexuality.

Chris, like many other high-profile creators, used his platform to tell his own story, and reveal his sexual orientation, or in his case, lack-there-of. Chris identifies as "multi-sexual", a self-given label that personifies his belief of being open to all kinds of sexual experiences; of being someone who doesn't believe in labels or putting people into boxes.

This style of YouTube coming out video has become a mini-genre unto itself. These candid, often emotional raw expressions of self deliver both creators and fans the authenticity that powers their deeply-felt, often-overpowering connection. So intimate, (told directly to the camera, often in the privacy of a bedroom), yet so public, the videos have been pivotal in bringing wider LGBT issues to the forefront and furthering the message of unconditional love, acceptance, and support that is helping change the mindset of younger and older generations alike.

It's a way of completely opening up, yet doing so with the power to control and tailor the message, right down to adding the perfect backing track. The celebrity coming out experience retold for the YouTube generation, allowing creators to get their own story right, at least digitally, the first time.

All that really matters is Chris is Chris.

Check out Chris on Twitter and Instagram.