Every June, YouTube sees an uptick in LGBT content and interest—and an uptick in LGBT brand messaging, too. But research shows that a highly engaged online LGBT community, as well as millennial women more broadly, are eager for a year-round approach.
Every year, we see a spike in LGBT content uploads in June on YouTube.1 June is, after all, LGBT Pride Month, an occasion for remembrance and celebration. It not only marks the anniversary of the devastating Stonewall Riots of 1969, but is also a milestone in the Pride movement: The Supreme Court decided in favor of gay marriage in June 2015.
Brands interested in connecting with LGBT consumers often share Pride-centric messages in June. But it turns out that LGBT content provides opportunities well beyond June and beyond this key demographic.
YouTube’s latest research shows a global increase in interest in LGBT content throughout the year. Searches for phrases containing “LGBT” on YouTube doubled from 2015 to 2016.2 Annual viewership of LGBT content on YouTube grew 76% in 2016, and is expected to reach nearly 5B views in 2017.3
What else should brands consider as they make their messaging more LGBT-inclusive?
The LGBT community wants to be seen
LGBT viewers specifically want to see brands take a stand on LGBT issues. Nearly two-thirds of YouTube viewers surveyed who self-identified as LGBT said they are more likely to buy from a brand that takes a stand on LGBT issues.4
The mere act of including LGBT people in messaging carries a lot of weight as well. In fact, nearly two-thirds of YouTube viewers surveyed who self-identified as LGBT said they’re more likely to buy from a brand that includes LGBT people and messages in their ads.5
One example: Dove recently released a video as part of its Baby Dove launch. This spot isn’t the story of an LGBT family, but rather includes an LGBT family in the ad alongside other families.
Brand progress, but room for improvement
LGBT viewers also acknowledge that they're seeing more LGBT-friendly advertising than ever. Nearly eight in 10 self-identified LGBT viewers said that brands are doing a better job today than five years ago at representing LGBT people in their ads.6
That said, there’s still room for improvement: Four in 10 still feel brands aren’t fairly representing LGBT people in their ads.7
Online video leads the way
In our surveys, we asked LGBT viewers if they’d seen positive changes in media. Interestingly, 60% of self-identified LGBT respondents see positive change for their community on YouTube in a way they don’t in traditional media.8
If the majority of LGBT viewers see a positive change on YouTube that they don’t in traditional media, it’s in part because of LGBT creators giving voice to these communities. Take the Chosen Family series that YouTube creator Tyler Oakley is sharing with his 8M YouTube fans this Pride Month. As Tyler says in the trailer, “For 10 years I’ve been sharing my story, but now I want to share ours.”
There are more of these stories than ever on YouTube—and more demand than ever for them. The number of LGBT channels globally has more than doubled over the past two years.9 All-time viewership of LGBT content has reached over 7B views across nearly 30,000 channels.10 Even more important to brands, these creators are highly engaging: Shares of videos by LGBT creators have tripled over the past two years globally.11
The halo effect: millennial women
LGBT-friendly ads aren’t just resonating with LGBT viewers; women of all sexual orientations on YouTube prefer LGBT-friendly ads. Nearly 60% of millennial women on YouTube say they are more likely to remember a brand that’s LGBT-friendly.12 Women are also more likely to engage with a brand that’s LGBT-friendly in their ads.13
Millennial women on YouTube are more likely to remember and more likely to engage with a brand that’s LGBT-friendly in their ads.
Moving forward
An engaged audience eager for more content is clearly an opportunity for progressive brands that can align with the LGBT community—and do so respectfully and authentically.
As the data shows, the approach will not only grow the LGBT consumer base but is likely to garner the attention of wider audiences.
See how other brands take a stand on LGBT issues with this playlist: Ads That ... Are #ProudToBe
