In the queer community, being a ‘disruptor’ is one of our highest accolades.
The dictionary might define it as a person who interrupts and creates a problem or disturbance. But we prefer how it describes a business disruption: "changing the traditional way an industry operates, especially in a new and effective way".
Look at our community's most valuable history makers. Disruption - challenging the tradition to make our world a happier place for everyone - is the crucial asset they all share.
Our whole fight, our history, has been about disrupting the status quo.
In a competitive world, especially in the media and creative industries, putting yourself, your career, and your ideas first is very easy. But all too often, this individualism gets in the way of the goal we set out to achieve: creating a better world to grow up queer in.
A QueerAF Disruptor is an innovative LGBTQIA+ community advocate who challenges the status quo. They are catalysts for change, pushing boundaries, knowing that to achieve progress for all of us we must work together.
Everyone on this inaugural list is an innovator, advocate, and disruptor in their respective field. They’re also some of QueerAF’s biggest allies.
They recognise that our non-profit mission to change the newsroom helps us change the country is both vital and urgent.
They know that every LGBTQIA+ creative endeavour helps to turn the tide on the rising hate we’ve seen in the media, in our politics and in homes across the country.
Sophie Perry
An award-winning journalist and the founder of the LGBTQ+ Journalism Network
One of our goals at QueerAF is to build interconnected, solid networks of media professionals who have the same vision as us. We’re not the only ones who think that way - the LGBTQ+ Journalism Network launched the same week as us back in ‘22! Sophie has been an incredible cheerleader for queer representation in the newsroom ever since. Working closely together since launch, we've run content schemes, built close connections with the media and are proud to be playing a part in building a growing network of LGBTQIA+ journalists who want to change the newsroom.
Aby Hawker
Founder of Transmission PR, a communications consultancy for brands, individuals and organisations committed to supporting the trans community.
A couple of hours after we launched two years ago, the police announced they’d investigate Boris Johnson over party gate and the news rather stole our thunder. But amid that noise, Aby didn't miss our mission. As one of our first 100 'Early Adopter' members who fought back against the algorithms that day, she's remained one of our most loyal supporters. Meanwhile, Transmission PR has been lifting its roster of Trans+ talent up all while shifting the way brands and individuals talk about gender diverse communities.
Phil Samba
Partnership for Black People’s health project coordinator at the Love Tank's Prepster
You might know Phil for his hot tweet takes on Love Island,The Traitors, and well all reality TV - but you should know him for his queer health advocacy. Like everything the Love Tank does, his radical approach to lived experience, authenticity and language is the perfect mix of politics and pleasure. If we've learned anything from working with this tenacious advocate for the last few months (on a project we'll be announcing very soon), it's that his community initiatives for black gay, bi and queer men who have sex with men are changing lives.
Joe Lycett
An incredibly right-wing comedian, painter and 'Mummy'
From pouring (fake) turds into the river to (not really) burning 10K to call out David Beckham and footies' lacklustre queer allyship with the Saudi world cup - it's easy to see how Lycett might be thought of as a teeny tiny bit disruptive. But the real marker for popping him on this list - as well as being able to count him as a Lifetime Member of QueerAF - is simple. For two seasons of his talk show Late Night Lycett with Rumpus media, the comedian ran a trainee scheme for crucial positions on the show. It was so local Birmingham, Coventry and the West Midlands folk could break into the media in a area with few similar opportunities.
Jem Collins
Founder, editor and director of Journo Resources
Way back when, long before newsletters were in vogue, Jem has been trawling for journalistic opportunities and publishing them for free in the weekly Journo Resources newsletter. Jem is more than a comrade; everything she does inspires our not-for-profit indie publisher dedicated to improving the media for LGBTIQA+ creatives and journalists. Not only that, she is a giver - at crucial moments in QueerAF’s development, her advice has had a lasting impact. If only we all had more resources for journalists like the ones her team put out week after week.
Rhys Everquill and Rowan Gavin
QueerAF sub-editors, journos and indie media 'moguls'
We're confident both Rhys and Rowan will detest the idea of being a media mogul. But if we're reclaiming disruption, we can rewrite what media leaders should look like too - which is exactly what they're up to. These two are both powerfully changing the media business in the UK. Not only are both reviving local journalism with a fresh beat at their respective titles, the Norwich Radical and Leicester's Great Central Gazette. They're also key players in the UK's independent media landscape in their roles at organisations like the Independent Media Association and the Media Democracy Festival. Then add into the mix their loyal sub-editing and production support ensures QueerAF is a tightly well-edited newsletter.
Shivani Dave
Journalist, broadcaster, physicist and Dishi Sumac, the UK's unelected drag PM
If anyone was going to pull off painting 'pump ass, not gas' across their chest while retaining a respected broadcast journalism career, it was Shivani. This audacious and insatiable journalist's quest for knowledge is unquenchable. With a background in physics, Shivani is now broadcasting across Virgin Radio, award-winning podcast titles, and vertical video storytelling. We particularly appreciate their radical approach of blending activism and political reporting, advocating for our community while reporting on things that impact us with a strong sense of justice. They're among our most valued contributors, not just for their incredible articles, but because they're as thirsty as we are for a better media industry.
Jaron Soh
Co-founder & CEO of Voda, the LGBTQIA+ mental wellness app
It's rare for any business, whatever its focus, to centre its work in both wellness and the politics of change. Yet that's precisely what Jaron's app Voda is all about. It not only helps people find therapy that recognises their queer contexts, but works to end the root causes of those needs as well. It's also rare to say you can never get too many emails, but Jaron's regular input to our editorial is a welcome addition to our open newsroom. Afterall, we're a newsletter that relies on our community to steer our editorial.
Marty Davies
Co-CEO of Outvertising Campaign's first Trans+ columnist and founder of Trans+ History Week
“Knowledge of our past is fundamental for our liberation.” We literally couldn't have said it better. When Marty told us we needed more readily available Trans+ history resources, we asked: how can we make it happen? Enter Trans+ History Week, another opportunity in the year to make our past visible ahead of Pride month. As well as working closely with us as a creative, Marty has supported us with their 'adland' creative strategist head on to grow, build and deliver an even better QueerAF. Crucially, they understand that the march for our future must start in our past.
Jon Holmes
Journalist, editor, consultant and Sports Media LGBT+ founder
Jon's ongoing commitment to disrupting the way sports media includes LGBTQIA+ stories is a legacy that's hard to capture in a few sentences. But peek behind the curtain of Sports Media LGBT+'s work, and the evidence is easy to see. Meanwhile, as well as being a founding member of QueerAF, he's been the backbone of our publishing at times when we needed it most. While our disabled founder took time away from his desk multiple times over the last year, Jon was there either writing for us or supporting our team of queer creatives. We couldn't have been in your inbox every week without him.
