E. Lynn Harris, June 20, 1955 – July 23, 2009

We were saddened to learn that popular African American author E. Lynn Harris passed away on Wednesday.

Harris, openly gay, wrote novels that introduced us to the lives of gay African American men. He was one of the first to write about this community, and his characters were often strong, worthy role models, with very human faults and complex lives. Just like us. And the novels often featured love stories.

Here's E. Lynn Harris talking about his novel Just Too Good To Be True

Video Interview with E. Lynn Harris


Harris self-published his first novel, Invisible Life, and marketed to traditional outlets in the black neighborhoods, such as beauty parlors and barbershops. He developed a strong following among African American women. Characters from Invisible Life are revisited in other Harris titles: Just As I Am and Abide With Me.

In 2003 Harris published his memoir, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted, which detailed the heartbreak in his life and how he became an author.



Celebrate E. Lynn Harris's life--Read or listen to one his books!

Equality and the Domain of Faith

Author Greta Christina examines the inherent struggles of being both an atheist and gay in the United States:

I am both an atheist and a queer. I feel like I'm one of the bridges between the two communities, and that makes me happy: I think the two movements are natural allies, and I think there should be bridges between them ...

But lately, I'm feeling like this bridge is a lot more strongly supported on one side than it is on the other. I'm feeling like the people on one side of the bridge are heartily cheering me on and welcoming me with open arms, and the people on the other side of the bridge are a whole lot more conflicted about me, with a fair number of them heartily wishing that I'd just shut up.

And I'm finding--sadly, but not entirely surprisingly--that I'm feeling more strongly identified with my new friends who are cheering me on.

I'm feeling more like an atheist than I am like a queer.

"Coming Out Atheist vs. Coming Out Gay," by Jacqueline Lavache, tackles the issues in a similar way.