The screen flickers to life: a bedroom, a nervous Troye Sivan, and three words that would change everything: “I am gay.”
In the soft light of an August afternoon in 2013, Troye – with trembling hands and a shaky voice – leaned toward his camera and laid his truth bare for the world to see.
“This is probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my entire life,” he confessed, not knowing that over 9 million people would eventually witness this raw moment of vulnerability, or that the frightened 18-year-old on screen would transform into the confident superstar who now commands global stages.
Today, as Troye dominates charts and turns heads on red carpets, there’s something almost sacred about returning to this unfiltered moment – the spark that preceded the flame.
What was it like to stand at that precipice? What courage did it take to hit “upload” on a truth that could have changed everything? And how did this intimate confession become one of the most influential coming-out moments in YouTube history?
From YouTube Bedroom to Global Stages
When Troye sat down to film his coming out video in 2013, he wasn’t just an ordinary teenager – he had already built a substantial foundation for his entertainment career.
Starting his YouTube channel back in October 2007 as a 12-year-old sharing singing videos, Troye had steadily grown his following to nearly one million subscribers by August 2013. His digital presence was complemented by an impressive list of accomplishments in both music and acting.
By that point, Troye had performed at the Channel Seven Perth Telethon multiple times (including a duet with Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian), released two EPs, and had already made a mark in Hollywood as young James Howlett (Wolverine) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
He was also recognizable to South African audiences as the star of the Spud film trilogy, with the second installment released just months before his coming out video.
And then – he decided to open it all up in front of his audience.
“On August 7th, 2010, I told my family that I am gay. And now on August 7th, 2013, I want you guys to know that I’m gay,” Troye announced, deliberately choosing the three-year anniversary of coming out to his family to share his truth with his growing YouTube audience.
What stands out most watching it now is the genuine fear behind his composed exterior. “I’m terrified,” he admitted. “I know that some people are gonna have a problem with this. I know that this could kind of change everything for me, but it shouldn’t have to.”
The contrast between that uncertain teenager and today’s Troye couldn’t be more striking. Last year saw him continue his meteoric rise – from the infectious success of his latest album (Something to Give Each Other), which became a queer anthem in clubs worldwide, to his fashion collaborations that repeatedly broke the internet.
But what makes Troye’s journey so inspiring isn’t just his success – it’s how he’s achieved it without compromising his authenticity.
The Journey to Self-Acceptance
In his coming out video, Troye shared moments from his self-discovery that resonate deeply with so many queer experiences. He described always feeling “something was a little bit different” and recalled a childhood memory of mentally putting an X through the male bathroom symbol and a green tick next to the female one – an early recognition of his difference.
He detailed that pivotal moment at age 14 when he first voiced the possibility he might be bisexual to his best friend Kayla, only to immediately retreat – running home crying, promising never to speak of it again.
For the next six months, he did what many LGBTQ+ youth still do today – he immersed himself in YouTube coming out videos, seeking confirmation that he wasn’t alone.
“Those coming out videos and those people on YouTube, those brave, brave, brave people on YouTube – without them, I don’t know where I’d be,” Troye reflected with striking sincerity.
“I really don’t know what I would have done because it just kind of showed me that it’s okay.”
Watch it here:
The Conversation That Changed Everything
One of the most touching segments of Troye’s coming out video is his recounting of telling his father the truth. The scene he describes captures the heart-stopping tension of that pivotal moment.
Lying on his bed talking with his dad, they began discussing religion.
Troye (who is Jewish) asked what his father would change about religion if he could, and his dad replied that he didn’t understand why religions would be against homosexuality since “it’s completely natural in how those people are.”
What follows is a moment of raw vulnerability that countless queer people can relate to: “I felt a literal physical locking of my throat and I couldn’t speak,” Troye recalled. Finally, he managed to say, “I’m gay.”
His father’s reaction? He looked at Troye, started crying, and gave him a hug. When Troye anxiously asked, “Dad, do you still love me?” his father looked at him like he was “absolutely crazy” and assured him, “Yes, of course I still love you.”
They stayed up talking until the early hours, with his dad’s only concern being whether Troye was okay. “It did not make the slightest, slightest difference in his life,” Troye shared, his relief still palpable.
The Ripple Effect
What makes Troye’s story so powerful eleven years later is how it continues to impact lives beyond his own. In 2013, YouTube coming out videos were becoming their own genre – creating virtual communities for isolated LGBTQ+ youth seeking connection and hope.
Troye’s decision to share his story wasn’t just personal; it was an act of giving back to the online community that had helped him. “I hope that people like 14-year-old Troy are going to find this video,” he explained, understanding the lifeline such content could provide.
These kinds of videos have a tremendous impact, often serving as the first positive representation of LGBTQ+ life that young people encounter.
They help normalize the coming out experience while acknowledging its challenges, providing both emotional support and practical examples of how these conversations might unfold.
For many young people watching, seeing someone like Troye not just survive but thrive can transform abstract hope into tangible possibility.
Today, as Troye continues creating art that celebrates queer joy, desire, and complexity, his influence extends far beyond music charts or streaming numbers.
In a cultural landscape that’s evolved dramatically since 2013 – yet still struggles with fully embracing LGBTQ+ artists – Troye has helped redefine what’s possible.
And yes, it’s hard to believe Troye has progressed from that nervous teenager speaking in a webcam – to this: