In the 20th century, the LGBTQ+ community faced immense social pressure, with their lives often forced into the shadows. In many countries, homosexuality was considered illegal, and in some cases, classified as a mental illness. These dual forms of legal and societal oppression prevented LGBTQ+ individuals from being open about their identities and forced them to endure severe discrimination from their families, workplaces, and society at large. However, the Stonewall Riots of 1969 changed everything and became the starting point for the LGBTQ+ rights movement. In a gay bar in New York City, a group of brave LGBTQ+ individuals chose to resist the violent police enforcement, and the riot quickly ignited global attention to gender equality.
After the Stonewall Riots, the LGBTQ+ community began to organize and fight for their rights, expressing their deep desire for equality and respect. Yet, even entering the 21st century, the LGBTQ+ image in mainstream media remained marginalized. Many media outlets continued to portray the community through stereotypical depictions or simplified negative and tragic narratives, making it difficult for the real voices and diverse faces of the LGBTQ+ community to be understood by the outside world. This media environment further exacerbated societal prejudices against LGBTQ+ people, leaving them with little power in the public sphere.
Against this historical backdrop, Benjamin Cohen keenly recognized that media is not just a tool for information dissemination but a powerful bridge for promoting social equality and inclusion. He believed that if mainstream media failed to provide the LGBTQ+ community with fair narrative opportunities, a platform dedicated to their voices was necessary to fill this gap. So, in 2005, at the age of just 23, Cohen decided to establish PinkNews, a news platform specifically serving the LGBTQ+ community. Through this platform, he aimed not only to give a voice to the LGBTQ+ community but also to show the world the true stories and inner lives of its members:
“When I looked at the LGBTQ+ reports in the media, I always felt like it wasn’t our true image. If we don’t tell our own story, the world will never truly understand us.”
Mission to Redefine LGBTQ+ Media Narrative
The birth of PinkNews was no accident. Benjamin Cohen deeply understood that the LGBTQ+ community needed not only a news platform belonging to them but also a public space where their voices could be authentically heard. In the early days, his team, with limited resources but unlimited passion, gradually built a media platform that was targeted and deeply engaging. Unlike mainstream media, PinkNews committed to reporting on issues directly related to the LGBTQ+ community, from legal reforms to cultural events, from victories in marriage equality to the difficult battles against discrimination. Every report reflected the values of equality:
“Media should be a tool for promoting equality, not a weapon for creating prejudice. I founded PinkNews to give the LGBTQ+ community a stage that truly belongs to them, so that their stories are no longer ignored.”
This mission-driven media model quickly gained international attention, with PinkNews evolving from a small news site into a global leader in LGBTQ+ media. It is not only a reporting platform but also a tool for fostering internal dialogue within the community, educating the public, and becoming a significant force in inspiring social action.
Integrating Diversity and Equality into Everyday Life
Cohen’s success stems not only from his choice of news content but also from his keen insight into digital media trends. Against the backdrop of social media transforming global information dissemination, he quickly adapted PinkNews to be part of this revolution. From Facebook to Instagram, and onto short video platform TikTok, PinkNews actively used these tools to spread LGBTQ+ stories to audiences around the world.
This approach not only expanded its influence but also allowed more young generations to engage with LGBTQ+ issues. For example, PinkNews’ social media content includes concise news analysis, in-depth story sharing, and advocacy campaigns that enable viewers to take immediate action. Through technology, Cohen not only built a media empire but also fostered cross-cultural dialogue, allowing people from different countries to better understand and support the LGBTQ+ community.
The Intersection of Personal and Professional: The Inner Strength Behind the Journey
Benjamin Cohen’s career is not just a business venture but a profound personal journey. His identity and experiences are closely intertwined with the PinkNews platform he founded, making it not merely a tool but a mission born from the heart. By publicly embracing his identity as a gay man in a world still filled with discrimination and prejudice, he chose to face these challenges head-on and transform them into a force for speaking up for the community.
