Benoit Denizet-Lewis is a magazine journalist and a New York Times bestselling author. He contributes primarily to The New York Times Magazine, where he began in 2002 and has written about identity, LGBT life, mental health, politics, sports, and dogs. He is an NEH Public Scholar and has received grant and fellowship support from New America, MacDowell, and the Alicia Patterson Foundation.
Benoit is the author of three books published by Simon & Schuster. One, America Anonymous, tells the stories of eight people trying to get or stay sober and recounts the author's own struggles with addictive behavior. The most recent, Travels With Casey, explores contemporary American dog culture. It was released in July 2014 and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Benoit is at work on a new book (tentatively titled We Don't Know You Anymore) about how and why people change their identities and belief systems.
The former editor-in-chief of the Boston-based Good Men Project, Benoit's work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The New Republic, Sports Illustrated, Details, The Advocate, Slate, and Spin. He has spoken about his life and work on many television and radio programs, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360, and NPR's Here & Now.
At Emerson, Benoit co-directs the Publishing Series and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in writing, publishing, and interdisciplinary studies. He received Emerson's Huret Faculty Excellence Award in 2021.
Notable Magazine Work
New York Times Magazine cover story about severely anxious young people.
New York Times Magazine feature about contemporary LGBT conservatives.
New York Times Magazine feature about political persuasion.
New York Times Magazine feature about "ex-gay" activist Michael Glatze.
New York Times Magazine cover story about the destruction of the English Bulldog breed.
Rolling Stone profile of social media star/singer Christian Leave.
New York Times Magazine cover story about bisexual activism.
New York Times Magazine cover story about LGBT middle-schoolers.
New York Times Magazine cover story about the first wave of young gay married couples in Massachusetts.
New York Times Magazine cover story about teen relationships.
Salon feature about former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries.
New York Times Magazine feature about addiction medicine treatment.
New York Times Magazine "Lives They Lived" story about 49ers wide receive Dwight Clark.
New York Times Magazine "Lives They Lived" story about psychodrama pioneer Zerka Moreno.
New York Times Magazine story on a "wet house" for people with chronic alcohol problems
Advocate cover story on former congressman Barney Frank.
About
- Department Writing Literature & Publishing
- Since 2003
Education
Areas of Expertise
- Creative Writing
- Culture
- Editing
- Journalism
- LGBTQIA+ Issues
- Media Ethics
- Publishing
- Sexuality Studies
- Sports & Culture
- Writing
