Mediums of the Message
As we celebrate LGBTQ power, we reached out to other queer journalists helping to push forward narratives from our community. All were asked about the most powerful stories they've told. Here's what they had to say.
Patrick Crowley
Editor, Billboard Pride
"The most important piece I've written is my feature on soul singer Shea Diamond. Allowing her--a black, transgender woman who was incarcerated for a decade--to tell her story through Billboard is one of my proudest moments. There are many fascinating stories that exist that don't involve cis, white men."
Gabrielle Korn
Editor-in-Chief, Nylon
"This June was our first-ever Pride issue, and I put Hayley Kiyoko on the cover. The team that put this together was made up of queer women--the writer, photographer, videographers, and me. I had our graphic designer cross out 2018 on the cover image and write "20GayTeen." The power of her story reflected the energy of the moment for our LGBTQ readers."
James Michael Nichols
Former Editor, HuffPost Queer Voices
"It's impossible to pick. Having the opportunity to engage in authentic, queer storytelling is a privilege. The tapestry of LGBTQ people who have found a voice and a medium to talk about their experience on our platform is something I'll always hold close to my heart."
Brooke Sopelsa
Managing Editor, NBC Out
"In 2007, I co-produced a documentary about LGBTQ homeless youth titled Queer Streets. It profiled young adults living in a New York City shelter, many of whom were kicked out of their homes due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Since NBC Out's launch in June 2016, we have covered dozens of stories about LGBTQ youth in crisis to draw national attention to this issue."
Zach Stafford
Editor-in-Chief, Into
"In 2014, I investigated how one black, gay man was shot in Kansas City--and why no one was talking about it. When my story came out, the city erupted in conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and police, and protests were organized. I've come to realize that it's stories that dive into the intersections of our lives that define LGBTQ journalism today."
