Gay reporter

The same year, he enrolled at Florida International University in his hometown. You’ll spend years trying to be more “manly.” You’ll work out for hours each day, you’ll style your hair differently, you’ll get braces to fix those teeth, and you’ll date brilliant, beautiful girls.

Benitez and DiDario Read their Self-written Vows at Wedding

Benitez has been married to his boyfriend DiDario since 2016.

In 2012, ABC News hired him as a correspondent with the responsibility of reporting on all platforms. He has also reported on how the COVID-19 pandemic caused major shifts and disruptions in the transportation industry. Doing so, he avoided taking assistance from regular workforce resources such as video editor, cameraman, camera, editor, reporter, editing resources, and the news coverage vehicle.

What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?

Dallas Voice was founded in 1984 as a community newspaper. In a 2016 interview with People, Benitez revealed that both of them are avid social media users. Leo is also the producer of The Wedding Party & EXPO, an annual LGBTQ+ wedding event, and co-chair of the National LGBT Media Association.

The chemistry was instant.”

According to him, the more they talked on dates, the more they looked into one another’s eyes. On the one hand, Benitez engaged to his boyfriend DiDario soon after the rumors started. The work of being a real ally, and a real comrade to the queer community, is showing up 12 months of the year, 365 days of the year, and amplifying and supporting the community on a consistent basis, and doing it in creative ways and thinking outside of the box.

However, their story had a happy ending, as he continued: "Before he died, he looked at me…And he said, 'I'm proud of the man that you became.' And that was everything!"

Anderson Cooper

The leading man of CNN, the anchor of Anderson Cooper 360 and 60 Minutes correspondent is considered one of the most successful and prominent openly gay journalists on TV.

A member of the Vanderbilt family, he frequently avoided discussing his personal life till 2012, when he allowed Andrew Sullivan to publish an email in which he wrote: "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be." 

MORE: Is Anderson Cooper still together with Benjamin Maisani?

After the pair first met in 2015, they went out on their first date at Tacos, Guac, and Margarita.

When I started reporting in 2006, it was really hard to make a full-time living as an LGBTQ+ reporter.

On 16 April 2016, the couple got married in the historic Walton House, a private English home encircled by tropical gardens in his hometown, Miami.

But that word, ‘gay,; sticks the longest. Younger journalists may think of Woodward and Bernstein and the Watergate story. That’s where I learned how to lead, how to be in community, how to hold each other up.

Pride Month Special

On 1 June 2021, Benitez hosted a special Pride Month program called PaleyImpact: Salute to LGBTQ+ Pride Achievements in Television.

He also appears on another show, ABC News Magazine 20/20, as its co-anchor. Kate has conducted deep-dive investigations into transgender prison abuse and homicides for NBC News. Today, our readers have more options to get their news from various sources, including video. He has appeared on Rachael Ray, Entertainment Tonight, and The Today Show, among other shows.

Today, we have evolved into a trusted media machine, celebrating nearly 40 years of uncompromising journalism with unparalleled local LGBTQ+ news and arts and entertainment coverage. What has been a better experience and what has been a struggle?

Having studied over 20 LGBTQ+ publications in Ohio’s rich LGBTQ+ journalism history, it has been so incredible to see the coverage change over the years.