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London is home to one of the biggest Pride parades in the UK, so here at Champions Speakers, we wanted to honour the speakers available for your London-based LGBTQ+ conference or event.
London's Pride event pledges to "be fully inclusive" and "provide a celebration of LGBT+ life", so keep the festivities alive by organising your own Pride party!
Source: https://prideinlondon.org/
Here at Champions Speakers, we have a whole host of eye-opening LGBT+ speakers, whose heart-wrenching experiences will leave audiences with a new perspective of sexuality.
Armed with plenty of fascinating anecdotes about their life, here is just a selection of the remarkable LGBT+ speakers we can offer.
Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage is best known for her role on RuPaul's Drag Race, a programme that celebrates drag culture and LGBTQ+ identities. She is a vocal ally for the LGBTQ+ community and regularly attends Pride events to spread her message of support, equality and inclusivity.
As a celebrity with major star appeal, any conference, webinar or event that features Michelle is guaranteed to draw crowds from far and wide!
"It's never too late to reclaim your inner diva and reclaim your inner strength!"
- Michelle Visage
Bobby Berk
Interior designer and star of Queer Eye, Bobby Berk is as talented as he is charming. At events, Bobby can discuss his personal journey of acceptance, including how being gay in the 'Bible belt' often resulted in homophobic abuse.
A candid and touching speaker, this larger than life celebrity is the perfect addition to Pride month events! Bobby found fame on Queer Eye, so will bring celebrity appeal to your event and ensure an unforgettable experience.
"I think the original 'Queer Eye' definitely started us on the journey to normalize the LGBT community and make people realize that we are just people just like everyone else. It started the road to acceptance."
- Bobby Berk
Lauren Rowles
Paralympic legend and LGBTQ+ champion, Lauren Rowles, is a powerful addition to Pride Month events. When she was paralyzed below the waist, Lauren fought for her freedom and independence, finding her strength in rowing.
She is a role model for young gay, disabled athletes, as her story of success in the face of adversity inspires all who hear her speak. Hire an up-and-coming Paralympian for your Pride Month event!
“For me, when I was a kid I never had any role models in my life that were disabled, that were gay, and I grew up learning that if you were disabled you had no life left and if you were gay then you would face the worst and most horrific abuse."
- Lauren Rowles
Matt Ellison
Matt Ellison is a transgender champion and outstanding diversity speaker. He is regularly booked for corporate events centred around inclusivity and LGBTQ+ equality, where Matt speaks from a place of experience.
After 39 years of struggling with his identity, Matt transitioned and started the next chapter of his life. He now shows audiences the importance of supporting our transgender peers through their battles and celebrating their achievements.
"From a very early age, with the first signs of anything gender coming in, so maybe 3 or 4 years old, there were toys I wanted to play with, and clothes I wanted to wear, but I was being told no. It made me think, ‘OK, what's going on here?’”
- Matt Ellison
Quote is taken from our exclusive interview with Matt Ellison.
Kellie Maloney
Former boxing promoter Kellie Maloney made global news when she announced in 2014 that she would undergo gender reassignment surgery. Having worked with some of the UK’s biggest boxers throughout her career, Kellie can discuss a wide range of topics at her speaking events, including sports, politics and diversity.
She leaves audiences with a new perspective, having revealed the hard truths faced by many transgender people across the globe.
“I have a quote I often say to people, ‘you have the right to disagree with me and to not understand what I’ve been through, as long as you do not disagree with my right to exist’. I have a great belief that we all have the right to exist no matter who we are."
- Kellie Maloney
Gareth Thomas
The first openly gay rugby player, Gareth Thomas is a former Wales international who made 100 appearances for his country. Throughout his 16-year sporting career, Gareth played at the highest level of domestic and international rugby, before coming out as gay in 2009.
Since then, he has become a popular television personality, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and The Jump. Gareth is dismantling stereotypes surrounding homosexuality and masculinity with every speech he presents.
"I'm a sportsman, as good and strong as you, who just happens to be gay."
- Gareth Thomas
Jake & Hannah Graf
International speakers, Jake and Hannah Graf, are rewriting the rulebook for love and family. The pair made history by becoming the first transgender couple to have a child, with the birth of their daughter in 2020 bringing hope for similar couples across the globe.
When booked for events, Jake and Hannah share their story with guests, opening their eyes to the normalcy of transgender families. Encourage inclusion, with these highly influential speakers.
"As trans people, we are more frequently told what we can’t do, who we can’t be, and what we can’t have, rather than what we can."
- Jake & Hannah Graf
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Kate Richardson-Walsh is one of Great Britain’s history-making hockey players, who won a gold medal during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Playing alongside her wife, Helen, Kate and her team captured the nation’s imagination when they defeated the Netherlands in the nail-biting final.
The women are not just talented athletes, but inspiring role models to young members of the LGBT+ community. Their love is truly empowering, when booked for events Kate can melt even the coldest of hearts with her story.
"Unless relationships like ours are talked about openly, we'll never get over it being taboo for some people."
- Kate Richardson-Walsh
Dr Ranj Singh
Resident Doctor on Good Morning Britain, Dr Ranj Singh is a vocal member of the LGBT+ community. Since coming out as gay, he has become a pinnacle figure in the fight for equality, with his regular television appearances serving to normalise LGBT+ presenters in mainstream media.
Additional onscreen appearances include Get Well Soon on children’s television and Save Money: Good Health, a testament to the NHS Doctor’s immense popularity.
"I didn’t wake up one day and think ‘yay, I’m gay!’, nor was it something I always knew. What I did know was that my sexuality wasn’t as black-and-white as we are led to believe."
- Dr Ranj Singh
Nicola Adams
The first openly LGBT+ boxer to win Olympic Gold, Nicola Adams shot to fame in 2012 when she triumphed at the 2012 London Olympics. At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, she became the first-ever female boxer to successfully defend her Olympic title and the first British fighter to do so in 92 years.
In 2017, Nicola turned professional and to date has won all three of her bouts. An Olympic speaker like Nicola does not just inspire sporting greatness, but acceptance and inclusion with her story of discrimination online. Despite the hate, she became the first Strictly Come Dancing celebrity to compete in a same-sex pair in 2020!
“It isn’t just sports people that need someone to look up to – everyone needs that: LGBT people, the general public. To be honest, it’s nice to feel that I can inspire so many people in so many areas of public life.”
- Nicola Adams
Martina Navratilova
One of the most successful female tennis players of all time, Martina Navratilova has won all four of tennis’ Grand Slams on numerous occasions. Most notably, she took the title at Wimbledon on nine occasions, more than any other female player.
Since her retirement, Martina competed in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, where she opened up on coming out to her family. At her speaking events, she can discuss sexuality, sport and politics, giving her fascinating insight into these topics.
"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people."
- Martina Navratilova
Dame Inga Beale
When Dame Inga Beale was appointed CEO of Lloyd’s of London, a prestigious title in its own right, she smashed through the glass ceiling and broke a 328-year string of male business leaders.
As not just the first female CEO, but an openly bisexual professional, she is carving a path for herself despite the rampant sexism and homophobia in society today. When booked for events, Inga promotes the power of inclusion to her audience.
"Let's use the words [that] people are uncomfortable using; lesbian, gay..."
- Dame Inga Beale
Gok Wan
A TV presenter and fashion expert, Gok Wan has spent years giving the nation style tips. Throughout his career, Gok has seen his work published in some of the world’s biggest magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour.
As well as this, he has hosted such shows as Gok’s Fashion Fix, How to Look Good Naked and Gok’s Clothes Roadshow. He is one of the most prominent LGBT+ presenters on television, a feat that has increased understanding for the community. At events, Gok can discuss the impact of homophobia on his wellbeing.
"...confidence is not about waking up and loving every part of you. It’s about waking up and not hating every part of you."
- Gok Wan
Mark Foster
A former professional swimmer who represented Great Britain at the Olympics and World Championships, Mark Foster has become a household name in the UK. He has also become a popular television personality, and can regularly be found on BBC Sport’s swimming coverage giving his expert insight into the biggest competitions.
As an openly gay athlete in a highly masculine environment, Mark has shown immense strength to rise above and secure countless gold medals for his country.
"I tiptoed around in the shadows for so long, but now is the time to come out..."
- Mark Foster
Book an LGBTQ+ Speaker for 2022
All of our LGBT+ speakers can demonstrate their excellent keynote speaking ability at every event or conference they attend. For more information get in touch with Champions Speakers by calling 0207 1010 553 or by filling in our online contact form.
