A few decades ago, many gay TV presenters were closeted, unable to openly express their sexuality. We have come a long way since then, with many TV anchors and hosts now free to express their sexuality without fear.
Many viewers are only interested in the news and entertainment content offered by their favorite shows, not the personal lives of the hosts. However, openly gay TV presenters play a vital role in increasing representation for the LGBTQ community.
Below is a look at the top 10 gay TV presenters who have conquered the TV and media space and the shows they currently host.
1. Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper is one of the most prominent openly gay TV presenters. He came out as gay in 2012 in an email response that was published on The Daily Beast, in which he stated, “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”
One of the most recognizable names in news broadcasting, Cooper currently works for CNN, where he hosts the flagship weeknight news program, Anderson Cooper 360°.
Cooper has previously hosted several other programs, from game shows like Jeopardy! to talk shows like Anderson Live, and news programs like CBS’s 60 Minutes.
2. Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen is an American TV host, executive producer, and author, best known for his high-profile roles on Bravo. He is also famous as the first openly gay TV presenter on an American late-night talk show.
Cohen currently hosts the flagship late-night interactive talk show, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. He is also heavily involved with The Real Housewives franchise, and has served as the host for most of the show’s reunion specials.
An interesting fact about Andy Cohen is that he is good friends with Anderson Cooper; they were set up on a blind date by mutual friends in the 1990s, but Cooper cancelled as he felt that Cohen was too excited. They later reconnected and became lifelong friends.
3. RuPaul Charles
RuPaul Charles is an American TV presenter, singer, producer, and drag queen. He is considered one of the most decorated Black personalities in Emmy history, with 12 Emmy Awards.
RuPaul is also one of the most prominent openly gay TV personalities, who has helped LGBTQ representation on TV. His work on RuPaul’s Drag Race has shifted drag culture from an underground subculture into a global TV phenomenon.
RuPaul Charles currently hosts RuPaul’s Drag Race and its spin-off, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. He also serves as the host and executive producer for CBS’s word-game show, Lingo.
4. Don Lemon
Don Lemon is an American journalist, news anchor, media executive, and one of the most prominent personalities in American cable news. He publicly spoke out about his sexuality in 2011 when promoting his memoir, Transparent.
Lemon works as an independent broadcaster and currently hosts The Demon Show and Lemon LIVE at 5 on his digital media network, Lemon Media Network.
Before he transitioned to independent news broadcasting, he worked for CNN, where he hosted several major programs, including CNN This Morning, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, and CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live annual holiday special.
5. Jonathan Capehart
Jonathan Capehart is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, TV anchor, and political commentator. He is one of the most prominent openly gay black TV presenters and married his husband, Nick Schmit, in 2017.
Capehart began his career in newspapers, with editorial roles on The New York Daily News and The Washington Post. He later transitioned to TV hosting roles, and currently serves as the co-host of The Weekend, MS NOW’s weekend morning news and talk program.
Jonathan Capehart also serves as a co-host and political analyst on Brooks and Capehart, a weekly news debrief segment that airs on PBS NewsHour on Friday nights.
6. Ben Hunte
Ben Hunte is a prominent British journalist, news anchor, and correspondent. He is an openly gay TV presenter and one of the most prominent black CNN anchors, who has built an international reputation covering LGBTQ+, social justice, and global inequality issues.
Hunte currently serves as a weekend anchor for CNN Newsroom, broadcasting out of the network’s Atlanta and London bureaus. In addition to presenting news, he is an international correspondent who regularly contributes to several high-profile stories for other CNN programs.
Before joining CNN, Hunte worked for the BBC, where he served as an anchor for BBC News Africa and BBC World Service. He also served as BBC’s West Africa and LGBTQ correspondent.
7. Eugene Daniels
Eugene Daniels is an American political journalist and news anchor. He is another one of the most prominent openly gay TV presenters on American TV, having come out after the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016.
Daniels currently co-hosts MS NOW’s weekend morning news and talk show, The Weekend, alongside Jonathan Capehart – both presenters made history as the first openly gay black men to co-host a cable news program together on a major network.
In addition to his role as a news anchor, Daniels also serves as the MS NOW’s senior Washington Correspondent. Therefore, he regularly appears on several other MS NOW programs, including Morning Joe, for live reporting and analysis of Washington-related political and policy issues.
8. Gio Benitez
Gino Benitez is an American broadcast journalist and news anchor and another prominent gay TV presenter. He never had an official public coming out; instead, he has been open about his sexuality, from his proposal and marriage to partner Tommy DiDario.
Benitez currently serves as the co-anchor of the Good Morning America Weekend program, GMA Sunday, on ABC. His appointment to the role in 2023 made him the first openly gay male co-anchor of a morning news program on a major American network.
In addition to GMA Sunday, Benitez also anchors ABC News Live Weekend on a rotating basis. Additionally, he is a regular presence on other ABC news programs, including Good Morning America, GMA3, Nightline, 20/20, and World News Tonight with David Muir.
9. Scott Evans
Scott Evans is an Emmy-nominated entertainment journalist and TV host who has built a reputation for covering pop culture and reality TV. He is also famous for championing LGBTQ and black representation in media.
Evans currently serves as the creator, producer, and host of House Guest with Scott Evans and House Guest Game Night, two digital shows that air on YouTube and Spotify. He also hosts So Close with Scott Evans, a weekly podcast series in which he interviews various personalities.
Until recently, he served as a host and correspondent of NBC’s syndicated entertainment news program, Access Hollywood. The show concluded in September 2026 after being axed by NBC following 30 years on air.
10. Steve Kornacki
Steve Kornacki is an American political journalist, writer, and TV presenter famous for his analytics and data-driven coverage of election results. He came out publicly in 2011 with a personal essay published in Salon.
Kornacki serves as a regular panelist and lead data segment anchor on NBC’s Sunday morning public affairs program, Meet the Press. He is also a regular contributor to other NBC news programs, including Today, NBC Nightly News, and NBC News NOW.
In addition to news, Kornacki also uses his analytics and data-driven reporting skills on several NBC sports programs, including Football Night in America and NBA coverage.