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    LGBTQ+ YouTubers Allege that YouTube Engages in Discriminatory Practices

    By Frankfurt KurnitUpdated:No Comments2354 Views

    By Dorian S. Thomas

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    Eight YouTubers, including the creators of such channels as GlitterBombTV, Queer Kid Stuff, and Watts the Safeword, recently filed a class action complaint in the Northern District of California against YouTube and its parent company Google. The complaint alleges that YouTube discriminantly targets LGBTQ+ YouTube channels and content with headlines or tags that include trigger words such as “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual,” “transgender,” or “queer.” The Plaintiffs allege that they “are now being subjected to unlawful content regulation, distribution, and monetization practices that stigmatize, restrict, block, demonetize, and financially harm the LGBTQ+ Plaintiffs and the greater LGBTQ+ community.”

    In particular, the Plaintiffs allege that YouTube, through its algorithms and manual review, utilizes its “Restricted Mode” functionality to block access to LGTBQ+ content despite such content complying with YouTube’s Community Guidelines and its Age Based Restriction Criteria. According to the complaint, not only does Restricted Mode restrain the scope of the content’s reach, it also prevents the content from receiving advertising revenue. The Plaintiffs further allege that YouTube has removed LGBTQ+ content from YouTube’s search functionality, including removing LGBTQ+ content from the “up next” recommendation functionality, effectively removing the content from the view of YouTube’s users. Finally, the Plaintiffs allege that YouTube places, or allows for the placement of, anti-LGBTQ+ advertisements immediately before LGBTQ+ content.

    Through these actions, the Plaintiffs allege that YouTube and Google have violated various federal and state laws concerning speech, discrimination, and false advertising. The Plaintiffs have created a video further explaining the rationale behind their complaint, which is available on, you guessed it, YouTube and may be accessed  here. 

    "Defendants have brazenly abandoned YouTube's Four Freedoms and hijacked the YouTube community and the mission that defines that community, by continuing to engage in and defend identity, viewpoint, discriminatory, and illegal content-based regulation, distribution and monetization policies that harm YouTube's LGBTQ+ community and other YouTube community members."

    Read the lawsuit filing here

    This column presents a general discussion of legal issues, but is not legal advice and may not be applicable in all situations. Consult your attorney. To contact Dorian Thomas ESQ click here.

    News Categories:Legalease
    Tags:diversityfkksFrankfurt KurnitlegaleaseYouTube



    Gloria Colangelo joins Identity as managing partner

    Wednesday, November 20, 2024

    Production company Identity has brought Gloria Colangelo on board as managing partner.

    Having spent decades in the production industry in senior roles, including a lengthy tenure as executive producer at companies Assembly and MacGuffin Films, Colangelo brings a wealth of experience to her new position at Identity, which marks a professional evolution of her own. “After an incredibly fulfilling career, I reached a point where I was ready to take on a new challenge and pursue a longtime goal of becoming a partner--playing a more direct role in shaping a company’s vision, fostering talent, and driving meaningful growth,” she said.

    As managing partner at Identity, Colangelo effectively reunites with former colleague, EP Molly Mitchell, and assumes a more hands-on role in shaping the company’s vision and trajectory. “Molly and I are deeply involved,” said Colangelo, “in every aspect of production, from sales and bidding to overseeing shoots and wrapping jobs. This approach feels natural to me, as I’ve always thrived in a role where I’m engaged in all stages of the process. I’m also extremely grateful for the opportunity to be working with owner/EP Joe Masi, someone who I’d admired from afar, and having the support of his belief in our vision.”

    Along with her day-to-day operations, Colangelo is also playing a pivotal role in bolstering Identity’s already strong roster of directing talent. For the new managing partner, however, it’s important that connecting new and existing storytellers occur rather naturally. “I didn’t come to Identity with a set roster,” she explained. “Instead, as I made the decision to embark on this new journey, a few directors I’d worked closely with expressed a strong interest in joining... Read More

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