Paul Landry Monette (October 16, 1945 – February 10, 1995) was an American author, poet, and activist best known for his books about gay relationships.

Early life and career

Monette was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and graduated from Phillips Academy in 1963 and

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

in 1967. The rigid social confines of his suburban, middle-class upbringing placed Monette in a position where life in

the closet ''Closeted'' and ''in the closet'' are metaphors for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and other (LGBTQ+) people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and human ...

seemed to be the only option. For the majority of Monette's childhood, he felt suffocated and alienated by the strict, religious atmosphere in which he was raised. Monette would later describe this life in the closet as hindering his personal development as a child, as he was forced to deny a part of his identity that was seen as sinful by everyone around him. He described his youth in the closet as an ‘internal exile', an ‘imprisonment', and claimed that closeted life equates to ‘the gutting of all our passions till we are a bunch of eunuchs.' Conflicted about his

sexual orientation Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. These attractions are generall ...

, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he taught writing and literature at

Milton Academy Milton Academy (also known as Milton) is a highly selective, coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered ...

. In 1978, he moved to

West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages ...

with his romantic partner, lawyer Roger Horwitz (November 22, 1941 – October 22, 1986). He wrote and published several novels during this time period, starting with ''Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll'' in 1978, which featured a gay protagonist. Monette himself later described the books he produced in this time period "glib and silly little novels." His more serious work came later in his life and was largely driven by his experiences with AIDS.

Notable works

''Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir''

Monette's most acclaimed book, ''Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir'', chronicles Horwitz's fight against, and eventual death from, AIDS. The memoir details the final nineteen months of Horwitz's life, beginning with the day that he was first diagnosed with AIDS. Monette describes the day as "the day we began to live on the moon," isolating himself from the reader in order to demonstrate the devastating loneliness that is felt among AIDS patients and their loved ones. It was a miserable existence for Monette, he writes: "within three months this sense of separateness would grow so acute that I really didn't want to talk to anyone anymore who wasn't touched by AIDS, body or soul."

''Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story''

His 1992 memoir, ''Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story'', tells of his life in the closet before coming out, culminating with his meeting Horwitz in 1974. ''Becoming a Man'' won the 1992

National Book Award for Nonfiction The National Book Award for Nonfiction is one of five U.S. annual National Book Awards, which are given by the National Book Foundation to recognize outstanding literary work by U.S. citizens. They are awards "by writers to writers". The panelists ...

."National Book Awards – 1992"

National Book Foundation The National Book Foundation (NBF) is an American nonprofit organization established, "to raise the cultural appreciation of great writing in America". Established in 1989 by National Book Awards, Inc.,Edwin McDowell. "Book Notes: 'The Joy Luc ...

. Retrieved March 24, 2012. (With acceptance speech by Monette.)

Other works

Monette also wrote the novelizations of the films ''

Nosferatu the Vampyre ''Nosferatu the Vampyre'' (german: Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht, lit=Nosferatu: Phantom of the Night) is a 1979 horror film written and directed by Werner Herzog. It is set primarily in 19th-century Wismar, Germany and Transylvania, and was conce ...

'' (1979), '' Scarface'' (1983), ''

Predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

'' (1987), ''

Midnight Run ''Midnight Run'' is a 1988 American road action comedy film directed by Martin Brest and starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, and Philip Baker Hall play supporting roles. At the 4 ...

'' (1988) and ''

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

'' (1990), as well as the novels ''Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll'' (1978), ''Afterlife'' (1990) and ''Halfway Home'' (1991). He wrote ''Afterlife'' (1990) and ''Halfway Home'' (1991) which were centered around people with AIDS and their families' experiences. He once said in an interview that "One person's truth, if told well, does not leave anyone out." Because of this belief, he tried to tell the truth in a way that gave a voice to a community that was usually left out.

Later life and death

While writing his novel, ''Afterlife'', Monette met television producer Stephen Kolzak, best known as the casting director for the TV show '' Cheers''. Monette and Kolzak were partners for two years, until Kolzak's death from AIDS in September 1990, resulting in what Monette called his “second widowhood.” Monette's final years, before his own AIDS-related death, are chronicled in the film '' Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer's End'' by Monte Bramer and Lesli Klainberg. "By the end of his life, Monette had healed most of his psychic wounds, but his rage persisted." He said, "go without hate, but not without rage; heal the world." He had tried to use his rage to heal the world through his writing and activism. Monette died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, where he lived with his partner of five years, Winston Wilde. Monette was survived by Wilde; his father, Paul Monette Sr.; and his brother, Robert L. Monette. Horwitz and Monette are buried alongside each other at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Histor ...

