Donna Minkowitz
Encyclopedia
Donna Minkowitz is a writer
and journalist
from Brooklyn, New York, United States
. She is an advocate for gay and lesbian
rights and has written extensively on the subject for publications such as The Village Voice
(where she was on staff for eight years), New York Magazine, The Advocate
, Ms. magazine
, The Nation
and Salon.com
.
She is famous for uncovering the Brandon Teena
story. In more recent years, she has become known for her memoir pieces and personal essays on sexuality and interpersonal violence, and she has reviewed books for the New York Times Book Review.
She won a Lambda Literary Award
for her memoir Ferocious Romance: What My Encounters With the Right Taught Me About Sex, God, and Fury, published by the Free Press
(Simon and Schuster). The book examines her experiences as a lesbian journalist closely covering the anti-gay Religious Right. Going undercover in groups such as the Promise Keepers
, where she dressed in drag as a sixteen year-old boy to gain access, Minkowitz discovered both to her pain and her amusement that she had a great deal in common with her counterparts in the opposing movement.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
from Brooklyn, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She is an advocate for gay and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
rights and has written extensively on the subject for publications such as The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
(where she was on staff for eight years), New York Magazine, The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, Ms. magazine
Ms. magazine
Ms. is an American feminist magazine co-founded by American feminist and activist Gloria Steinem and founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin together with founding editors Patricia Carbine, Joanne Edgar, Nina Finkelstein, and Mary Peacock, that first appeared in 1971 as an insert in New York magazine...
, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
and Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
.
She is famous for uncovering the Brandon Teena
Brandon Teena
Brandon Teena was an American trans man who was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. His life and death were the subject of the Academy Award-winning 1999 film Boys Don't Cry, which was based on the documentary film The Brandon Teena Story.-Life:Teena was born Teena Renae Brandon in Lincoln,...
story. In more recent years, she has become known for her memoir pieces and personal essays on sexuality and interpersonal violence, and she has reviewed books for the New York Times Book Review.
She won a Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
for her memoir Ferocious Romance: What My Encounters With the Right Taught Me About Sex, God, and Fury, published by the Free Press
Free Press (publisher)
Free Press is a book publishing imprint of Simon and Schuster. It was founded by Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman in 1947 and was devoted to sociology and religion titles. It was headquartered in Glencoe, Illinois, where it was known as The Free Press of Glencoe...
(Simon and Schuster). The book examines her experiences as a lesbian journalist closely covering the anti-gay Religious Right. Going undercover in groups such as the Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
, where she dressed in drag as a sixteen year-old boy to gain access, Minkowitz discovered both to her pain and her amusement that she had a great deal in common with her counterparts in the opposing movement.