Randy Phillips (airman)

Phillips appearing anonymously in a video posted on YouTube on September 6, 2011
Phillips appearing as himself in a video posted on YouTube on October 29, 2011

Randy Phillips (born May 8, 1990) is an airman of the United States Air Force whose coming out in September 2011 following the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy (DADT) garnered media attention. DADT had banned the service of openly gay members in the United States Armed Forces and Phillips used YouTube, under the alias "AreYouSuprised", to anonymously seek support and to document his life under the policy over several months. His videos included his coming out to his father and mother, which coincided with Phillips showing his face for the first time, and the accidental discovery of his anonymous web presence by his co-workers.

There was a wave of video postings when the military anti-homosexual policy ended, with many pointing to Phillips as their model or inspiration.[1] The timing of his revelations to his family at the end of the military's restrictions on service by homosexuals made him, in one journalist's estimation, "the poster boy for the DADT repeal."[2] Another wrote: "Phillips has masterfully used social media and good timing to place himself at the centre of a civil rights success story."[3]

  1. ^ New York Times: Austin Considine, "Coming Out to the World on the Web," October 14, 2011, accessed January 9, 2012
  2. ^ Huffington Post: "Randy Phillips, Gay Airman, Comes Out To Mom On YouTube," September 29, 2011, accessed January 9, 2012
  3. ^ Guelph Mercury: Graeme Gerrard, "Archie Comics' storyline has nothing on Randy Phillips," September 29, 2011, accessed January 9, 2012