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It is Pride Month, and if you are looking for a new way of taking a stand for diversity and inclusion, you have landed in the right spot. Pride month is all about giving new perspectives to people, highlighting those doing great work for the LGBTQIA+ community, and showing support to make everyone feel like they can be themselves.

Many people are working incredibly hard to achieve equal justice and opportunities for everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community during this month, becoming influencers in their own right and encouraging many more to follow in their footsteps. To mark 2022's Pride Month, it seems fitting to turn the focus onto some of the top LGBTQIA+ Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) making some of the biggest impacts in history, influencing both science and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Celebrating the hard work that people have put in and showing continued (or new-found) support is a lot easier when you know who to support and why. The KOLs  highlighted in this article display the diversity that is starting to appear in the medical research community. What used to be a male-dominated industry is slowly turning the tide thanks to a wave of LGBTQ experts in the form of scientists and researchers coming in and being themselves.

What are KOLs (or Key Opinion Leaders)

KOL is an acronym for Key Opinion Leader. When an individual is able to influence the behavior of others, is trusted by peers, and has published articles, research, findings, and more all online, they can become a Key Opinion Leader or a thought leader in their field. With many accomplishments to their name already, the select number of professionals that become Key Opinion Leaders find they have even more influential once given the title. Most KOLs are experts in science and technology, such as scientists and researchers, but within the wider field of healthcare, a Key Opinion Leader could be a physician, hospital executive, and health system director.

Discover KOLs for Yourself

If you would like to discover more about KOLs or need to find a specific KOL to consult, make sure to check out the KOLs free search engine. This free KOLs database enables you to compare the level of influence a Key Opinion Leader has compared to another. Compare up to two KOLs for any concept, and even get a free and personalized list of KOLs. There are currently more than 50 million thought experts in the KOL database.

Out of those 50 million in this system, there are 8 very influential Key Opinion Leaders worthy of mentioning this Pride Month.

Key Opinion Leaders Influencing More Than Just Science

The best influencers are those making a difference in more than one field, but when they can make a difference beyond their work, spreading the word is of great importance.

The KOLs who are making a huge international impact in the LGBTQA community all work within science and research fields, ranging from biochemistry to cofilin loss and bioinorganic spectroscopy. They have spent many years building their reputations and trust to reach this level of respect. The 8 Key Opinion Leaders that you need to take note of this year are:

  • Scott Keeney

  • Kat Hadjantonakis

  • Stefanie Elisabeth Windner

  • Kelly N Chacon

  • Raul Navarro  

  • Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi

  • Lisa Diamond Raab  

  • Jane Rigby

Each of the KOLs in this list has a unique LGBTQ story and experience. From bringing on board benefits for LGBTQIA+ couples at work to organizing events for young LGBTQIA+ students, offering them a safe space to meet others and talk about all things science, these acts are making a better and brighter future for all upcoming scientists and researchers. It could encourage more young students to enter this career and provide confidence to others that have maybe, up until this point, been too scared of speaking out about discrimination in the workplace.

Everyone deserves the right to work in an environment in which they feel comfortable being themselves and not experience discrimination. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for many LGBTQIA+ individuals in the science and research fields over the years. Many of the KOLs on this list, including Kat Hadjantonakis, have experienced this despite not wanting to disclose their sexual orientation. This KOL has spoken out that people should take action when they are judged, just like they did, which could inspire many more to follow suit. Having the confidence to speak up against sexist comments and jokes, finding a diverse working environment that accepts everyone for who they are, and working with people that identify with one another can change this industry for the better, and these KOLs have made the first move.

Alone, these Key Opinion Leaders  can be the influential being other scientists and individuals look to when studying their concept and help make a diverse working environment that is welcoming to all. Together they can make monumental changes across the world in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Data credits for information about these influential KOLs

You can find a more detailed article about these Key Opinion Leaders in this LGBTQ kols article.

Show Your Support

These LGBTQIA+ Key Opinion Leaders  should be the influencers that are praised this month. Discover more about each KOL  included on the list,  and take some time to look into what each Key Opinion Leader  specializes in and their impact on the science industry so you can discover and celebrate their incredible work. This is the perfect place to go if you want to remain updated about who is the one to watch within this industry or if you want to be inspired about how to leave your own lasting impact.

Within this list, take note of one of the Key Opinion Leaders included, Lisa Diamond Raab. She will be appearing at the National LGBTQ Health Conference, organized by the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) at Northwestern University and Center, which will take place from the 28th of July until the 30th of July in Chicago. The top concept at this conference will be LGBTQ, Sexual Orientation, Sexual Identity, HIV, LGBTQ Young Adults, LGBTQ Issues, and HIV Prevention.

With Lisa being present, it is a great opportunity for anyone interested in showing more support for those making a massive impact on the LGBTQIA+ community and for Lisa herself or for learning more about how they are trying to expand the understanding of same-sex sexuality beyond the term bisexual.

Read all about her in the KOLs News article to give you an idea of what to expect from her.