Representation matters. Today’s companies should reflect our shared identity and values. Fortune’s inaugural LGBTQ+ list shows how far we’ve come—and how much work we still have to do.
For the first time in history, luck The world’s top CEOs, chairpersons and co-founders ranked by revenue It also happens to be Gay+. All of the companies that made it to the list this year reported revenues of at least $100 million – which underscores how important this is. the The ultimate ranking of LGBTQ+ business leaders.
Click here to explore the full list.
Illustration by Max-o-Matic
When it comes to business, diversity pays off. One company of note is Paramount Global, which boasts not one, but two openly gay CEOs. Chris McCarthy, co-CEO of Paramount Global and chairman/CEO of MTV Entertainment Studios, and George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount Global and chairman/CEO of CBS Entertainment, have led Paramount (along with co-CEO Brian Robbins) to new heights, ranking 142nd on the Fortune 500. “When I was growing up, there were no gay people in my life or my environment,” said co-CEO Chris McCarthy. “TV provided the only way to escape, to see myself and start dreaming of a different world.” luck.
In our extensive research, we found several positive points – compared to our main Fortune 500 list and the Fortune 500 Europe lists, the Fortune LGBTQ+ Leaders list is more diverse, with 20% women (compared to 6% in our Global 500 list) and better-than-expected racial diversity.
Courtesy of EY
One such entrepreneur in Asia is EY Japan CEO Moriya Kida, who spent 11 years hiding his true identity before becoming a partner at EY. Today, he is a proud advocate for gay rights in Japan, particularly regarding same-sex marriage, a controversial issue in the country. “The lack of recognition of same-sex marriage in Japan makes it difficult for LGBT talent and executives to stay or move here,” Kida says. “I am committed to supporting Japan to remain competitive and attractive for business.”
Despite the current climate of hostility toward the transgender community, we were also heartened to celebrate two openly transgender leaders who were featured on our inaugural list. We hope that as this important list evolves in the years to come, more leaders will feel inspired to be their authentic selves in the office.
We spoke to CEOs who, despite being openly gay, prefer not to associate their personal lives with their work for fear of repercussions in their home countries. Lest we forget, as Human Rights Watch carefully monitors every year, those in many of Africa’s fast-growing economies or heavyweights like Russia and China are not only risking career suicide by coming out publicly—they are risking their lives.
Today we celebrate leaders who have bravely blazed a trail, leaving the path open for the next generation. One thread that unites many of them is their story of courage. Coming out of the closet is one of life’s greatest challenges, and they have used that experience to make them stronger leaders.
A clear example of this is Dame Julia Huggett, the first openly gay CEO of the London Stock Exchange and the cover star of the European edition of The Lancet. luck The magazine that says:
“If you have the privilege of being a senior leader, you must use that privilege to speak up for those who are less able, or feel less able, to do so.”
Read more:
LGBT Leaders at Fortune
Top 10 Players to Watch in the Coming Years
How Paramount Global’s Two Openly Gay CEOs Are Paving the Way and Helping the Next Generation
Ken Ohashi: From Bankruptcy to Billion Dollar Boom at Brooks Brothers
Transgender employees don’t just bear the burden of prejudice, it costs employers as well.