Queer media professionals bring unique perspective and a vast array of talent to the media industry — often despite setbacks, judgment and descrimination because of their identities. In honor of Pride Month, we interviewed six LGBTQ+ journalism and media leaders to share their experiences with the industry, their influences, and what’s changed over the years for individuals and publications covering LGBTQ+ issues. Among other themes, they discuss the need for intersectional reporting of the highly diverse community and ways mainstream media can do better.
Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at The 19th, they/them
Kate Sosin focuses on transgender rights, incarceration, politics and public policy for The 19th. Kate has conducted deep-dive investigations into transgender prison abuse and homicides for NBC News. They previously worked at Logo TV, INTO and Windy City Times.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
Just like with any community, queer people are experts in their own experiences. As reporters, I think it’s tempting to spend a lot of time gazing, trying to translate the unfamiliar or fantastical for a reader instead of sitting down with each source as a person. Or we search for a sympathetic, relatable source when the truth is that we are all flawed and complicated people. LGBTQ+ people and our stories often get lost in this sensationalization. In truth, our stories are deeply human. If we deferred to LGBTQ+ sources and honored their experiences, truly listened, we would be transformed as journalists. We would understand not just queer people better, but gender and the meaning of living on the margins.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
My first full-time job in media was at Windy City Times, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ newspaper. I worked too much and made too little money, but Tracy Baim and Andrew Davis were unfailingly good to me as editors and set the bar high for what I could ask for from mentors. They were also community-minded people. That job taught me the power of reporting on a community that I was a part of, and I will always be grateful for it and for their example.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist or publication changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
When I started reporting in 2006, it was really hard to make a full-time living as an LGBTQ+ reporter. Now, I have a really good career. What is disappointing about that is that I hoped in 2015, after the Obergefell marriage decision, that trans rights would follow, and I would become obsolete. Obviously that was really hopeful and naive. It seems like LGBTQ+ reporters are needed now more than ever.
Ken Schneck, founder and editor, The Buckeye Flame, he/him
Ken Schneck is the founder and editor of The Buckeye Flame. He is the author of “Seriously, What Am I Doing Here? The Adventures of a Wondering and Wandering Gay Jew” (2017), “LGBTQ Cleveland” (2018), “LGBTQ Columbus” (2019), and “LGBTQ Cincinnati” (2020). In his spare time, he is a professor of education at Baldwin Wallace University.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
The No. 1 thing that the media industry gets wrong is coverage of the LGBTQ+ community that is distinctly lacking in intersectionality. Stories — especially during Pride Month — tend to focus solely on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression and not the cumulative effects of different parts of our identity. The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith, and it is critical that coverage highlights that the experiences of, say, Black trans women are markedly different than cisgender white men. Yes, homophobia and transphobia affect the LGBTQ+ community greatly, but so too does sexism, racism, islamophobia, antisemitism, and all the other assaults on our whole identity … not just the gay parts.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
Without question, networking. The wonderful opportunity to be around other journalists has given me perspective, inspiration, and the drive to make my own work just plain better. On those now-ubiquitous days where the Ohio legislature puts forth a new piece of legislation to deny the lived experience of LGBTQ+ Ohioans, and I think, “Wow, I have no idea what I’m doing,” I now have a long list of colleagues on speed-dial. And there are these weird moments when I get a call for feedback from a fellow journalist, and that’s humbling each and every time.
Specifically for The Buckeye Flame, I have benefitted so very much from pouring through the archives of the LGBTQ+ journalists who have come before me, especially here in Ohio. Thumbing through old issues of High Gear (1975-1982), Gay People’s Chronicle (1985-2015) and To the Root(s) (1980s) helped me ground our current work by honoring that which came before us. And personally, Randy Shilts is goals for me, so I have tried to read as much of his writing as possible.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist or publication changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
Having studied over 20 LGBTQ+ publications in Ohio’s rich LGBTQ+ journalism history, it has been so incredible to see the coverage change over the years. Throughout so much of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and the early ‘90s, these publications were the only places where non-demonizing stories could be found about the successes and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, and usually the only places where these stories could be found altogether. As “mainstream” publications started to increasingly cover LGBTQ+ stories, the challenge has been — and continues to be — moving past 101 coverage where we have to explain concepts everyone should know at this point (“transgender,” “coming out” etc.) and instead provide depth, complexity, and intersectionality. At the same time, LGBTQ+ coverage needs to reflect the simple reality that, at this point and time in the United States, the LGBTQ+ is under daily and vicious legislative attack and every reader needs to ignite action to combat that reality.
