Jason Somerville: Queer Poker’s Streaming King
Jason Somerville, the first openly gay male poker pro, brought queer energy to the tables and revolutionized poker streaming on Twitch. Following trailblazers like Vanessa Selbst, he built an inclusive, authentic community that proved poker is anyone’s game—especially when you play it your way.
Following in the Footsteps of Poker Legends
By the time Jason Somerville came out in 2012, the queer poker world already had an icon: Vanessa Selbst. She’d been dominating the tables for years, showing everyone what it looked like to be openly queer and a total boss. But Jason carved out his own space as the first openly gay male poker pro—bringing his own energy and making waves on a new frontier: live-streamed poker.
The Rise of the Streaming Superstar
Somerville wasn’t just content to grind it out at the tables. He saw where poker was headed—online and on camera—and made it his mission to lead the charge. His Run It Up Twitch series fused high-level poker strategy with personality-driven content, creating something totally fresh in a space that desperately needed it.
It wasn’t about dry commentary or endless chip counts—Jason made poker fun again. Think charismatic card shark meets queer gaming icon. With over 23 million views on Twitch, he built an army of fans who tuned in to watch him dominate online tournaments, drop strategy gems, and talk trash in real-time.
Representation, But Make It Real
Let’s be honest: poker is still a straight-dude-heavy scene. Jason’s openness didn’t just make headlines—it reshaped the way queer players saw themselves in the game. By being loud, proud, and damn good at poker, he showed a generation of players that authenticity could be just as powerful as a perfectly timed bluff. What Jason did was bring it into a new era, proving that visibility matters just as much on a Twitch stream as it does at the final table of the WSOP.
Why We’re Still Watching
Jason continues to play, stream, and host live events, always keeping things authentic and a little chaotic (in the best way). He’s a reminder that queer poker isn’t just about fitting in—it’s about breaking the game wide open and making it your own.
