TikToker Krystal Lake joins Cheddar News to discuss the platform's recent list of LGBTQIA+ creator trailblazers.

Between Bells

Meet One of TikTok's LGBTQIA+ Creator Trailblazers

Welcome back guys between bells, february. The U k is L G B T Q i A Plus history month and for those across the pond and here in the U S. Your Tiktok algorithm is known for fostering a community of a like people and for the L g b T q i A plus community that rings true now more than ever alongside promoting authenticity and acceptance. Tiktok is leveraging their advocates to help raise awareness around important issues and helping educate people to get more informed on how to be better allies. And that way, Tiktok is officially introducing their L G B T Q I A plus creator trailblazers. So joining us now to discuss one of those trailblazers recognized by Tiktok Crystal Lake Crystal, Welcome to the show. So great to have you here. Hey, I'm so excited to be here. So the L g b T Q i A plus community, obviously a crucial part of Tiktok's global creative community. So what's the significance of highlighting some of these really amazing creators here? Yeah, just like, I feel like it's a blend of just like showing like the world, our history and that we're, we're like out here doing big things and also like, also we're all human and and there's so much to like learn just from different minority groups and um, we're not afraid to, to talk about it. So yeah, in representation of, of course, like, um, it's beautiful seeing like all these groups being highlighted on, on Tiktok because growing up, I didn't really see a lot of that and a lot of big changes are happening. So yeah, it's amazing to see absolutely visibility matters because we know for so many, especially for young kids that are using Tiktok, seeing somebody that looks like them, sounds like them is like them is incredibly important. So just how important is it that Tiktok is sort of taking this initiative and sort of giving this now to different communities now, definitely. Like even um my whole branding on Tiktok is, well, it's, it's at DJ Crystal Lake, but um, the things I teaches stuff schools don't teach you. So, um, it'll be like queer history, black history, women's history, all of that. And I was so surprised when I joined the platform that so many people are just trying to, to learn about themselves or or connect with themselves and there's such like a sense of community on Tiktok, like whether that's in the app um with people commenting or even outside of the app or like also, um just like the head office of Tiktok in general, there's like, I've been lucky to put to be put into place to um ask for changes within the app or if I'm experiencing a lot of homophobia. Um I let the people in the office. No, and they find out ways to um try to decrease that happening throughout the the app, like worldwide. So it's amazing. Absolutely. We have for our viewers were showing some of your clips that you've posted on Tiktok in particular what stories Really Crystal are you sort of showing? And highlighting throughout all of this kind of talk about the L G B T Q I A community here. Yeah, just um, mainly like kind of digging a little bit deeper into the watered down version of like some history or, or educational topics that I would either slightly here or not here about like, for example, um, pride, I didn't know how, um, how iconic and how deep pride was. Like, um, the actual history behind it. And when I found out I was like, wow, like all these things started clicking. I had more, more questions to ask and then I was like, why don't I just make a video? Um, and show people why like, like why it's so important. And then also kind of plant those seeds into people who are, who are already watching to want to dig deeper even more um, on their side and like kind of just do that in life in general because um, what helps me like learn to love myself and and learn to teach and stuff is because um, I ended up asking myself questions and kind of like just digging, just found this habit of digging a little bit deeper. So yeah, do do you think people are going to also, you know, watch it and think of how they can be better allies and you get asked that question a lot. How can people become better allies, Especially through consuming a lot of this, this historical content. Oh yeah, definitely. I feel like a huge chunk of my audience, our allies. And I think like my best advice is like as long as you're doing, um, the work into like knowing that you want to be an ally, like not everyone has the, the answers like, um, you can't just like we work and then boom, you're just like a great ally. Like all of a sudden, like as long as you're putting the work, you're, you're, you're learning about communities and also, most importantly you're listening. I think that is the best tip I can give is like listening to these different minority groups, listen to what they're, um, they're asking for what their struggles are and how to help because you can't, um, you can't change or make change in the community, um, positive change if you won didn't experience any of it. But like also, um, you're not listening to what other people have to say. Um so yeah, I, I say like my, my biggest tip is listening to those people and like absolutely no listening incredibly important, show us that you care that is the best, the best, the best and most important thing here, Tiktoker Crystal Lake. Such a pleasure to have you here. Krystal thanks so much for joining us