Edmund White, Pioneering Author of LGBTQ+ Literature, Dies at 85

Published: June 4, 2025

Edmund White, the renowned author who documented the gay experience through acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction, has passed away at the age of 85.

White's death on June 3 was confirmed by his husband, Michael Carroll, and agent Bill Clegg, according to The New York Times, The Guardian, and NBC News.

White was born on January 13, 1940, in Cincinnati. He came out to his mother when he was a teenager and was sent to a psychiatrist. He later attended the University of Michigan, where he majored in Chinese, and moved to New York in 1962, where he worked as an editor for Time-Life Books and became immersed in the city's LGBTQ+ scene.

Throughout his life, White wrote over 30 books, including his debut novel, "Forgetting Elena," in 1973. One of his most notable works was the semi-autobiographical novel "A Boy's Own Story," published in 1982, which is now seen as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ literature.

White's other notable works include "The Joy of Gay Sex," a nonfiction book he co-wrote with his therapist Charles Silverstein in 1977, and "States of Desire: Travels in Gay America," published in 1980. He also authored biographies of notable French writers, including Arthur Rimbaud, Marcel Proust, and Jean Genet.

In addition to his literary career, White taught creative writing at Brown University and Princeton University. In 2019, he received the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

White's legacy will be remembered as a pioneering figure in LGBTQ+ literature, and his works will remain a testament to his dedication to documenting the gay experience.

In Memoriam: Edmund White

Here are some of Edmund White's notable works:

"A Boy's Own Story (1982)
"The Joy of Gay Sex" (1977)
"States of Desire: Travels in Gay America" (1980)
"Forgetting Elena" (1973)

White's life and works will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.