Michael Colin Murphy, 53, died on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri after a valiant battle with cancer.

Colin was born in St. Louis, MO on January 6, 1971 the eldest of two children to Daniel Allen Murphy and Sharon Ann Considine. He was a man of many interests from politics and history to writing, photography, and genealogy – the latter was a lifelong hobby he enjoyed immensely. May his keen mind, kind heart, and sharp wit be long remembered.

Raised in and around the St. Louis metro, Colin graduated Columbia, Illinois High School and attended Southwestern Illinois College and St. Louis University.

Colin was a celebrated journalist and advocate within the LGBT community throughout the region and nationally, writing one of the longest running columns, “1 Out of 10 Ain’t Bad!” Throughout his career, he penned and photographed myriad stories on his prismatic community and interviewed high profile politicians, celebrities, and community leaders. But it remained the remarkable stories of the quiet heroes who toiled away for the betterment of their community which he enjoyed telling best.

An avid LGBT history buff, Colin worked closely with the St. Louis LGBT History Project and donated personal materials to the LGBT Archives at UMSL and the Missouri History Museum.

Colin was an active and activist member of the St. Louis LGBT community. He was a member of the NLGJA (The Association of LGBTQ Journalists), the St. Louis LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. He previously served as Vice President of The Late Knights of Pythias, Vice President and President of Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois (MEPSI), Secretary of The LGBT Center of St. Louis, Secretary of The LGBT Center of St. Louis Pride Scholarship Committee, and was a former Co-Promoter of the Miss Gay Midwest America and the Miss Gay Spirit of St. Louis Missouri America pageants. He also served as a member of the Vital VOICE Advisory Board, and the stl250 Advisory Board.

In June 2023, Colin was the recipient of the Lisa Wagaman Lifetime Community Service Award by Pride St. Louis, Inc., as well as previously being honored as a 2010 St. Louis Pride Parade Grand Marshal by the organization. Colin was the recipient of the 2010 Missouri Award and 2011 New Day Award presented by the Miss Gay Missouri America pageant, the 2012 MEPSI Board of Directors Legacy Award, and the 2013 Jerry Peek Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miss Gay Illinois America pageant. In 2016 he was honored for Excellence in Coverage by The Association of LGBT Journalists. Colin was also honored with proclamations honoring his journalism and advocacy from the Mayor of St. Louis, The St. Louis Board of Aldermen, and St. Louis County.

Early in his career, Colin’s byline regularly appeared locally in The Gay and Lesbian News Telegraph, The Show Me Guide, TWISL, Kolours, Missouri Pride and Slam! magazine. In 2001, he began writing for Vital VOICE, eventually becoming Senior Writer and then Editor. In 2014, he launched his own LGBT publication #Boom Magazine, co-founded with his late husband, R. Kurt Ross, and Colin Lovett. Colin was also a frequent contributor to national publications, including LGBTQNation and Queerty.

Colin met R. Kurt Ross, his partner and companion of 22 years in 1998, whom he married on March 12, 2010 in Iowa city, IA. They lived in Belleville and O’Fallon, IL during their many years together enjoying their four dogs (Schnug, Puddle, Ty and Scruffy), travel, flea markets, family, cooking and just life in general despite its many challenges. Kurt died during the pandemic on March 25, 2020.

In addition to his husband, Colin was preceded in death by his first partner and companion, Stephen Joseph Johnson; maternal grandparents, Joseph Raynor Considine and Dorothy Vernon Lasbury; and paternal grandparents, Robert Allen Murphy, Lloyd Dorris Eaton and Wanda Victoria Elwood; uncles, John Raynor Considine and Gregory Scott Eaton; and an aunt, Mary Kathryn Carr.

Left to mourn Colin’s passing are his parents, Daniel Allen and Sharon Ann Considine Murphy of Columbia, IL; a sister, Rachel Colleen Victoria (Blaise III) Azzara of St. Louis, MO.; a nephew, Blaise Anthony Azzara IV, and a niece, Zoe Victoria Azzara, both of St. Louis, MO; uncles, Terry LaMont (Ardyth) Eaton of Lyman, WY and Kenton Lloyd (Pamela) Eaton of St. Louis, MO; aunts, Carolyn Sue Hayes of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Sylvia Anne (Linwood) Farrar of Ogunquit, ME, Patricia Doris Letart of Irving, TX, and Barbara Elnora (Granville) Zimmerman of Bedford, TX; a mother-in-law, Judith Lynn Ross of O’Fallon, IL; and his best friend and community partner Colin (Brett Murray) Lovett of Ballwin, MO. Dear son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, brother-in-law, and friend and mentor to many.

A private inurnment will be held at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belleville, IL at the family plot. A public celebration of Colin’s life will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Just John Club in St. Louis, MO.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to benefit a local LGBTQ charity of your choice, which are many, and in need.