About
Laci Green is an YouTube who vlogs on sexuality and sexual activism.
Online History
On November 14th, 2008, Green created her YouTube channel[1] Sex+. On November 17th, Green uploaded her first video, an informational review titled “Birth Control: NuvaRing Review.” As of September 2014, the video has gained over 300,000 views.
As of September 2014, two of Green’s most popular videos are “THENAKEDLIFE! – NUDISM” which was uploaded on November 12th, 2011, which has gained over 2.2 million views and “You Can’t POP Your Cherry! (HYMEN 101)” which was uploaded on April 26th, 2012, which has gained over 2.1 million views.
Slur Controversy
On July 6th, 2012, Green published a question[5] a Tumblr user had submitted through her ask box, which read:
“Hi Laci. Why do you use the word “tranny” in your video about Haters from 2009? (The one talking about Miley Cyrus, Fred, and Chris Crocker). You really shouldn’t be using that word as a cis girl and it’s really disappointing for the people who look up to you."
She also published her answer, which read:
“Probably because I was 18 and ignorant. You are totally right and I sincerely apologize for my mistake. Before I educated myself about trans issues I had not the slightest inkling of how the word is used to dehumanize nor its place in the cycle of violence against transfolk. Now I have seen people hurt by it and seen it used as a nasty slur. Words have power, and “tranny” is not a word for anybody but transfolk themselves to use because only they can reclaim it. If I knew that was in a video, it would have been long long ago removed. Consider it banished forever."
After the post was published, Green received many angry comments and messages[6][7] from people who did not believe her apology was adequate and were still angry with her for using the slur. On July 9th, Green posted a threatening e-mail she had received which included a picture of her apartment, she explained she would be taking a break from the internet, saying:
“hey peeps,
i am going to be taking a break from tumblr. i’m not sure how long. i have been getting a slew of people (who i can only guess are from “social justice” tumblr) telling me to kill myself, making violent threats, sending me my home address they somehow found. my inbox this morning was graced with pictures of my apartment building.
i honestly have no words.
love you all.
lace”
On April 6th, 2013, Tumblr yourfaveisproblematic[9] published a post on Green, which listed the use of the slur as well as:
“Believes that the “Friend Zone” is an actual thing that exists
“I lost 35 pounds by learning to love and take care of my body”
When criticized for fatphobia she responded with this (more on this)
Patronized someone calling her out on cissexism
More cissexism (woman = vagina)
Even more cissexism (“I know lesbians don’t know a lot about penises”)
Trans* erasure and telling trans* people how to identify”
Sam Pepper Controversy
On September 20th, 2014, British vlogger Sam Pepper posted a video, which was removed two days later by YouTube, titled “Fake Hand Ass Pinch” which featured Pepper touching women’s butt’s with a fake hand (shown below).[5]
On September 21st, Green published an open letter to Pepper on her Tumblr blog.[6] A bolded section of the letter reads:
“We are deeply disturbed by this trend and would like to ask you, from one creator to another, to please stop. Please stop violating women and making them uncomfortable on the street for views. Please stop physically restraining them and pressuring them to be sexual when they are uncomfortable. Please show some respect for women’s right to their own bodies. While it may seem like harmless fun, a simple prank, or a “social experiment”, these videos encourage millions of young men and women to see this violation as a normal way to interact with women. 1 in 6 young women (real life ones, just like the ones in your video) are sexually assaulted, and sadly, videos like these will only further increase those numbers.
On September 23rd, Green tweeted about the reveal, alleging it was just a way for him to cover up his mistake. Further tweets explained she had been receiving threatening e-mails by someone claiming to be Pepper.
On September 24th, an anonymous YouTuber uploaded a video titled "Sam Pepper – The Real “Reveal” in which she describes being sexually assaulted by Pepper without her whole face being shown. Within 48 hours the video gained over 30,000 views.
On September 25th, Green uploaded a video to her YouTube channel[23] titled “Sam Pepper Exposed.” In the video, Green explains that she has spoken with several women who allege Pepper had groped or sexually harassed them. Green went on to name two other male video bloggers she felt were being sexually abusive with their “pranks,” including Kong of Simple Pick-up,[24] and Adrian Van Oyan.[25] Within 24 hours of upload, Green’s video gained 40,000 views.
Social Media Presence
As of September 2014, Green’s Facebook page[2] has gained over 280,000 likes and her Twitter account[3] has gained over 160,000 followers. Her Instagram[4] account has gained over 19,000 followers.
Notable Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1]YouTube – Laci Green
[2]Facebook – officiallacigreen
[6]Jezebel – Internet Social Justice Mob Goes Batshit on Activist, Has No Sense of Irony
[7]The Daily Dot – Death threats force sex-positive blogger underground
[9]Tumblr – yourfaveisproblematic