, Los Angeles,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

The Monette–Horwitz Trust

Shortly before his death in 1995, Monette established the Monette-Horwitz Trust to commemorate his relationship with Roger Horwitz and to support future

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

activism and scholarship. Monette's brother Robert served as the appointed

Trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to ...

until his death in 2015. Monette–Horwitz Trust Awards are given annually to individuals and organizations for their contribution to eradicating homophobia through their literary, scholarly, archival, or activist work. The award's eight-member advisory committee includes Monette's surviving partner, Winston Wilde and the writer

Terry Wolverton Terry Wolverton (born 1954) is an American novelist, memoirist, poet, and editor. Her boo''Insurgent Muse: Life and Art at the Woman's Building'' a memoir published in 2002 by City Lights Books, was named one of the "Best Books of 2002" by the Lo ...

. The

Lesbian Herstory Archives The Lesbian Herstory Archives (LHA) is a New York City-based archive, community center, and museum dedicated to preserving lesbian history, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The Archives contain the world's largest collection of materials by and a ...

and the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives received the inaugural Monette-Horwitz Trust Awards in 1998. Other organizations which have since been recipients include

Athlete Ally Athlete Ally is a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group based in the United States. They focus on making athletic communities more inclusive and less discriminatory and helping athletes to advocate for LGBTQ equality. History As an athlete i ...

, Naz Foundation India and the

Addison Gallery of American Art The Addison Gallery of American Art is an academic museum dedicated to collecting American art, organized as a department of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. History Directors of the gallery include Bartlett H. Hayes, Jr. (1940– ...

. Among the individuals who have received the award are Sunil Pant,

Lillian Faderman Lillian Faderman (born July 18, 1940) is an American historian whose books on lesbian history and LGBT history have earned critical praise and awards. ''The New York Times'' named three of her books on its "Notable Books of the Year" list. In add ...

, Allan Bérubé and

Leslie Feinberg Leslie Feinberg (September 1, 1949 – November 15, 2014) was an American butch lesbian, transgender activist, communist, and author. Feinberg authored ''Stone Butch Blues'' in 1993.

.Wilson, John Morgan (April 29, 2010)
"2010 Monette-Horwitz Trust Award Recipients Announced"

Lambda Literary Foundation The Lambda Literary Foundation (also known as Lambda Literary) is an American LGBTQ literary organization whose mission is to nurture and advocate for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve their legaci ...

. Retrieved December 10, 2015.

Bibliography

* (poetry) * (novel) *Monette, Paul (1979). ''Nosferatu the Vampyre.'' New York: Avon Books. . (novelization of 1979 film) *Monette, Paul (1979). ''The Gold Diggers''. Los Angeles, New York: Alyson Classics Library. (novel) * (novel) *Monette, Paul (1982). ''Lightfall''. New York:

Avon Books Avon Publications is one of the leading publishers of romance fiction. At Avon's initial stages, it was an American paperback book and comic book publisher. The shift in content occurred in the early 1970s with multiple Avon romance titles rea ...

(novel, cover by

Wayne Barlowe Wayne Douglas Barlowe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer, painter, and concept artist. Barlowe's work focuses on esoteric landscapes and creatures such as citizens of hell and alien worlds. He has painted over 300 book and magazi ...

) * (memoirs) * (poetry) * (novel) * (novel) * (autobiography) * (essay collection) * (poetry) * (novel)

References

External links

Monette Horwitz Trust1990 and 1991 audio interviews of Paul Monette at Wired for Books.org
with Don Swaim
Visions of L.A. in the Age of AIDS: Paul Monette (kcet.org)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monette, Paul 1945 births 1995 deaths People from Lawrence, Massachusetts 20th-century American memoirists American gay writers Writers from Los Angeles Phillips Academy alumni AIDS-related deaths in California National Book Award winners Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Lambda Literary Award winners Stonewall Book Award winners LGBT people from Massachusetts American LGBT poets LGBT memoirists 20th-century American poets American male essayists American male poets 20th-century American essayists 20th-century American male writers 20th-century LGBT people