Rex Wockner
Encyclopedia
Rex Wockner is an American freelance journalist who has reported news for the gay press and mainstream periodicals since 1985. His work has appeared in more than 325 gay publications in 38 countries.
from Drake University
in Des Moines
, Iowa
, and began his reporting career in radio.
Wockner has made a specialty of covering gay and lesbian news stories from around the world. Wockner traveled to Denmark to report on the world's first same-sex civil union
s in 1989, and likewise covered the world's first same-sex marriage
s in the Netherlands
in 2001. Wockner also reported from the scene on the first gay pride
events in Moscow
and Leningrad
in 1991, and has reported extensively on gay rights movements in the former East Bloc and developing countries
, as well as from the International Lesbian and Gay Association
world conferences and international AIDS
conferences.
In the United States, Wockner has reported on many political and social developments affecting LGBT
people, including coverage of the political convention
s of the Democratic Party
and the Republican Party
, NLGJA conferences, the GLAAD Awards, and major ACT UP demonstrations.
Wockner's journalism has included a weekly 1,000-word roundup of gay news from outside the United States, a weekly 700-word opinion column called The Wockner Wire, and a biweekly roundup of gay quotables called Quote Unquote. In 1998, Wockner had 91 subscribers to his international news feed, prompting PlanetOut chairman Tom Reilly to call Wockner a "one-man gay AP (Associated Press
)".
Wockner was the subject of a biographical article in Completely Queer: The Gay and Lesbian Encyclopedia (1998). He was also one of the discussion participants for the 2002 book Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions by Ron Suresha
. Wockner currently lives in San Diego
.
Career
Wockner earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalismJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and began his reporting career in radio.
Wockner has made a specialty of covering gay and lesbian news stories from around the world. Wockner traveled to Denmark to report on the world's first same-sex civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s in 1989, and likewise covered the world's first same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s in the Netherlands
Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands
Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 1 April 2001...
in 2001. Wockner also reported from the scene on the first gay pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
events in Moscow
Moscow Pride
Moscow Pride is a demonstration of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered persons . It was intended to take place in May annually since 2006 in the Russian capital Moscow, but has been regularly banned by Moscow City Hall, headed by Mayor Yuri Luzhkov until 2010...
and Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in 1991, and has reported extensively on gay rights movements in the former East Bloc and developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
, as well as from the International Lesbian and Gay Association
International Lesbian and Gay Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
world conferences and international AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
conferences.
In the United States, Wockner has reported on many political and social developments affecting LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people, including coverage of the political convention
Political convention
In politics, a political convention is a meeting of a political party, typically to select party candidates.In the United States, a political convention usually refers to a presidential nominating convention, but it can also refer to state, county, or congressional district nominating conventions...
s of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, NLGJA conferences, the GLAAD Awards, and major ACT UP demonstrations.
Wockner's journalism has included a weekly 1,000-word roundup of gay news from outside the United States, a weekly 700-word opinion column called The Wockner Wire, and a biweekly roundup of gay quotables called Quote Unquote. In 1998, Wockner had 91 subscribers to his international news feed, prompting PlanetOut chairman Tom Reilly to call Wockner a "one-man gay AP (Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
)".
Wockner was the subject of a biographical article in Completely Queer: The Gay and Lesbian Encyclopedia (1998). He was also one of the discussion participants for the 2002 book Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions by Ron Suresha
Ron Suresha
Ron Jackson Suresha is an American author and anthologist of books centering on gay and bisexual men's subcultures, particularly the Bear community.-Biography:Suresha was born in Detroit, Michigan...
. Wockner currently lives in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.