a look that is “authentically ‘you’”
to avoid becoming “fatigued with
your own content”.

ADDRESSING THE HATERS
It’s no secret that LGBTQ+ and
disabled creators face harassment
online. Jessica finds it easy to
brush off any homophobic com-
ments because, as she eloquently
puts it, “well, clearly they’re just
empirically wrong!” Hateful and
ignorant comments surrounding
disability, however, elicits a more
impassioned response.
For many disabled people, their
disabilities aren’t always vis-
ible. Sometimes people who use
mobility aids like wheelchairs or
canes don’t need them every day.
Chronic pain can flare up out of
nowhere, and activities that make
someone feel fine one day could
have them bedridden for days on
another day. This results in dis-
abled people unreasonably need-
ing to “prove” that they’re disabled
enough for certain spaces, accom-
modations or reserved seats made

specifically for them. “That’s what the majority of the

ableist comments I receive hinge on and it upsets me,

but at the same time makes me angry.”

Jessica works hard to combat ignorant com-

ments through education but will turn to modera-

tion if that doesn’t work. She also puts her energy

towards speaking directly to those living with

disabilities. She’s telling them that they are enough

and worthy, and don’t need to prove anything to be

accepted in this space.

MAKING YOUTUBE BETTER

As Jessica Kellgren-Fozard moves to make YouTube a

brighter platform, there are steps other creators can

do to help disabled viewers and creators. Number

one on Jessica’s list? “Caption. Your. Videos. Captions

are vital not just for viewers who are deaf and hard

of hearing but also those with processing disorders

or cognitive impairments—not to mention the wider

internet community for whom English is not their

first language.”

She’s not the first—and certainly won’t be the

last—creator to call for wider captioning across the

platform. YouTuber Rikki Poynter started the #No-

MoreCraptions movement in 2016 in response to

YouTube’s substandard auto-captioning capabilities

and the number of YouTubers with massive audi-

In her videos, Jessica talks about subjects that get people thinking and

she brings awareness to issues in an informative way.

JESSICA WORKS

HARD TO COMBAT

IGNORANT

COMMENTS

THOUGH

EDUCATION, BUT

WILL TURN TO

MODERATION IF

THAT DOESN’T

WORK.

“

JESSICA KELLGREN-FOZARDÒ

YOUTUBE’S GAY DISABLED SWEETHEART