"I think for many of us, it was the first time we got to see the so-called 'daily life' of queer people," Alex Dzurick said. "Especially for someone like me, who grew up in a rural place."

Growing up in rural southwest Alabama, there was hardly any queer representation for young Sean Atchison. At school, teachers hid their identities and students made sly side comments.

"The representation in my real, physical life was awful. It was hidden," Atchison, now 23, reflected on his early teen years. He was trying to "figure out" more about himself, he told USA TODAY, but had no where to turn.

Then he found YouTube.

In the early 2010s, countless LGBTQIA+ artists took to YouTube to share their sexuality and gender identity journeys, whether through vlogs showcasing their everyday lives, or m

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