In the height of the AIDS crisis, journalist and editor Troy Masters stood as one of the few voices dedicated to getting the truth to the public. Masters died on Dec. 11, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy for his community.
He was born in 1961 and raised in Tennessee, in an environment hostile to gay men. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, he moved to New York City. While he was forging a promising career in publishing at PC Magazine, Masters took a risk in 1988 and joined OutWeek, a short-lived but radical LGBTQ+ news magazine.
He then helped launch a few more queer-related news sources, including the Gay City News, where he was the longtime publisher. Among other stories, Masters entered and wrote about early HIV vaccine trials during the 1990s.
He moved to Los Angeles in 2015, ultimately establishing the Los Angeles Blade, which is a sister newspaper to the Washington Blade. The L.A. Blade has since grown to be the LGBTQ+ publication of record on the West Coast.
"Troy ... was passionate about making sure that news concerning our community was reported accurately," West Hollywood Councilman John Heilman said. "He was a warm and generous person. It's a big loss for our community."
"Troy Masters was an incredible leader and advocate for the LGBTQ community," West Hollywood Mayor John Erickson said. "He was also a dear friend and his loss is being felt by many. We must continue the work he championed and ensure we do all we can to uplift LGBTQ voices in journalism."
While serving as the L.A. Blade's publisher, Masters helped raised awareness of risks related to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox epidemic, organizing town halls to help educate the public.
As a local resident, Masters was heavily involved in West Hollywood and the surrounding communities, becoming an advocate for creatures with both two and four legs.
"Troy was a devoted advocate for animal welfare and played a significant role in improving the lives of pets in our community," West Hollywood Councilwoman Lauren Meister said. "It was through Troy's partnership and advocacy that I initiated, and the city of West Hollywood brought forward, important updates to our municipal code, establishing new standards and certification requirements for animal grooming. His commitment to the safety and well-being of animals made a tangible difference in our city. Troy was also a loving and devoted pet father to his dog Cody."
Masters was only 63 when he died by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
"The holidays are difficult times for lots of people, especially people who are experiencing a mental health crisis," Heilman said. "The city has a mental health team and other resources to help. There are other resources available from various nonprofits. I hope people will reach out for themselves or will help a neighbor or friend to connect with services if they are experiencing a crisis."
Those experiencing thoughts of suicide can text or call 988 or call 988lifeline.org. The Trevor Project also is available to help LGBTQ+ people at thetrevorproject.org.
Masters is survived by his sisters Tammy Masters and Dawn Masters-Perry, as well as his mother Josie Hesson Masters.
In the first issue of the Los Angeles Blade on March 23, 2017, Masters wrote of the importance of quality LGBTQ+ journalism.
"We are living in a paradigm shifting moment in real time," he wrote. "You can feel it. Sometimes it's overwhelming. Sometimes it's toxic. Sometimes it's perplexing, even terrifying. On the other hand, sometimes it's just downright exhilarating. This moment is a profound opportunity to reexamine our roots and jumpstart our passion for full equality."