Freddy McConnell

Freddy McConnell is an award-winning journalist and writer, best known for sharing his experience of pregnancy as a transgender man in the BBC documentary ‘Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth’. A committed campaigner for LGBT+ equality, he has focused his recent career on sharing his journey of queer parenthood as a journalist and presenter, appearing on platforms such as BBC Sounds as the host of Pride & Joy and as the writer of Vice’s column Dad Bod. In 2022, Freddy released his debut children’s book Little Seahorse and the Big Question to open the important discussion of a solo-parent family. Having been nominated as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Contributors to LGBT+ Life in the British LGBT+ Awards, Freddy is now highly sought-after to attend events as a passionate keynote speaker.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with an MA in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Freddy decided to travel the world, keeping written and visual accounts of his journey. Beginning his journalism career in 2013, he entered The Guardian as a Digital Journalism Trainee and spent over six years developing his industry knowledge and experience at the organisation. Advancing upon his career, Freddy worked his way up to become a Journalist and Lead Producer of Audience and Innovation. Alongside this, he also worked as the co-host of their ‘Token’ podcast which allowed him to contribute to news reporting and Arabic translation. Covering all manner of topics during his time at The Guardian, Freddy has become an incredibly popular choice to speak at events across the country.

In 2016, Freddy began working on his remarkable project to create the award-winning BBC documentary ‘Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth’. Treasured for sharing his inspirational transgender journey with audiences globally, the film was released in 2019 and has taken the industry by storm ever since. Alongside this, Freddy has also built an incredible career as a freelance journalist for publishers such as Vice, and The Guardian, whilst also becoming the renowned host of Pride & Joy, a BBC Sounds podcast that focuses on the topic of queer parenthood. Passionate to implement positive change throughout society for trans people and their families, Freddy is currently sharing his specialist knowledge as a member of the media advocacy organisations All About Trans and the Neon Spokesperson Network. A captivating LGBT+ campaigner, Freddy has become a must-see speaker for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Recognised as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Contributors to LGBT+ Life in the British LGBT+ Awards, Freddy McConnell is now highly sought-after to attend speaking engagements internationally. Admired for consulting organisations wanting to be more inclusive of LGBT+ families, his career is transforming the community to become more inclusive for all. Having released his first children’s book Little Seahorse and the Big Question in 2022, Freddy is empowering audiences to tackle important topics such as queer family creation, solo parent households, and trans reputation in the media. When looking to hire a passionate diversity and inclusion speaker to attend your future events, look no further than Freddy today.