Initially founded in 1987 as a literary review for gay and lesbian books based out of the Lambda Rising Bookstore in DC, Lambda Literary—under the leadership of L. Page (Deacon) Maccubbin—has expanded over the decades. Now, alongside the lit review, Lambda holds non-profit status, hosts a writers retreat for emerging LGBTQ+ authors, engages with youth community outreach, and awards excellence at the annual Lambda Awards.
The Lambda Literary Awards (a.k.a. the Lammys) highlight exceptional written work from 24 main categories by LGBTQ+ writers/artists and about the queer experience. In addition to the main awards, there are a handful of special prizes, such as the Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction, Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction, Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers, Jim Duggins, Ph.D. Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize, and the J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50. Sometimes, Lambda Literary will bestow an award to those breaking ground across mediums and those within the publishing industry.
Some of the categories we’re watching
Because some categories are by genre and books may only appear in one category, I’d encourage you to check out all of these books to find something that aligns with your fave genre. Here are some I’m most excited for:
Lesbian Fiction
- How to Wrestle a Girl by Venita Blackburn
- Matrix by Lauren Groff
- Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
- The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade
- With Teeth by Kristen Arnett
Transgender Fiction
- A Natural History of Transition by Callum Angus
- Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
- Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan Milks
- She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
- Summer Fun by Jeanne Thornton
LGBTQ Nonfiction
- Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi
- Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures by Adam Zmith
- Girlhood by Melissa Febos
- Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman
- Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water by Kazim Ali
LGTBQ Comics
- Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier and Val Wise, lettering by Oscar O. Jupiter
- Our Work Is Everywhere: An Illustrated Oral History of Queer & Trans Resistance by Syan Rose
- Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto; illustrated by Ann Xu
- Stone Fruit by Lee Lai
- Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh
LGBTQ Speculative Fiction
- A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
- Breeder by Honni van Rijswijk
- No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
- Phototaxis by Olivia Tapiero, translated by Kit Schluter
- The Tensorate Series by Neon Yang
Other categories include GBT Fiction (3 categories), Bisexual Nonfiction, Transgender Nonfiction, LGBT Poetry (4 categories), Lesbian Memoir/Biography, Gay Memoir Biography, Lesbian Romance, Gay Romance, LGBTQ Anthology, LGBTQ Children’s/Middle Grade, LGBTQ YA, LGBTQ Drama (plays), LGBTQ Erotica, LGBTQ Mystery, and LGBTQ Studies.
Where are the 2020 Lammys?
I look at books all day, most days, and seeing so many titles for the first time really shows how important the Lammys remain. Sure, I don’t read in every genre regularly, but still, I only recognized 15 titles and covers. Even of those (totaling 13%), half are widely published and celebrated. Nigerian nonbinary author Akwaeke Emezi I wouldn’t even be obsessed with if not for booktubers like Jesse consistently bringing them to my attention. Though many people I follow did share Shelley Parker-Chan’s novel She Who Became the Sun, my first significant interaction with their work was an essay here at The Mary Sue.
Drag queen and visual artist Sasha Velour will host this year’s virtual Lambda Awards at 6PM EST. Tickets are $50 per person and feature digital goodies and pre-show access to the authors. This access includes readings and talks with finalists starting at 2:00 p.m. EST, and the money raised goes towards the emerging writers’ retreat and youth programs.
(image: Lambda Literary, Alyssa Shotwell, and respective publishers.)
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