June is Pride Month.
Tom Spanbauer, the author of five novels, created a concept known as “dangerous writing.”
His writing often focused on themes of race and sexual identity. As a teacher, he encouraged his students to overcome their fears and write painful personal truths. In his courses, he spoke of bringing one’s inner life out of the closet and reading aloud to a group.
Tom was a member of the Peace Corps and brought his philosophy all over the world.
He suffered with Parkinson’s Disease for eight years before dying from heart failure in September 2024 at the age of 78. His legacy lives on through his students – forty of whom published memoirs inspired by Tom’s philosophy.