John Preston - NLA International

John Preston

(b. 11 December 1945 – d. 28 April 1994)

John Preston was born in Medfield, Massachusetts and lived for many years in Portland, Maine. A writer of fiction and nonfiction, dealing mostly with issues in gay life, he was a pioneer in the early gay rights movement. At different times he founded and co-directed Gay House, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota); founded and co-directed Gay Community Services (Minneapolis); worked as a sexual health therapist; and edited The Advocate. He was a long running writer for Drummer Magazine, where he presented one of his most famous works Mr. Benson one chapter at a time through multiple issues over more than a year. He was the author or editor of more than twenty-five acclaimed gay books, including such erotic landmarks as I Once Had a Master and Other Tales of Erotic Love. Other works include Franny, the Queen of Provincetown (first a novel, then adapted for stage) and The Big Gay Book: a Man's Survival Guide for the Nineties. He has used the pseudonyms Jack Hild, Mike McCray, and Jack Prescott; and the joint-pseudonym "Preston MacAdam and Mike McCray..."

John Preston would pass away, due to complications from HIV.