By Alex Vaughn
Photo: LZ Granderson poses backstage with his award during the 20th Annual GLAAD?Media Awards in 2009.
LZ Granderson is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine and CNN contributor. He writes a weekly column for both CNN.com. and ESPN.com. He also regularly appears on both networks. He was recently named the 2011 Journalist of the Year by the National Lesbian Gay Journalist Association and was a 2011 and 2010 nominee and the 2009 winner of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation award for online journalism. He was also a Hechinger Institute Fellow at Columbia University.
Where were you born?
In a manger … or Detroit. Whichever sounds more dramatic.
How was early life for you?
I grew up poor, surrounded by crime outside of the home and physically abused inside the home. My stepfather provided for the family as best he could but often times took his frustrations out on me. But I was smart and I was tough and made it out of that situation to earn a college scholarship. Once I got out, I really didn’t look back. I`ve had my hiccups like anyone else, but for the most part I was able to stay out of trouble and move on from a rough beginning. I actually talk a lot about my upbringing in my columns.
Have you ever experienced bullying as a result of your sexuality?
My stepfather was a bully but it wasn’t about my sexual orientation. I’ve been in work environments where I felt as if bigots were trying to marginalize me but I never felt as bullied as I did growing up.
When you discover a passion for writing?
Gosh, early, maybe 1st grade. I won poetry writing and playwriting contest in elementary school but didn’t find journalism until college.
Who was your mentor in publishing?
Who wasn’t? I turned to all of my professors in college for guidance outside of the classroom and then once I was a professional writer, watched the people whose work I admired most. Gary Bond, a longtime sportswriter for The Grand Rapids Press and Prentis Rogers from the Atlanta Journal Constitution were particularly important to me. Sadly both men passed away before they saw my career really take off. I grew up reading the Free Press’ Mitch Albom and Nathan McCall’s “Make Me Wanna Holler” is probably the reason why I write as honestly as I do.
Please tell our readers about your incredible career? The steps you have taken to get to where you are.
You know, I’m not really sure how I got here myself really. I just always tried to be authentic and let my work speak for itself. I was blessed to have Mike Lloyd at The Grand Rapids Press take a chance on me out of grad school, but from there I was recruited by the Atlanta Journal and ESPN and CNN. There was a brief moment in which I chased, but when I returned to center and why I write in the first place, the other opportunities came. I also wrote for the South Bend Tribune and Kalamazoo Gazette.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
Up until a few days ago, it was having beers with Kenny Chesney. but recently I was named Journalist of the year and that was really an emotional moment for me. I had worked so hard to be good and real and authentic and challenging, that being recognized by my peers was extremely gratifying.
Any low points?
It was late one night, I was on the police monitor, heard about a head-on collision that resulted in a fatality. I go out, talk to everyone, write the piece turned it in and the next morning when I woke I learned I had made a mistake and faulted the victim. It was gut wrenching to have done that to that family. My editor made me drive out and apologize face-to-face.
They graciously accepted my apology but to this day, that hurts. It also taught me the importance of being right over being first.
How do feel the gay community has changed over the years?
We’re getting comfortable in our own skin meaning, it’s OK to be splintered on issues. The running joke of taking our gay card away if we don’t like Madonna or Cher has fallen by the wayside. That’s a byproduct of no longer being ghettoized. We’re openly gay in the suburbs with our families, or in church or visible in cities other than NYC and San Fran. We’ve also benefited from having straight people be our allies so that we can correct bigoted legislation. There’s more work to be done, of course. AIDS robbed us of a lot of mentors and institutional knowledge and our rural brothers and sisters are still in hiding for safety reasons. But no doubt about it, things are much better than when I came out in the 90s.
What advantages do you feel there are within the gay community?
There are no inherent advantages to being gay, I don’t think.
What disadvantages?
Legal battles just to exist without fear of losing our jobs or paying extra taxes or being physically assaulted for simply existing.
Your career is extremely inspiring for many, but what inspires you and your writing?
Truth. I just want to tell the truth.
Do you feel you are a pioneer for gay journalists?
I don’t think about stuff like that.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a good father, husband, positive contributor to society and someone who strived to find the beauty in humanity.
To read some of LZ Granderson’s work, visit www.CNN.com or www.ESPN.com