Benjamin Alire Sáenz, first Latino winner of PEN/Faulkner award, dies aged 71

Benjamin Alire Sáenz, a celebrated author and poet, has died at age 71 in El Paso, Texas, after a lengthy illness. Sáenz was the first Latino recipient of the PEN/Faulkner prize, which he won in 2013 for his story collection *Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club*. His work, which often explored his sexuality and life on the US southern border, included the acclaimed young adult novel *Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe*. Sáenz, a former Catholic priest who later came out as gay, was known for writing about themes of love, belonging, and hope, aiming to give visibility to marginalized communities. His literary contributions were recognized with awards such as the Stonewall book award and the Lambda literary award.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz, an acclaimed author and the first Latino PEN/Faulkner winner, has died at age 71 in El Paso, Texas, after a lengthy illness. Sáenz, known for drawing on his sexuality and border life, received the PEN/Faulkner prize in 2013 for his story collection "Everything Begins & Ends at the Kentucky Club." His young adult novel, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe," which tells the story of two Mexican American boys falling in love, garnered awards and faced censorship. The novel was adapted into a film produced with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Sáenz also taught for decades at the University of Texas at El Paso. His posthumous novel, "When the World Was Happy," addresses themes of survival following senseless tragedy.