American television host, actress, producer and activist Oprah Winfrey was BOTD in 1954. Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi and raised in Milwaukee, she had a turbulent childhood involving sexual molestation and teenage pregnancy. She began working for radio stations in her teens, becoming a news anchor for CBS television at 19. In 1985, she began hosting a daytime talk-show in Chicago. Her charisma, empathy and willingness to tackle hot-topic issues without reverting to exploitation quickly turned the programme into a success. Relaunched as The Oprah Winfrey Show and syndicated nationally, it became the highest-rating talk show in American TV history, tackling social issues including racism, mental illness and sexism, alongside celebrity interviews and a hugely popular book club. A long-time supporter of LGBTQ rights, she frequently profiled the damaging effects of homophobia, profiling gay and trans people, people living with AIDS, estranged parent-child relationships and gay parents. She interviewed Olympic diver Greg Louganis and comedian Ellen DeGeneres shortly after they came out, and also guest-starred as a therapist in the 1997 coming-out episode of DeGeneres’ sitcom Ellen. Her 2005 interview with Alan Downs, author of gay self-help manual The Velvet Rage, put the book on the US bestseller list. An actress, media producer and philanthropist, and one of the wealthiest women in America, Winfrey has made occasional forays into film acting, winning acclaim and an Oscar nomination as Miss Sophia in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker‘s novel The Color Purple. Her other film appearances include Beloved (based on Toni Morrison’s novel), The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Butler. She co-produced the successful Broadway revival of the musical The Color Purple, and has developed a number of television projects via her production company. Winfrey lives in California with her long-time partner Stedman Graham. She has politely laughed off recurring rumours of a lesbian relationship with her friend Gayle King, while classily maintaining that there’s no shame in being a dyke. Oprah gets Honorary SuperGay status for being an exemplary LGBTQ ally, and for shifting cultural discourse towards tolerance and acceptance of sexual diversity.