Official List: Top 10 LGBT+ Speakers Ranked By Popularity
In a Stonewall report, they found that 18% of LGBT+ employees have experienced negative comments about their sexuality, highlighting the importance of inclusive education. Workplace inclusion is not just beneficial for the staff, but the business owners also, as it encourages a diverse range of perspectives and ideas. Take a look at our top pick of inspiring LGBT speakers, perfect for your event.
What Does LGBTQIA+ Stand For?
The current official acronym used to describe the LGBT+ community, LGBTQIA+, stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more!
Source: OK2BME
As more sexualities, genders and identities are coined, more letters are added to the acronym. Businesses need to stay up to date with the current community and its members, to support their employees best - no matter how they identify. If you hear a term that you are unfamiliar with, make sure to do your research before using it to ensure you fully understand its meaning.
How Do I Hire an LGBT+ Speaker?
These resident experts have dedicated their lives to improving our understanding of the community, by defining terms and promoting the importance of inclusion in the workplace. To book an LGBTQ+ speaker, simply browse our hand-picked selection below, then contact a booking agent. A team member will discuss your budget, target audience and event type, and then manage the booking process from start to finish, making it simple and stress-free to hire a speaker.
Who are the Best LGBT+ Speakers to Hire?
Following official poll feedback from over 138 LGBT+ inclusion-themed events, between 2022 and 2024, Megan Lupton has shared her exclusive selection of the most inspirational LGBT+ speakers to inspire inclusion at your next event!
1. Kellie Maloney
Official Client Rating - 9.2/10
LGBT guest speaker, Kellie Maloney, started her career as an esteemed boxing promoter under a different name. After publicly transitioning to a woman, she now uses her story as a transgender activist to educate others, including business owners.
From larger conferences to intimate workshops, Kellie is celebrated for her “candid, down to earth” personality and talent as a speaker. Book one of the most high-profile sports stars ever to undertake gender reassignment surgery, and nurture a more inclusive, understanding workplace.
2. Gareth Thomas
Official Client Rating -9.8/10
From the pitch to the stage, Gareth Thomas is a positive force for good. Voted the Most Influential Gay Person in the UK by the 2010 Sunday Pink List, Gareth came out as gay in 2009, making him one of the first openly LGBTQ+ professional rugby union players.
He was later awarded the Stonewall Hero of the Year award, a testament to his positive influence as a role model. When booked for events, Gareth shares his story of publicly coming out, enlightening audiences about the adversity faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
3. Matt Ellison
Official Client Rating - 9.6/10
After transitioning from female to male in 2013, Matt Ellison became a transgender activist, dedicating his life to education and awareness. Matt was the Co-Chair of FTM (Female to Male) London, where he worked closely with the NHS, and the British Government on the Gender Recognition Act, and supplied support groups for transgender people.
As an LGBT keynote speaker, Matt connects with audiences on a personal level and educates business owners on the importance of inclusion.
4. Dr Ranj Singh
Official Client Rating - 9.1/10
Openly gay TV doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, uses his celebrity platform to speak out against oppression and injustice. When booked for events, he discusses his personal growth as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of acceptance, especially in the workplace.
Combined with his medical knowledge, Ranj’s unique perspective serves to enlighten corporate audiences about the experiences of a gay professional. Audiences are drawn to Dr Ranj and his charming personality, making him a captivating spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community.
5. Jake & Hannah Graf
Official Client Rating - 9.9/10
Jake and Hannah, otherwise known as the UK’s Transgender Power Couple, prove that love is love. The inspirational duo encourages acceptance for LGBTQ+ couples, individuals and the community, through their public story of gender transition, together.
Influencing both the filmmaking industry and the British army in their professional roles, Hannah and Jake are booked to share their respective journeys, discussing such topics as sexuality, mental health in the LGBTQ+ community and gender. From NBC Universal to London Pride, a range of high-profile clients have booked the influential couple.
6. Nigel Owens
Official Client Rating - 9.9/10
Having started his refereeing career in 1987, Nigel Owens established himself as one of the best rugby union referees before coming out as gay in 2007. He was later awarded the 2007 Gay Sports Personality of the Year and 2015 Gay Sports Personality of the Decade, a testament to Nigel’s positive influence as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
When booked for events, whether as a sports speaker or an LGBT speaker, he enlightens audiences about the struggles of a gay professional in a stereotypically masculine world.
7. Colin & Justin
Official Client Rating - 8.9/10
Celebrity style experts and famous couple, Colin and Justin, celebrated their love with a private civil ceremony in 2008. Authors of The Million Pound Property Experiment, which was awarded the WHSmith’s People’s Choice Lifestyle Book of the Year, and How Not to Decorate, which was later turned into a television show, the pair are design authorities.
Colin and Jason have documented their love story online, promoting acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and normalising homosexual romance in a straight world. The duo is booked to retell their inspiring love story.
8. Dame Inga Beale
Official Client Rating - 9.9/10
Inga Beale is a pioneer of female and LGBTQ+ representation, as the first female CEO of Lloyd’s of London and openly bisexual businessperson. Three centuries after the company’s debut, Inga’s promotion was a landmark moment in gender equality, shifting Lloyd’s of London onto the right side of history.
As a speaker, she specialises in workplace equality, both for women and the LGBTQ+ community, using her story to promote the importance of inclusion. For corporate leaders, an expert speaker like Inga is essential.
9. Paris Lees
Official Client Rating - 8.8/10
As the first transgender presenter and columnist for Vogue Magazine, Channel 4 and BBC Radio One, Paris Lees is a pioneering LGBT+ speaker. She uses her unique experience to open her audience’s eyes, reflecting upon the adversity faced by the transgender community and how business owners can ensure inclusion in the workplace.
Paris is a passionate writer, founding her British magazine for the trans community, titled META, and becoming Vogue’s first transgender columnist. When booked for events, she reflects upon these impactful achievements and the positive impact they have had on the LGBTQ+ community.
10. Gina Battye
Official Client Rating - 9.4/10
After dealing with immense homophobia in the workplace, Gina Battye has dedicated her career to improving the standard of inclusion across industries. She reflects upon her physical and mental journey as a speaker, expanding upon her best-selling book, How to Beat the Biscuit Tin Blues.
Gina works with some of the most influential brands in the world, to provide transgender, LGBTQ+ and non-binary inclusion training, educating both staff and managers.
Hire an LGBTQIA+ Speaker Today!
To hire an LGBT speaker for your event, get in touch with The Motivational Speakers Agency via our online form or call a dedicated booking agent on 0207 0787 876.
This exclusive article on the top LGBTQIA+ speakers to hire was written by Megan Lupton, using official poll feedback from over 138 LGBT+ inclusion-themed events, between 2022 and 2024, and research collated from the sources of Stonewall and OK2BME.
