The 31 Most Important LGBT People In Tech

In a perfect world, it really shouldn't matter what sexual orientation successful people are.

But given that young LGBT people throughout the world still experience bullying at school, we think it's important to highlight some of the brightest LGBT talents in the tech industry. 

“The general idea of corporate America taking on gay issues — with tech companies being out in front — has had an important influence on public opinion,” law professor Gary Gates of the University of California at Los Angeles, one of the country’s top scholars on gay rights and demography, told Politico earlier this year. “They have been first movers on anti-discrimination, on relationship recognition and now on most of the transgender issues.”

Companies like Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and IBM all have adopted LGBT benefits. Google, for example, has provided LGBT partner benefits since 2010. Twitter also has similar anti-discrimination policies in place and domestic-partner benefits in place since the very beginning.

31. Chuck Osborn

Chuck Osborn is a long-time gaming expert who recently became the new managing editor at IGN, a leading online media publication focused on gaming. 

Prior to joining IGN, Osborn wrote for publications like PCXL, PC Gamer, and NVISION. 

30. Kane Sarhan

Last year, Kane Sarhan teamed up with Shaila Ittycheria to launch Enstitute, an on-the-job alternative to attending college.

Enstitute helps place aspiring entrepreneurs in apprenticeship-like programs. It recently expanded to Washington and opened up an online application platform to help people pursue opportunities in business, technology, design, and entrepreneurship.

Enstitute places it students at startups like Thrillist, Tracks, and Bitly. Halfway through its pilot program last year, 70% of students received preliminary full-time offers for permanent jobs.

Prior to co-founding Enstitute, Sarhan worked as the creative director at hot New York-based startup LocalResponse. 

29. Christy Gaughan

Genentech is one of the most innovative biotech companies out there, and a lot of that is thanks to Christy Gaughan, its associate director of BioOncology marketing science. 

Gaughan also serves as Genentech's LGBT employee group co-chair.