Denise Penn is a past president of BiNet USA and is currently a director with the American Institute of Bisexuality. She has been working as an advocacy journalist covering issues for the LGBT and HIV-affected community for over 15 years, writing and editing for LGBT and alternative publications as a news reporter, columnist and editor. Currently, she is the News Editor for The LN Magazine, Editor of biMagazine.org and a frequent contributor to many others. She also works behind the scenes as a media consultant and event producer. She grew up in Orange County and attended UCI, San Diego State University, California State University, Fullerton and Western State Law School and earned undergraduate degrees in English and Social Science Research and a Master's Degree in Social Work.

She is a social worker and has worked with hospices providing counseling support and advocacy for terminal patients for over 15 years and loves to hear the stories from her clients. She has served on the Boards of the Free Clinic of Orange County, AIDS Walk Orange County, The Sexual Assault Network, the Elections Committee of the County of Orange and others.

As associate producer and host of The Gay & Lesbian News Magazine, a weekly live cable television program on Charter serving the Long Beach community, she has made a commitment to reporting news and issues vital to the community for over 12 years. Guests have included community leaders, film producers, artists, actors, musicians, directors and political figures, as well as ordinary people with stories to tell. The program was founded by Bob LaFont in the '80s, before there was any LGBT programming on any channel. A committed group of volunteers have kept it alive and on the air.

Show full bio

Hide full bio