Meet Out TikTok Influencer and Advocate Josh Helfgott

As queer people, it's vital that we stay in the know about the latest happenings and events that affect us around the world. No content creator is more ready and willing to share these updates with the world than TikTok influencer Josh Helfgott. Boasting 5.5 million followers, he will sometimes sprinkle tidbits about his own personal life (you can check out more on his Instagram), such as the fact that he has two mothers, but he usually keeps the focus on the news as well as interacting with fans in the comments section. We're here to compile some of his best updates so you can get a sense of this unique influencer's brand.

Helfgott explains the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the ways brands like Target were pressured from anti-LGBTQ+ conservatives this year to not support Pride Month. He says to appreciate the brands that weren't bullied into taking their rainbow merchandise away, and he discusses how he doesn't view Pride merch as being performative as some LGBTQ+ folks point out the issues of Rainbow Capitalism.

In a country as divided as the United States, Helfgott shows how unifying President Joe Biden's message was at the White House earlier in June to celebrate LGBTQ+ people during Pride and all throughout the year. People in the comments section wanted to make sure they still put pressure on the politicians to reject hateful bills that harm queer people, especially all of the targeted harassment towards transgender individuals.

Helfgott does a great job of showing Americans things they normally wouldn't get to see. He lets an advertisement from Starbucks do the talking. A couple in India is ready to welcome their transgender child into the coffee shop for a conversation. It's clear the father hasn't been quick to accept their trans child, but by giving their child's newly minted name to the barista, it's a gesture that goes a long way to rebuilding trust and love.

In a similar TikTok, Helfgott shows another obscure advertisement from Doritos that shows a man finding love in the afterlife with his same-sex partner. The cartoon is done in the tradition of something that looks like a Pixar short film. Companies that show these advertisements deserve a ton of credit this Pride Month!

With all of the anti-trans bills politicians are trying to pass into law in the United States, it can be a little confusing to keep up with. Helfgott does a great job of summarizing some of the worst measures here, from bathroom bills to banning pronoun use in the classroom.

Andrew Garfield is one of the most popular leading actors in Hollywood, and Helfgott decides to celebrate Garfield's allyship here by showing a clip of Garfield introducing Michaela Jaé Rodriguez at an award show. Rodriguez is one of the most visible and successful transgender stars in the world right now, being nominated for an Emmy for the FX show "Pose" back in 2021.

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Helfgott points out the hypocrisy of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee banning drag shows in his state despite evidence to suggest he has appeared in public in drag in his past. Photos resurfaced of Lee in drag and were presented to him, something the governor wasn't pleased with. Helfgott's sharp rhetorical wit and awareness helps bring situations like this to our attention.

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Helfgott gets out actor Jim Parsons to say his signature "gay news" line before advertising Parson's Christmas rom-com "Spoiler Alert." The film was one of the more successful gay romance movies in recent memory from a critical perspective.

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It's very important to show children that same-sex couples are just as normal as opposite-sex couples, and what better way to exhibit this than with toys? Helfgott shows the first ever same-sex doll set from Bratz in the summer of 2022. He's just as excited as we are to see the progress being made!

Helfgott gives a small explanation of how the bisexual pride flag came to be. Bisexuals often receive discrimination both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside of it. Helfgott encourages everyone to learn about the unique traits that make us all different, yet special.

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Helfgott gets personal in this short history of his family. He talks about how his mom married another woman when he was young, resulting in a two-mom household that showed him love and affection and acceptance. It's both adorable and inspirational to see lesbian couples raising bright and courageous people like Helfgott.