Anna DeShawn, founder, E3 Radio and The Qube, she/her
Anna DeShawn builds digital media platforms that center and celebrate BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and QTPOC (Queer, Transgender People of Color) creatives. She received her bachelor’s degree in radio/television production from Drake University and her master’s degree in communications from Ithaca College. After 12 years in the digital media space, she founded E3 Radio, an online radio station playing queer music and reporting on queer news in high rotation with an intersectional lens. Most recently, she co-founded The Qube, a curated app of music and podcasts by BIPOC and QTPOC people.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
One thing people get wrong is that they only highlight LGBTQ+ folks in June, right? The work of being a real ally, and a real comrade to the queer community, is showing up 12 months of the year, 365 days of the year, and amplifying and supporting the community on a consistent basis, and doing it in creative ways and thinking outside of the box. And that’s what being a true ally and comrade looks like. It’s not just about one month of the year, it’s not just about changing your logo to a rainbow, or incorporating a rainbow for 30 days; it’s about showing up when we need folks the most. This is a time when things aren’t great — when we look at the political landscape and what’s been happening in legislatures across the country against trans folks and access to health care. I think that’s one thing that folks get wrong a lot.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
Probably one of the biggest influences is my time and my work at Affinity Community Services in Chicago that serves Black lesbians and women-identified folks in particular on the south side of Chicago, and has been for the last 27 years. I grew up at Affinity. That’s where I learned how to lead, how to be in community, how to hold each other up. I know that has helped me tremendously in my work. And I’m incredibly grateful for those Black women that have [invested] in my leadership in so many ways, and it translates itself into the work that I do today.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist or publication changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
In the industry, there has been this shift from just radio to podcasting … but I feel like podcasting is just a beautiful extension to what radio is, like they’re cousins. Podcasting gives people the power to have their own platforms. We need more of that. If we can steward more focus on best practices, the best ways to tell stories, and to help podcasters become better podcasters, we’ll have an even better ecosystem of media opportunities and local media platforms that will champion issues and educate folks.
We’ve seen in journalism across the board the shift to digital and the need to have a digital presence. Enabling digital work in digital media has been the biggest change I’ve seen. If there’s a struggle, it’s absolutely about capital — it’s about funding. It’s about telling the story of how important local media is, and how important it is to support media that is telling the stories of queer folks around the country. But the experience has been beautiful, to be able to do that work, and to be the voice for the community, and to tell our stories. Because if we don’t, who will?
Leo Cusimano, publisher and president, Dallas Voice, he/him
Leo is the publisher and president of Dallas Voice and OUT North Texas. He has been at Dallas Voice for more than 29 years, having started his career in the advertising agency business and migrated to the newspaper/media business. Leo is also the producer of The Wedding Party & EXPO, an annual LGBTQ+ wedding event, and co-chair of the National LGBT Media Association.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
Addressing the LGBTQ+ community takes place at a local level. The LGBTQ+ community has a grassroots perspective when it comes to getting their news, trusting the media and sharing their voice. We seek in-depth, comprehensive coverage with a local focus. This is best done by local LGBTQ+ media. Having the right perspective, understanding the terminology, and knowing our history takes preparation and talent. Use LGBTQ+ people to help tell our stories and build trust.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
Setting the stage for success comes from foundation work. My predecessors, Don Ritz and Robert Moore, established a path that focuses on profitability, carrying no debt, carefully reviewing profit-loss and understanding that the legacy of Dallas Voice is important for our LGBTQ+ community.
