Peter McGehee

Peter Gregory McGehee (October 6, 1955-September 13, 1991) was an American-born Canadian novelist, dramatist and short story writer.

Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Frank Thomas and Julia Ann May McGehee, Peter moved with his family to Little Rock when he was six. He was the second of three children -- the eldest was Frank Thomas, Jr. and the youngest was Julie. McGehee played the trombone at Parkview High School in Little Rock where he graduated in 1973. McGehee studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas before moving to San Francisco to work in theatre where he graduated from the University of San Francisco. While living in San Francisco, he wrote his first play, the comedic musical revue "The Quinlan Sisters". He also later met Canadian activist Doug Wilson, who became his partner. The couple moved to Saskatoon in 1980, and subsequently to Toronto in 1983. He premiered his second revue, "The Fabulous Sirs", and published his first novella, "Beyond Happiness", in 1985.

In 1988, McGehee and Wilson were both diagnosed HIV-positive. McGehee subsequently wrote two novels, "Boys Like Us" and "Sweetheart", and a book of short stories, "The IQ Zoo". "Boys Like Us" was published in 1991, shortly before McGehee's death of AIDS-related causes; "Sweetheart" and "The IQ Zoo" were both published posthumously.

Using notes that McGehee had written in preparation for his third novel, Wilson subsequently wrote "Labour of Love" before his own death in 1992. That novel was published in 1993.

Books

* "Beyond Happiness" (1985)
* "Boys Like Us" (1991)
* "The IQ Zoo" (1991)
* "Sweetheart" (1992)

External links

* [http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3252 Peter McGehee bio at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture]