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Gay Journalist
Thomas Morgan Dies

Gay Journalist
Thomas Morgan Dies

Thomas Morgan III, 56, a former reporter and editor at The New York Times, died Monday of AIDS complications.

Thomas Morgan III, 56, a former reporter and editor at The New York Times, died Monday of AIDS complications.

According to an obituary in the Times, Morgan's accomplishments were great: He served as the first openly gay president of the National Association of Black Journalists from 1989 to 1991, received a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 1990, and was inducted into the hall of fame of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association in 2005.

During his tenure as president of NABJ, the organization instituted the Ethel Payne fellowship (allowing members to travel to Africa to pursue stories) and augmented its mentorship and training programs. Morgan came under criticism, however, when during a strike at the New York Daily News he agreed to share the organization's membership list as a possible source of replacement reporters. NABJ ultimately did not share the list.

In 2005, Morgan helped the association establish a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender task force.

Born in St. Louis on May 17, 1951, Morgan received a journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1973. After serving as an officer in the Air Force, Morgan worked for The Miami Herald and The Washington Post. He took a post as assistant editor and then reporter at The New York Times in 1983. After his retirement in 1994, Morgan dedicated his time to AIDS advocacy.

He leaves behind his partner of 23 years, Tom Ciano, and three brothers, David, Marcus, and Kevin. (The Advocate)

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