In my tenure, I have continued the legacy of having no debt, hired an accounting firm to review and present our financial reports, and changed our focus to add additional revenue sources. In addition, I have done extensive work on business continuity planning with certified financial advisors. Local journalism and the legacy of LGBTQ+ media sources is vitally important. As a publisher with a business degree, Bachelor of Arts in marketing, I run our business from that lens, that perspective.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist or publication changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
Dallas Voice was founded in 1984 as a community newspaper. Today, we have evolved into a trusted media machine, celebrating nearly 40 years of uncompromising journalism with unparalleled local LGBTQ+ news and arts and entertainment coverage. As our award-winning coverage continues to reflect and illuminate the fabric of LGBTQ+ Texas, our publishing has evolved beyond print, with daily blogs on our website, our weekly e-newsletter and social media posts. Today, our readers have more options to get their news from various sources, including video. Dallas Voice also produces video in our coverage efforts with our DVtv crew.
Print has been around for many years and it’s been able to adapt and evolve in order to remain relevant. I expect that it will continue to be the case. We’re not just in print, we’re online, we’re on mobile, we’re on social media. As long as we are able to continue to adapt and evolve, print will have a place.
We have also learned that print is king in the LGBTQ+ community. Why … our community likes to use companies that market directly to them. We want to make sure that the cake baker for our wedding wants our business and that we would be treated just like anyone else.
Irving Washington, Executive Director/CEO, Online News Association, he/him
Irving Washington is the executive director/CEO for the Online News Association, the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists. As a media diversity advocate, Irving has led programming and fundraising initiatives for journalists, media professionals, and students worldwide. Before joining ONA, he worked for the National Association of Black Journalists and the Radio-Television Digital News Association. He serves on the board of directors of the American Journalism Project, News Revenue Hub, and the Journalism Alumni Society of his alma mater, Ball State University, from which he received a degree in journalism.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
The media often miss the intersections of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. We’re not monolithic. The dual identities we share, from race to class to ideology, have endless stories that could be told. Unfortunately, many stories are not framed from that perspective.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
I’m inspired and learning a lot from the Trans Journalists Association. Their work is changing newsroom coverage and training conversations across the country.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist or publication changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
There has been progress on LGBTQ+ rights and issues over the last several years, which has led to more conversations and understanding in the newsroom. However, the industry still struggles when it falls into conceived narratives in which identities are deemed political by their very existence.
Tony Plohetski, investigative reporter at The Statesman and KVUE in Austin, TX, he/him
Tony Plohetski is a national award-winning journalist whose work spans print, television and digital mediums. He joined the Austin American-Statesman in 2000 and since 2013, has worked in partnership with KVUE-TV, Austin’s ABC affiliate. He is a national Edward R. Murrow recipient, has received three National Headliner awards, and in 2021, was the inaugural winner of the Dan Rather Medal for News & Guts, received the Hillman Prize in broadcasting and was named Star Reporter of the Year by the Texas Managing Editors.
What is one thing the media industry gets wrong, or something outlets should know, when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ voices and people in their coverage?
I am often struck by the amount of diversity in the LGBTQ+ community, and unfortunately, that is not always reflected in coverage. I do think that we’ve come far as an industry in terms of not necessarily playing into stereotypes, but I often think we should do more to reflect different aspects of our community. For example, and while finding sources for this type of coverage may be difficult, I don’t often see or hear questioning voices or bisexual voices in traditional media coverage. I also would like for the industry to discuss more what it means to be a minority person in the LGBTQ+ community; and I also think that age differences add to community diversity that often is not highlighted or discussed. I know that my experiences as a mid-40-something is not the experience of a mid-20-something, and I often consider what that means in terms of unity in our own community. In short, while we are one large community, there are smaller communities that are not reflected as much in media coverage.
What influences have helped enrich your work and leadership in the industry?
I certainly think that good LGBTQ+ role models are critical, and I have been fortunate to have them along the way. As I grow even more experienced in my career, I often think about the next generation of journalists and want to make sure that I am lifting them in the same way that I have received support throughout my career.
How has being an LGBTQ+ journalist changed over the years? What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?
I am fortunate that I have spent my professional career at two places — the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE, the ABC affiliate here — that have always been welcoming to LGBTQ+ journalists. When I pitched a column in 2019 on my path toward marriage, the Statesman was immediately interested. KVUE has had a float in Austin’s Pride parade and aired 30-second vignettes highlighting its on-air LGBTQ+ journalists. Both were excited when I recently was invited to be the inaugural emcee for Round Rock’s first Pride event.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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