Edmund White, Queer Literary Pioneer, Dies at 85

Edmund White, the pioneering American author who profoundly shaped queer literature, died at age 85 in New York City. White was known for over 30 books, notably the semi-autobiographical 'A Boy’s Own Story,' which became a cornerstone of coming-out literature. His work chronicled LGBTQ+ life from 1950s repression, through sexual liberation, the AIDS crisis—which he endured after his 1985 HIV diagnosis—and into contemporary times. White co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis during the AIDS epidemic and personally witnessed pivotal moments like the Stonewall riots. He continued writing into his later years, publishing his final memoir, 'The Loves of My Life,' in 2025. Tributes from peers praise his influence as both a chronicler and an artist who inspired generations of queer writers and readers.