Viral Personality StanChris: Showcasing Our Community

In a predominantly digital world, it’s safe to say that social media and other digital platforms can have just as big of an impact on us as a real-life connection. For LGBTQ+ people, this can help with accepting themselves, finding resources, and connecting with others in the community.

Many LGBTQ+ content creators aim to use their platform to help strengthen and showcase different aspects of the community. One of those creators is New Hampshire native Chris Stanley.

Chris Stanley, known online as StanChris, is a 24-year-old out gay YouTuber known for his street interview style videos, travel vlogs, and other LGTBQ+-focused content. After coming out in high school, he said watching people on YouTube like Joey Graceffa and Mark Miller helped with accepting himself.

He started creating content during his gap year and has stuck with it for the past five years. His content style has constantly evolved, beginning with Q&A and reaction videos and moving toward street interviews and travel vlogs.

Chris said he was inspired by Billy On The Street, a series hosted by comedian and actor Billy Eichner, and other creators to try out man-on-the-street style videos. He said he didn’t see many people that focused on LGBTQ+ topics. A few years ago he started going around Pride events and asking strangers LGBTQ+-focused questions, which were popular across many platforms. He has these conversations with people from the community and straight people, expanding the conversation and promoting positivity and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Stanley also makes an effort every year to travel to many different Pride throughout June and experience the various communities and variations of Pride. In the past, he primarily went to larger Pride in places like West Hollywood, Rhode Island, and Amsterdam, but this year he went to a small-town Pride in Morgantown, West Virginia, alongside his usual destinations.

In his YouTube documentary, I Went to the Smallest Pride in America!, Stanley showcases the beauty of small-town Pride and highlights various community voices. Although it was his first time at a small-town Pride, he said it would not be his last.

“Smaller Prides are really a community of people coming together,” he said. “You know for a fact that everyone who’s there is 100% an ally and there’s more sense of community.”

Alongside his normal videos and documentaries, Chris also explores filmmaking with his friend and fellow creator Art Bezrukavenko. The pair released a short film on YouTube called Second Thought, which explores two possible endings to a relationship between the stars of the film, himself and Art.

They wanted to do something for their fans, who always wanted them to be a couple, but Stanley also wanted to explore new avenues and show people that he can create more serious content.

They were able to create the film in two weeks, writing it in one day, raising the money the following week, and filming and editing in the remaining time. The film won three awards from IndieX Film Fest, Rome International Movie Awards, and Round The Globe Film and Music Festival. They are finalists and nominees for other festivals as well. 

“We could have just made it for YouTube and not submitted it to anything, but I wanted to have as many people see it as possible,” he said. “I would watch it and give myself goosebumps because I just loved it and the story, so hopefully it keeps having success.”

Chris also makes videos with his 50-year-old boyfriend Bret LaBelle, who starred in Season 33 of Survivor. The pair met over Instagram direct messages when Stanley reached out after seeing him on Survivor and have been together for three years. The couple has been together for three years and receives mixed reactions from people online due to their age gap.

“Age gap relationships in the gay community are underrepresented, so a lot of people were saying how they love us together and how it’s so great to see,” Chris said.

While he doesn’t know where the future will take him, Stanley said he’s going with the flow and will continue to do things he enjoys. Between more film projects set to come out later this year and continuing his current endeavors, Chris is not done with content creation anytime soon.

Chris met one of his inspirations, Mark Miller, earlier this year, which he said was a testament to how far he’s come.

“It was super surreal because he was my whole inspiration, especially after coming out and I was like ‘This is crazy right not that I’m hanging out with you and we’re making a video,’” he said.

Being able to travel and create your schedule are the perks of being a content creator, but Chris said he also loves being able to meet and connect with people who watch his videos.

“There was this guy who sent me an email saying he had been going to chemotherapy and would watch my videos every day and he said how much it helped him,” Stanley said. “I feel like it’s crazy that I can do that for people.”

Knowing that YouTubers helped him through his journey, Stanley knew he wanted to play a role in that for the next generation and hopefully help people accept the LGBTQ+ community more.

StanChris’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StanChris

“Keep letting people know that we’re here, we’re gay, and it’s okay,” Stanley said.