I really want to stress here (as one duped):
It is not a moral failing on you if you didn't notice James Somerton Bad
His videos are well produced. His narration is convincing. He's a marketer, of course he knows how to make a video sell. His videos are impactful because the writing (stolen) is academic (and stolen) and emotionally moving (because they are stolen). The text is good, interesting text (as it is not his), of course he would be catapulted into high views. Of course people will be duped.
I for one feel very stupid at the moment because I was a long term fan of his. Being dyslexic a lot of sources were ones I had seen but couldn't really interact with, so when I heard James Somerton narrating them I didn't think anything of it. His woman bashing felt... Off, but surrounded by sensitive think pieces (from other people) on queer identity (that other people experience) I thought it was just one or two poorly phrased lines. His lie about Radclyffe Hall was one I spotted because I'm incredibly passionate about butch lesbian history. I assumed he misremembered. I'm saddened to see it compiled that it was not the case.
This sucks. It does. His video on deep cuts inspired me massively (and I'm thankful I now know who actually inspired me!): it got me into the Scream franchise, it got me into horror as a whole, it's collided me with some of my favourite media analyses (who I can now accurately name).
The most we can do from here is divert our attention now. Find the creators who were stolen from and spotlight their work. Watch the celluloid closet. Go through Hbomberguy's playlist on other gay creators (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRGz5EMig3r2ZDgeGzwUlSz-PzF-L1Xu1&si=f63gIa7OS0aoS5RQ)! We can, ultimately, turn this around I think.
Queer YouTubers you should check out, meticulously compiled by Kat.