Randy Shilts (August 8, 1951 – February 17, 1994) was a gay American journalist and author. He was a reporter for The Advocate and the San Francisco Chronicle. His best known book was And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic, published in 1987. He also wrote a biography of Harvey Milk, The Mayor of Castro Street. His last book, Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the US Military, was published shortly before his death of AIDS at the age of 42.

Selected books

• Conduct Unbecoming (ISBN 0312342640)
• And the Band Played On (ISBN 0613298721)
• Mayor of Castro Street (ISBN 0312523319)