For @heyKipp (they/them), it’s all about giving a voice to those who are exploring their gender and sexuality with pride and strength. On this BroadcastHER Grant winner’s stream, they talk about serious topics regarding racism and transphobia while also allowing unhinged, wholesome moments to occur among the folks in the community.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

I want to have fun, make people laugh, and help folks become more open-minded to topics regarding anti-racist work, gender-queer identities, and wholesome meme-ing.

How will your award from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

The award will help upgrade my stream to be more ergonomic, so I can spend more hours working on editing and content creating.

What does being a recipient mean to you?

It means being able to continue to create content for folks who are looking for an inclusive, fun space. It means giving a voice for folks who are exploring their gender and sexuality with pride and strength.

Women are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and e-sports. What can we do to change this?

Grants like these are one of the biggest ways to support non-men folks in the gaming community. Financial and emotional support goes a long way. I don’t think folks realize how important representation is, as well. It’s a buzzword that’s thrown around, but some truly don’t realize how much joy it brings me to see other genderqueer content creators. When I first started, I felt so alone, but then I began to find other enby streamers and it made my heart soar. Put the effort into finding non-men folk to hire.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

As a person who is non-binary, it can be really difficult to not get misgendered — not just in your stream, but in other people’s chats. I have banned the words “she,” “her,” and other feminine identifiers in my chat, but that doesn’t mean others won’t know or respect your identity. Sometimes it’s an honest mistake, but sometimes people will be rude and unaccepting. You must remember to keep your accepting friends close to your heart and remember them in times of sorrow.

What advice do you have for women who want to start broadcasting?

Make friends. Find folks who have similar content to you on TikTok; check our their videos; and say hi in their streams. I was lucky enough to find a group of wholesome folks that way and that is what drives me to create content — to make my friends laugh with me.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

The people I have met through streaming give me the motivation to keep pushing toward my goals. I gravitate towards folks who inspire me to be more open minded, creative, and chaotic.