Ultra.
Throughout June, we are spotlighting LGBTQIA+ Streamers. We caught up with streamer Ms_Huffle (she/her) to chat about her streaming journey. In the spirit of continuously supporting this community, Streamlabs is proud to host Ms_Huffle on our Twitch channel on June 28th at 6 PM EST. Follow us on Twitch or catch up with Ms_Huffle on Twitter so you won’t miss her livestream.
Can you provide some background on your channel and how you got started? How long have you been streaming and what do you typically like to stream?
I was affiliated in July of 2020, so I’ve been streaming for just under 2 years. My channel is a place for everyone of all different walks of life to feel safe and cared about! I am a variety streamer: I play RPGs, scary games, and love coloring either with or without guests. I am very focused on making the world better for queer folks, and to that end am an It Gets Better Project Ambassador as well as a charity-focused streamer who raises money for a variety of wonderful, queer-centered organizations.
What was it about streaming that initially interested you and inspired you to give it a try?
I was a long-time Youtuber, making content for the grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV. What I longed for was community interaction; feeling like my content was directly connected to the people consuming it. Twitch became my home, and through it I found out so much about myself and who I am.
What is the most important thing to you about being an LGBTQIA+ streamer?
My relationships made through streaming are literally responsible for me being an out trans woman today. The most important thing to me in being an LGBTQIA+ streamer is in being visible in a space that is dominated by people that do not have my life circumstance or experience. The most important moments for me are when people in my community tell me that something about me or my space helped them in some piece of their journey.
Are there other LGBTQIA + streamers that you are inspired by?
So many, but to choose a few: AlleeMac’s message of “Be unapologetically yourself” was what inspired me to wear makeup on stream for the first time, and OhKay being a trans woman gaming at extremely high levels helped me to feel that the streaming world could be a place for me, too.
Do you have any tips for new streamers entering the space?
Understand your boundaries and do NOT allow anyone to violate them. As you learn more about yourself and your boundaries change, continue to enforce them. It is WAY too easy as a beginning streamer to get caught up in pleasing every viewer and it is very dangerous to compromise yourself in doing so.
In your opinion, what makes a good/engaging live stream for viewers?
An engaging stream requires authenticity! I love streamers who are wild and hilarious, and who are quiet and cozy. The piece of the puzzle that draws me to people and makes me stick around is that they share an authentic piece of themselves and their experience. Playing a character is tempting, but people will always see through you.
What kind of activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of streaming and creating content?
I love makeup, hiking, and eating as many different kinds of food as I can get my hands on! I also deeply care about queer youth, and am the advisor for the GSA at the school where I teach.
How do you avoid burnout and stay motivated as a creator?
Setting a reasonable, doable schedule, and not allowing myself to do more than my allotted time. Especially when you are feeling it and things are going well, it can be tempting to push it. For me it’s really important to pay attention to how I feel after streaming, and the days following to assess if I am pushing myself too hard.
I’ve learned that 3 hours is my sweet spot. I am capable of going for more, but it wears on me after a few weeks so I don’t go beyond that. I focus on giving my community the best, most engaging, most me stream I possibly can during that time, and then stepping back and having that be enough.
Anything else you want to share with Streamlabs readers?
There is no wrong way to be a streamer. If all of the streams you are watching seem to have similar identities or personalities, branch out of your bubble and explore! You might learn something about yourself, and find some really, really amazing places to be.