Sullivan was born in South Godstone, England, and received a B.A. in modern history from Oxford University (Magdalen College). He went on to earn a masters degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in political science at Harvard, writing his dissertation on conservative British philosopher Michael Oakeshott. In 1986 he began his career with The New Republic magazine, serving as its editor from 1991 to 1996. In late 2000 he began his blog andrewsullivan.com, which soon became one of the most popular political blogs on the Internet (300,000 unique visits per month by the middle of 2003). Between starting his blog and ending his New Republic editorship, Sullivan wrote two works on homosexuality, arguing for its social acceptance on conservative grounds. His writings appear in a number of widely-read publications. He currently serves as the American columnist for the Sunday Times of London.

Sullivan is often compared to lesbian academic Camille Paglia, another gay intellectual who argues from a non-Leftist perspective.

In May 2001, it was revealed by gay radio network GayBC.com that Sullivan, a strident advocate for gay sexual responsibility, had anonymously advertised for unsafe, random sex on the now-defunct website barebackcity.com.

List of works

• Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality
• Love Undetectable: Notes on Friendship, Sex and Survival