Tyler Oakley calls for better sex education: 'It can be a matter of life and death'

With over 500 million views and almost 8 million subscribers, YouTube superstar Tyler Oakley is one of the most visible and approachable gay men on the planet – and speaking to Attitude in our Red Issue to mark World AIDS Day, the young vlogger says that schools have a responsibility to provide better sex education for the young people in their care.

“I think about LGBT sex education within schools, and that’s so important, he says. “Whether or not you have kids who openly identify as such, there are going to be people who need that education and sometimes that’s a matter of life and death.

“I don’t think I had any when I was growing up, but it’s important. Advocating is life-saving and sex education within schools has so much need to grow”.

The 26-year-old – who is gearing up to release a documentary film about his life and career, Snervous, next month – adds that the power of gay YouTube stars to influence young people coming to terms with their identity shouldn’t be underestimated.

“Obviously representation matters,” he explains, “and for someone to feel they know somebody who identifies as LGBTQ, that could be a game changer for their views, their politics and how they treat people in their lives”.

You can read our exclusive interview with Tyler in our new ‘Red Issue’ for World AIDS Day, which is available to download to your mobile, iPad or tablet device now from pocketmags.com/attitude.

The new issue will be in shops next Wednesday (November 11), and print copies for global delivery can be ordered at newsstand.co.uk/attitude.

Also in this issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fashion and real life stories:

Hollywood superstar Zachary Quinto speaks candidly about life, love, sexual health and being one of the most prominent gay actors in the world.

Attitude explores the reality of ‘chemsex’ and the rising use of party drugs like crystal meth, mephedrone and GHB across an in-depth, 18-page feature. We hear from 18 gay/bisexual men, who talk frankly about their own personal experience of using drugs and the effect it has had on both themselves and those around them.

We catch up with The X Factor’s Fleur East as she prepares to launch her assault on the charts with stomping debut single ‘Sax’.

Paul Gambaccini talks exclusively to Attitude about his year being falsely accused under Operation Yewtree; an ordeal which threatened his livelihood, his sanity, and his faith in the British justice system.

Mya Taylor, the breakout star of trans comedy-drama Tangerine, talks transgender representation in the year that gender issues finally went mainstream.

Tyler Oakley calls for better sex education: ‘It can be a matter of life and death’

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