E Lynn Harris

E Lynn Harris born 20 June 1955 (d. 2009)

Everette 'E' Lynn Harris was a prolific American author. Openly gay, he was best known for his depictions of African American men on the down-low or in the closet.

In his writings, Harris maintained a poignant motif, occasionally emotive, that incorporated vernacular and slang from popular culture.

Born in Flint, Michigan, Harris became the first black male cheerleader while attending the University of Arkansas.

A former computer executive, Harris turned to writing and published his own first book, Invisible Life, about his own struggles with his sexuality, before signing a deal.

Many of his novels, 10 of which made it on to the New York Times best-sellers list, dealt with the experiences of the gay African American man.

Gay advocate Herndon Davis called Harris a 'pioneering voice' within the black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

'Harris painted with eloquent prose and revealing accuracy the lives of African American men and the many complicated struggles they faced reconciling their sexuality and spirituality while rising above societal taboos within the black community,' added Mr Davis.

Alongside fiction, Harris had also penned a personal memoir, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

Harris died suddenly on July 23, 2009 at the age of 54 while in Los Angeles for a business meeting. He was found unconscious at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, and was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.