Deb Price, who wrote for The Detroit News, pitched an idea for an advice/opinion column written for the LGBTQ community. It was picked up and was syndicated, making it the first nationally syndicated LGBTQ column in America.
Price rose to prominence in the early 90s when America was a very different place for the LGBTQ community. Gay men were in the middle of the AIDS crisis, words like transgender weren’t even understood yet, and the entire nation was drastically more homophobic than it is today.
With her column, she was able to shine a light on the LGBTQ community that America knew little about. She humanized queer people, often using her own life and relationship as examples. Her column simultaneously made heterosexuals less afraid of the LGBTQ community while serving as a voice and inspiration for queer people everywhere.
Deb Price, the first nationally syndicated lesbian columnist, who sought to demystify gay life for Middle America, has died at 62. Obit by @kseelye https://t.co/j0bdsl2xQ3
— NYT Media (@nytmedia) December 11, 2020
Price wasn’t without her opponents, however. She had many critics, received countless complaints from homophobic readers, and even received the cold shoulder from other, more conservative journalists.
Despite this, Price went on to have a flourishing career, writing for such publications as the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and more. She even spent time teaching journalism at Harvard.
Tragically, on November 20th, Deb Price died from interstitial pneumonitis, but she leaves behind a legacy of hope and perseverance. She showed herself to the world, and the world listened. She broke down walls, opened doors, and crushed glass ceilings. She was a true legend and her contributions to the LGBTQ community and journalism will never be forgotten.
