Prince of Poppers Joe Miller Commits Suicide

Democratic supporter, HIV and child charity fundraiser, and controversial businessman Joe Miller made his fortune in the late 70’s and 80’s by selling poppers (aka amyl nitrate – an inhalant that some men use as a sexual aid). A well known yet reclusive figure around gay political circles, Miller recently committed suicide in his Indiana home—no word as to how.
His company, Great Lakes Products continues to distribute poppers to sex shops and gay bars as “room deodorizer” and “video head cleaner” without disclosing the health risks to HIV/AIDS sufferers and men taking erectile dysfunction medication. Many men use poppers to relax their anal muscles for rough sex, but poppers can diminish the immune system and also cause a lethal drop in blood pressure when used with ED meds. A gay activist in Atlanta died from the deadly combo earlier this year causing one Indiana blog to question whether Miller is a sinner or a saint.
Even in death, Miller continues to generate controversy. According to one report:

Apparently the Indianapolis Star pulled its online obituary for him. Rumors are in the comments of the blogs quoted above of his company being raided by the federal government, sexual tourism, and using influence to suppress “anti-poppers” regulation and media coverage.

While our thoughts go out to Miller and his circle during this time, poppers maintain a disputed place in gay sexual culture. Though print and websites do not market them much anymore, many gay men continue to use and share them perhaps unaware of the risks.