Creators Are Forcing YouTube’s LGBTQ Problem Out into the Open
A new lawsuit laid by eight prominent creators is laying YouTube’s issues around the LGBTQ community bare
When Chase Ross picked up the phone to a YouTube representative a little over a year ago, he wasn’t hopeful for the future. The creator, who had top surgery as part of a transition from female to male five years beforehand, had been embroiled in a dispute with YouTube, whose algorithm he claimed was discriminating against trans people. (I interviewed Ross for The Daily Beast around that time.)
The representative invited him to YouTube’s offices in San Francisco. Right after VidCon, Ross paid YouTube a visit.
Ross can’t talk about the exact terms of his visit, as he was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the visit. But he says he met with YouTube higher-ups, including an employee who deals with YouTube’s algorithm.
“I did meet some pretty high up people, did some video conferencing and it did make me feel important,” says Ross. “But I also felt like they were just trying to reassure me things can change, it just takes a lot of time for things to change.”
Chase Ross has waited more than a year for change. And he hasn’t seen it. So he’s suing YouTube.
