Poppy Z. Brite
Novelist
American author of Gothic horror novels who is known for such works as Lost Souls, Drawing Blood, and Exquisite Corpse. A transsexual, he wrote many novels featuring gay male protagonists.
He spent his early adulthood years in Athens, Georgia and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
He considers himself a gay man born in a woman's body and has undergone gender reassignment surgery.
He was born Melissa Ann Brite in New Orleans, Louisiana. His long-term relationship with chef Chris DeBarr lasted until 2011. He later began dating photographer Grey Cross.
He wrote a biography titled Courtney Love: The Real Story in 1999.