Top Television News Anchors Who Identify as LGBTQ
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer television newscasters have a prominent profile in many countries around the world. As the face of daily newscasts and commentaries, they play a role in conveying integrity, reliability, diversity, and comfort in a tumultuous world of news and events. This list of individuals is often seen at the forefront of breaking news on a daily basis, and they reflect the presence of the community itself in society.
Many of the daily stories they cover reference the LGBTQ community and its issues. In many cases these are the headline stories. Though not specifically tasked with the mandate, the presence of these individuals in the news industry helps to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ issues around the world.
Of particular note is the transgender presence in this professional field. Included among these are American Eden Lane of PBS, India Willoughby of the UK's ITV network, and India's Padmini Prakashof Lotus News. Ireland's Jonathan Rachell of RTE is a well-known gender fluid newscaster who presents in both his male or female persona.
Many of these individuals are activists within the LGBTQ community. American Charles Perez of ABC News is one to particularly note - he published his book 'Confessions of a Gay News Anchorman' (2011) after his ordeal of being fired from a position in Florida when he was identified as being gay.
Several supporting LGBTQ news organizations have been formed as action groups for this professional community. For example, in France, there is L'association des journalistes LGBT, and in America there is the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.
Australia
- Anton Enus, SBS World News
Canada
- Lorne Saxberg, CBC Newsworld
Germany
- Alfred Biolek, various news channels
- Anne Will, ARD News Channel
Great Britain
- Laurie Penny, Channel 4
- Richard Quest, CNN International
- India Willoughby, ITV
India
- Padmini Prakash, Lotus News
Ireland
- Jonathan Rachel, RTE
Russia
United States
- Chagmion Antoine, CBS
- Anderson Cooper, CNN
- Steve Kmetko, QTN World News
- Dan Kloeffler, ABC News Now
- Steve Kornacki, MSNBC
- Eden Lane, PBS
- Don Lemon, CNN
- Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
- Charles Perez, ABC
- Robin Roberts, ABC
- Thomas Roberts, MSNBC
- Jessica Savitch, NBC News Nightly
- Shepard Smith, Fox News
- Jane Velez-Mitchell, HLN