Miles McKenna

Miles Aaron McKenna (born November 2, 1995 videos incorporate comedic skits and often include commentary on gender identity and other LGBTQ issues. Through his videos, McKenna documented his coming out and his transition, including the effects of hormone replacement therapy and top surgery.

Early life and vlogging Based in Los Angeles, California, McKenna grew up in a strict religious family. As a teenager, he lived in Orange County, California McKenna "hated being seen as a girl" McKenna came out in 2015. McKenna began taking testosterone as part of hormone replacement therapy. He attempted to address the skin condition with his physician, was placed on antibiotics for 60 days, and hosted the short-form docuseries Hella Gay with Miles McKenna, which featured man on the street interviews. He also had a role on the interactive drama series Guilty Party. At the 10th Shorty Awards, McKenna won the award for Best LGBTQ+ Account. He was also presenter for the 11th Shorty Awards in 2019.

As an openly transgender person, McKenna is frequently the target of harassment campaigns. During VidCon 2019, McKenna was part of a panel on LGBTQ activism and awareness. During the session, moderator Stevie Wynne Levine deadnamed McKenna, using his pre-transition name and misgendering him. In Levine's apology, she stated that she did not know it was inappropriate. VidCon and panel presenters The Trevor Project both also issued apologies to McKenna. Following the cancellation of VidCon 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McKenna agreed to take part in a virtual panel with Elle Mills for VidCon Now.

McKenna's book about coming out, Out!: How To Be Your Authentic Self, was published in May 2020 and released on International Coming Out Day, October 6, 2020. The foreword is by fellow YouTuber Tyler Oakley. Some of the proceeds from the book go to GLSEN.

On October 12, 2020, McKenna released his first single, "Boys Will Be Boys", on Spotify.

Filmography