My Joy List: Skyler Jay

Skyler Jay: “It has been a dream and goal of mine since 2008 to open a non-profit that would directly contribute support services to the LGBTQIA+ community, and more specifically, help aid in surgery access assistance for the Trans community. Opening Aadya Rising and helping provide other LGBTQIA+ people what I needed that did not exist early in my coming out and transition process has brought me immense joy! Aadya Rising is a fully donation-based LGBTQIA+ run non-profit I co-founded in May of 2020. Aadya Rising is and will always remain very close to my heart. Check out our Instagram, @aadyarising. <3”

SJ: “As a retired drag artist from the south, Wussy is my go-to account for relatable, entertaining, and always hilarious content. Wussy hosts events and podcasts, and are the self-described Atlanta-based ‘sissies’ that focus on queer art and pop culture. Their account shares memes, quotes, news, images, videos, and more! I find myself laughing at nearly everything they share. Wussy is always a must when I am scrolling!”

Check out Wussy’s magazine here.

SJ: “‘You’re worth the time it takes to learn a new skill,’ the Trans Handy Ma’am Mercury always says! I personally love learning different ways to make myself handier! Mercury is a trans woman who teaches what she calls, ’compassionate DIY skills’. She really knows what she’s talking about and is so helpful! I greatly appreciate her upbeat joyous approach to teaching viewers new skills and ways to better themselves. And for me personally, the skills-learning process feels even more special coming from another trans person.”

Check out Mercury’s site here.

SJ: “This is one of my personal favorite episodes of Jonathan Van Ness’s podcast Getting Curious. While I obviously may be a bit biased as to why I choose to listen to JVN’s podcast as a Queer Eye Hero, I really do enjoy the way JVN navigates learning about any and everything. This particular episode sheds some light on queerness in the animal kingdom. As a genuinely curious queer animal lover and JVN admirer myself, this is one of many episodes of Getting Curious that are incredibly captivating to me.”

SJ: “It’s hard to pick my favorite video from Todrick Hall’s YouTube channel that brings me the most joy. BUT if I HAD to, it would be this video, 4 Beyoncé. Combining two of my favorite artists into a mashup! Todrick and Beyoncé! How could I not be obsessed?! Like with many of his videos, I find myself singing my heart out, dancing, and almost wanting to cry in the span of 4 minutes every time I watch. If that’s not queer joy, I don't know what is! LOL!”

SJ: “The Official Wig Baby!! This adorably hysterical mother-daughter duo review wigs together. It is the wholesome feel good content I often seek that fills my heart with so much joy! I love watching them interact. You can really tell this mother (who is hilarious) and her clever 1-year-old baby have so much fun making videos together, letting the baby try on and react to many different wigs.”

Explore Joy Lists from Jazz Jennings, Zeke Smith, and more.