Author, Felice Picano – who was a champion of queer literature – has passed away at the age of 81. On March 13th, his publisher confirmed the author’s death in a statement released on social media.
The statement read: “We were saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of a beloved member of the Rebel Satori family. Felice Picano’s remarkable contribution to literature and his brave exploration of queer identities have left an indelible mark on countless readers and writers alike.”
Born in 1944, Felice helped usher in a golden age of gay literature during the 1970s and 80s as it was starting to find its way into mainstream, publishing 17 novels, and eight memoir volumes. Some of his most notable works include The Lure, Eyes, Onyx and The Book of Lies. He also co-authored The New Joy of Gay Sex (1992) with Dr. Charles Silverstein (as well as the expanded and further editions); which focused on promoting safe sexual practices among gay and bisexual men.
Felice established Sea Horse Press in 1977 to publish the work of other gay writers. Then in 1981, he teamed up with two other publishers to form Gay Presses of New York, where remained the editor-in-chief until 1995.
The author was also a member of the Violet Quill, a group of seven gay male writers; Andrew Hollern (Dancers from the Dance), Edmund White (A Boy’s Own Story), Christopher Cox (senior editor of Ballantine Books), George Whitmore (Nebraska), and partners Robert Ferro and Michael Grumley (for whom the Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT fiction was created following their deaths). The group met regularly in Manhattan and the famously queer Fire Island in the early 80s to discuss their work. Christopher Cox, Robert Ferro, Michael Grumley and George Whitmore had all sadly passed away from AIDS-related illnesses by 1990, but two of the Violet Quill members – Andrew Holleran and Edmund White – survive Felice Picano.
Felice himself passed away in Los Angeles on Wednesday 12th March 2025. The cause of his death, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was reported by his close friend Jenifer Levin as complications of lymphoma.
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