Here’s what to read instead of YouTube’s #ProudToBe comment section

Every year YouTube produces a video as part of its #ProudToBe campaign that celebrates the LGBT+ community, and every year hateful homophobes and racists flood the comment section with vitriol.

And if you, like each human being on the planet, do not have the time or energy to deal with people who deny your existence then it’s best to not even spare it a glance. (The first comment is by a user who goes by Adolf Hitler, and that’s all you really need to know.)

So here’s a list of things to read instead, in no particular order.

1. This article on gender from MedicalDaily that breaks down an article in Nature, one of the world’s top ranked academic journal.
2. This poem by Richard Siken — skip down to number 24 if you want your heart in your mouth.
3. Germany might finally legalise same sex marriage this week
4. This interview with lesbian artist Sarah Maxwell
5. Quickly recap the plot of The L Word season one and remember how much Jenny sucks
6. Five black LGBTQ voices you should know
7. The Tumblr post declaring the Babadook a gay icon
8. This list of animals displaying homosexual behaviour
9. How RuPaul’s Drag Race went from cult favourite to inspirational teenage dream
10. I’m Proud to Be Bi — So Why Haven’t I Come Out to My Parents?
11. Stories about being trans from people of different ages
12. This tweet by Calum McSwiggan

I’m #ProudToBe part of this community & no amount of hate comments will ever stop me from speaking up for what I know & believe is right ❤️

— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) June 28, 20174.Yo yo yo

There’s no reason to put yourself through YouTube’s comment section if it’s detrimental to your well-being. But still watch the video because it will make you cry.

Let me know in the comments if there’s an article or artwork or anything else that you go to when the world feels hateful.

Featured image: Ted Eyton via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY-SA, resized)