Cohen has spoken frequently about the discrimination he faced early in his career. He recalls those moments of being marginalized, undervalued, and even losing opportunities because of his sexual orientation. “It felt like being trapped in an invisible cage, your worth being denied, your voice suppressed.” These experiences did not defeat him; instead, they strengthened his resolve. He realized that countless LGBTQ+ individuals were going through similar struggles, and he had the ability to change that reality.
This personal journey has given Cohen extraordinary empathy and insight, allowing him to deeply understand the needs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community. His reporting and advocacy not only tackle the core issues but also resonate emotionally, stirring empathy and sparking action. Because of this, he is not just a media founder but a representative and symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. He continuously encourages others with his own story, showing the world that even in adversity, one can find the strength to achieve success on their own terms.
Driving Ongoing Social Change: A Deeper Purpose
Despite PinkNews becoming a major media platform for the global LGBTQ+ community, with its influence reaching millions, for Benjamin Cohen, this is just the beginning. He understands that while legal protections and media coverage are crucial, achieving equality is still distant unless the deep-rooted social structures and entrenched mindsets are changed. Therefore, he not only focuses on giving a voice to the LGBTQ+ community but also looks toward broader societal issues, aiming to address systemic inequality through cross-sector collaboration and action.
Cohen is particularly focused on intersectionality, emphasizing that LGBTQ+ individuals are impacted not only by their gender identity but also by factors such as race, economic class, and cultural background. For instance, transgender women of color often face compounded marginalization, enduring more complex and extreme forms of discrimination:
“We cannot just talk about LGBTQ+ rights if we do not consider these intersecting identities. Without that, our efforts for equality will always be incomplete.”
In addition to reporting and advocacy, Cohen actively participates in policy discussions, seeking to influence government and corporate support for LGBTQ+ rights. He collaborates with international organizations to push for more comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and offers advice on legislation against hate speech. He also views education as the fundamental tool for societal change, working to introduce gender and sexual orientation diversity education in schools so that the next generation grows up learning to respect and embrace others.
“Education is the key to change. If our children grow up in an inclusive environment, the future world will need far less struggle.” Through continued effort, Cohen aims to create a more equal future for the LGBTQ+ community while promoting greater acceptance and understanding of diversity in society as a whole.
The Symbol of the Future: The Integration of Media, Technology, and Equality
Benjamin Cohen’s story is a quintessential example of a “modern icon.” He successfully merged media with technology, forging a new path for equality and proving that technology is not just a business tool but a powerful force for social progress. His efforts have made PinkNews a global platform for the LGBTQ+ community, but his influence extends far beyond that. Cohen used media to break down barriers of geography, culture, and language, ensuring that voices from diverse backgrounds could be heard and encouraging people to rethink the role media should play in driving social change.
Cohen’s vision is not limited to giving the LGBTQ+ community a voice. He hopes PinkNews will continue to expand into more languages and cultural backgrounds, becoming a shared platform for the global LGBTQ+ community and a media model for educating and inspiring society. “We should not only report on the world’s current state but inspire people to create a better future.” He believes that when more people understand the value of diversity and inclusion, and when more media outlets join the fight for equality, society will become more just.
Looking ahead, Cohen is particularly focused on the application of emerging technologies in the equality movement. He believes that artificial intelligence and data analytics can help uncover systemic inequality more effectively, while social media and digital platforms can amplify the voices of marginalized groups. His vision is a truly global PinkNews, a media platform that transcends culture and language, becoming a spiritual home for the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters.
However, Cohen is also clear that the path to equality is never easy. Beyond technological advancements, he calls for collective action from society as a whole—through education, policy, and culture—to promote acceptance of diversity. He emphasizes that no one should fight alone and that media, governments, businesses, and individuals must work together to truly change the world:
“Every report, every conversation, every voice is an essential part of driving equality. I founded PinkNews because I believe that when everyone has the right to be heard, the world will finally be fair and just.”
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