Laura Albert (aka JT LeRoy)

ARTLAWS

In the late 90’s, JT LeRoy – a male teen sex worker turned-novelist – became an overnight literary sensation. Publishing three bestselling books, LeRoy’s electrifying work revealed a subversive American culture that had never before been explored. Immediately, LeRoy was celebrated by Hollywood and the Literati. The only problem was... JT didn't actually exist. In 2005, a 39 year old woman by the name of Laura Albert was outed as being the real author. Albert had employed her then sister-in-law Savannah Knoop to don a wig, fedora and dark sunglasses and portray the elusive author who was rising to fame. Ever since New York Magazine declared it “the greatest literary hoax of the millennium”, Albert has been misunderstood by many. As she completes her soon to be released memoir, we sat down with the author to discuss how trauma and survival informed her early work, and also how our evolving cultural understanding of gender identity has shifted the interpretation of JT LeRoy's legacy.
A note to our listeners: This episode contains mature language and sensitive subject matter including child sexual abuse, negative body image, and eating disorders. Discretion advised.

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