Editor’s note: Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media mourn the passing of Troy Masters. “Troy was such an energetic participant at our annual expos,” said EMS founder Sandy Close. “He was such a valuable member of the media,” she said. Masters guided his team on several key EMS/CBM initiatives, including the multi-year Stop the Hate program and the Bezos Earth Fund project.
Troy Masters, publisher of the Los Angeles Blade, died unexpectedly on Dec. 11, according to a family member, at the age of 63.
The cause of death was not immediately released.
Masters is a well-respected and award-winning journalist and publisher with decades of experience, mostly in LGBTQ media. He founded Gay City News in New York City in 2002 and relocated to Los Angeles in 2015. In 2017, he became the founding publisher of the Los Angeles Blade, a sister publication of the Washington Blade, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper.
His family released a statement to the Blade Dec. 12.
Tremendous Legacy
“We are shocked and devastated by the loss of Troy,” the statement says. “He was a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community and leaves a tremendous legacy of fighting for social justice and equality. We ask for your prayers and for privacy as we mourn this unthinkable loss. We will announce details of a celebration of life in the near future.”
The Blade management team released the following statement on Thursday:
“All of us at the Los Angeles Blade and Washington Blade are heartbroken by the loss of our colleague. Troy Masters is a pioneer who championed LGBTQ rights as well as best-in-class journalism for our community. We will miss his passion and his tireless dedication to the Los Angeles queer community.
Community Pioneer
“We would like to thank the readers, advertisers, and supporters of the Los Angeles Blade, which will continue under the leadership of our local editor Gisselle Palomera, the entire Blade family in D.C. and L.A., and eventually under a new publisher.”
Troy Masters was born April 13, 1961 and is survived by his mother Josie Kirkland and his sister Tammy Masters, along with many friends and colleagues across the country.
