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Loading ...Writer E. Lynn Harris is dead
E. Lynn Harris, the African-American, openly gay author, died while on a West Coast book tour. He was 54.
He was on tour for his most recent book, Basketball Jones, about the gay lover of an NBA star.Harris grew up in Little Rock and attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he continued to teach courses through last fall.
He self-published his first book, Invisible Life, after failing to find a publisher. He sold it himself at black-owned bookstores and beauty salons until Anchor Books published it as a trade paperback in 1994.
Harris wrote 11 books, with four million copies of his work in print. His writing also appeared in Essence, the Washington Post Sunday Magazine, and Sports Illustrated.
His novel If This World Were Mine was nominated for a NAACP Image Award and won the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence. Abide with Me was also nominated for a NAACP Image Award. His anthology Freedom in this Village won the Lambda Literary Award in 2005. Over the past three years, he has also been named to Ebony’s “Most Intriguing Blacks” list, Out Magazine’s “Out 100″ list, New York Magazine’s “Gay Power 101″ list, and Savoy’s “100 Leaders and Heroes in Black America” list.
Listen to an audio interview with E. Lynn Harris.
What was the cause of Mr. Harris’ death?
I’m not gay but my cuzin is. I read about E Lynn. I think is so sad to what happen. He was a inspiring artist and well as a great author for women and gay men. He had a great heart and didn’t deserve to past away. I actually mee Lynn for the first time about 3 weeks ago and we hung out and laughed and joked. I feel sort of bad cuz I didn’t know he was an gay author and stop associating with him after I found out he was. Lynn told me numerous times he just wanted to be friends but I couldn’t. I was kind of rude to him after I found out he was gay and now I regret it! ;( R.I.P E
nice post
I’m so,so, so sad now.. One of my favorite authors passed. He was so important to me and I was looking for him to tour again. May you rest in peace E. Lynn Harris. You helped so many African-American LGBTQ people w/ love Lunakiss
I remember reading his books when I was in High School. I was TOTALLY closeted back then. It was a time when I really enjoyed the characters in his book because it was such an eye-opener for me to actually realize why I love being Gay today.
I will pray for the repose of his soul.
This is so sad I have been a fan of him for so many years. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family…Such a great loss…will truly be missed..
I believe LGBT African Americans and African Canadians have lost a role model. In fact, I think we all have.
I read many of his novels and he was such a talented writer. Many of his stories you can easily relate to in your own personal life no matter what your background. Gone too soon. RIP.
Too young – how tragic. This great story teller had much more to share. His stories about men on the fence were romantic, loving, sexy and sometimes tormenting — ran the gamut! While he had much more to say, I’m glad we have his books to keep his memory going.