Author, broadcaster, and YouTube personality, Riyadh Khalef is an avid advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. From coming out to his parents in a YouTube video, to hosting six-part BBC series Queer Britain, Khalef has built a loyal audience on a drive to provide positive representation for queer individuals, especially gay men. Tying together his Irish-Iraqi heritage with his drive to improve the lives of queer people across the world, he uses his platform to offer advice on coming out to parents and recently contributing a chapter to journalist Amelia Abraham’s book, We Can Do Better Than This, outlining ways in which family and friends can be better allies to loved ones in their coming out journey.

Along with cooking up a storm on 2020’s Celebrity Masterchef, which he came away from as the winner, he has also published a bestselling book called Yay! You’re Gay! Now What? A Gay Guy’s Guide to Life.

Upon announcing the publication of his book on Instagram, Khalef explained: “This book is for the thousands of lost, afraid and undeserved queer teens who’ve messaged me over the years looking for help.”

“It’s also for every person who comes in contact with that queer teen who wants to learn how to nurture, protect and uplift them, from teachers to classmates to work colleagues and even parents who are finding it difficult to accept.”