Leroy F. Aarons

Leroy F. Aarons (8 December 1933 - 28 November, 2004) was an American journalist, editor, author, playwright, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLJGA), and founding member of the Maynard Institute. He was inducted in the NLGJA Hall of Fame in 2005.

He served as a national correspondent for the Washington Post during the Watergate scandals of the 1970s and served in editorial positions of the "Oakland Tribune" from the 1980s into the 1990s. During his tenure as senior vice president for news at the "Tribune", the paper won a 1990 Pulitzer Prize for news photography for its coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Also in 1990, Aarons and six other lesbian and gay journalists met to form an organization that became the NLGJA. As of December 2004, the group had grown to include 1,200 members in 24 chapters throughout the United States. The organization also has spawned similar affiliate organizations in Canada and Germany.

Prayers for Bobby

One of Aarons' most popular books about the life and suicide of one Bobby Griffith who took his life because of his family, community, and religion's lack of acceptance. The book also takes a look at his mother and her finding comfort in queer theology in dealing with her son's death.

External links

* [http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/1130-13.htm NLGJA press release announcing Aarons' death]
* [http://www.maynardije.org/about/news/features/041129_aarons/ Maynard Institute announcement of Aarons' death]
* [http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=4192390 NPR tribute to Aarons]
* [http://www.nlgja.org/halloffame/roy_aarons.html NLGJA Hall of Fame Bio]