A list of literary awards for books with queer content. This page uses the following acronyms, all of which may be considered synonymous:
Sponsor | Award | Awarded to | Years Active |
---|---|---|---|
The Alice B Readers Appreciation Committee | The Alice B Readers Award | Medal and honorarium awarded to living writers of lesbian fiction whose careers are distinguished by consistently well-written stories and novels about lesbians. [1] | 2004–present |
American Library Association's Rainbow Round Table | Barbara Gittings Literature Award | 2002–present | |
Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award | 2002–present | ||
Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award | 2010–present | ||
Over the Rainbow Book List | Fiction and nonfiction books that "authentically express" LGBT experiences [2] | 2011–present | |
Rainbow Book List | Books with significant LGBT content, and which are aimed at youth, birth through age 18 | 2008-2017 | |
Stonewall Book Award | Books of exceptional merit relating to the LGBT experience | 1971–present | |
Bi Writers Association | Bisexual Book Awards | Best works of literature addressing themes of bisexuality | 2013–present |
Blue Metropolis | Blue Metropolis Violet Prize | Established LGBTQ writer to honour their body of work | 2018–present |
Dwijen Dinanath Arts Foundation's Rainbow Awards | Fiction of the Year | Novels, graphic novels or collections of short stories authored by a single author that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities. | 2023–present |
Non-fiction of the Year | Memoirs, biographies, history or other non-fictional works that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities. | 2023–present | |
Feature of the Year | Feature story that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities. | 2023–present | |
Op-Ed of the Year | An op-ed piece that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities. | 2023–present | |
Lifetime Achievement Award | Profound contributions to the queer literary world. | 2023–present | |
Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Foundation | Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Novel | Science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels that explore LGBT topics in a positive way | 1999–present |
Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Short Fiction | Science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories that explore LGBT topics in a positive way | 1999–present | |
Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Other Work | Science fiction, fantasy, and horror texts (not novels or short stories) that explore LGBT topics in a positive way | 1999–present | |
Glamour | Prix République du Glamour | French novels with lesbian content | |
Golden Crown Literary Society | Ann Bannon Award | Book selected as a favorite among Golden Crown Literary Society members | 2007–present |
Goldie Award for Short Contemporary Romance Novels | Modern novel with a focus on a lesbian relationship; novel must be between 40,000 and 70,000 words in length
| ||
Goldie Award for Mid-Length Contemporary Romance Novels | Modern novel with a focus on a lesbian relationship; novel must be between 70,001 and 85,000 words in length
| ||
Goldie Award for Long Contemporary Romance Novels | Modern novel with a focus on a lesbian relationship; novel must be longer than 85,000 words
| ||
Goldie Award for Debut Authors | Debut novel with lesbian content | 2006–present | |
Directors Award | Golden Crown Literary Society member for contribution to the Society | ||
Goldie Award for Erotic Novels | Novel with a "high level of sexual content" between women [3]
| 2007–present | |
Goldie Award for Fiction Anthology/Collections | Anthologies with significant lesbian content | ||
Goldie Award for General Fiction | Novel with lesbian content that is not the main focus of the book
| 2007–present | |
Goldie Award for Historical Fiction | Novel set at least 25 years in the past with lesbian content that is not the main focus of the book | ||
Goldie Award for Humorous Novels | Comedic novels with lesbian content | ||
Goldie Award for Mystery/Thriller/Crime | Mystery, thriller, or crime novel with lesbian content | 2005–present | |
Goldie Award for New Adult Fiction | Novels with lesbian content whose target audience is people aged 19–29 | ||
Goldie Award for Nonfiction | Nonfiction works with lesbian content | ||
Goldie Award for Paranormal/Occult/Horror | Novels with paranormal, occult, or horror elements as part of the main plot that also include lesbian content | ||
Goldie Award for Poetry | Poetry with lesbian content | ||
Goldie Award for Romantic Blend | Novels with two main focuses, one of which is a lesbian relationship | ||
Goldie Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy | Science fiction or fantasy novels with lesbian content | 2005–present | |
Goldie Award for Short Story/Essay Collections | 2007- | ||
Goldie Award for Speculative Fiction | 2007- | ||
Goldie Award for Young Adult | Young adult novels with lesbian content | ||
The Lee Lynch Classic Book Award | Classic books with lesbian content | ||
Tee Corinne Award for Outstanding Cover Design | Book with a cover selected as a favourite among Golden Crown Literary Society members | ||
Trailblazer Award | Writer in recognition of their lifetime achievement and contributions to lesbian literature | 2005–present | |
Japanese Association for Gender, Fantasy & Science Fiction | Sense of Gender Awards | Science fiction or fantasy fiction that best explores and deepens the concept of gender | 2001–present |
Green Carnation Committee in association with Foyles | Green Carnation Prize | The Prize honours the best in fiction and memoir by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender writers worldwide, including works in translation. [4] [5] | 2014-2017 |
Lambda Literary Foundation's Lambda Literary Awards | J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50 | Authors who identify as LGBTQ who published their first book after the age of 50 | |
Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction | Nonfiction authors who identify as lesbian or queer or who are transgender or gender non-conforming | ||
Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize | Authors identify as LGBTQ and "who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation and following, and show promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come" [6] | ||
Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers | Writers who have published one or two books who identify as LGBTQ and "whose work demonstrates their strong potential for promising careers" [6] | ||
Lambda Literary Award for AIDS Literature (discontinued) | Texts with HIV/AIDS content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Anthology
| Anthologies with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Arts and Culture (discontinued) | |||
Lambda Literary Award for Belles Lettres (discontinued) | |||
Lambda Literary Award for Children's or Young Adult Literature | Children's and young adult texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Debut Fiction (discontinued)
| Debut fictional texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Drama | Drama with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Editor's Choice (discontinued) | |||
Lambda Literary Award for Erotica
| Erotic texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Fiction | Fictional texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Graphic Novel | Graphic novels with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Humor (discontinued) | Humorous texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Memoir or Biography
| Memoirs or biographies with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Mystery
| Mystery texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Nonfiction
| Nonfiction texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Poetry | Poetry with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Romance
| Romance texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Studies
| Academic texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Photography/Visual Arts (discontinued) | Photography and visual are with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror
| Science fiction, fantasy, or horror texts with LGBT+ content | ||
Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Literature | Works with transgender content - The Award for Transgender Literature is sometimes separated by category (i.e., Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry); the award for Transgender Literature has also been combined with the Award for Bisexual Literature). | ||
Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction | Black LGBTQ fiction writers | ||
Trustee Award | Individuals who have broken new ground in the field of LGBTQ literature, publishing, filmmaking, journalism, playwriting, etc. | ||
Visionary Award | Individuals who have broken new ground in the field of LGBTQ literature and publishing. | ||
Lesfic Bard Awards, LLC | Lesfic Bard Awards | Awards for lesbian writers achieved via a unique triple-blind judging process to find deserving finalists and winners, making sure the works receive the acknowledgment they are due. [7] | 2018–present |
Otherwise Award (formerly The James Tiptree Jr. Award) | Otherwise Award | Works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore one's understanding of gender and awarded yearly at WisCon (the world's premiere feminist science fiction convention since 1977) where the recipient receives a tiara, a piece of original art, chocolate, and a check for $1000. [8] | 1991–present |
Publishing Triangle | Audre Lorde Award | Lesbian poetry | |
Betty Berzon Award for Emerging Writers | Early career achievement of an LGBT+ writer | ||
Bill Whitehead Award | Lifetime achievement by writers within the LGBT community | ||
Edmund White Award | Debut novels by writers within the LGBT community | ||
Ferro-Grumley Award | Fiction with LGBT content | ||
Judy Grahn Award | Works of non-fiction of relevance to the lesbian community | ||
Publishing Triangle Award for Trans and Gender-Variant Literature | Works of literature on transgender themes | ||
Randy Shilts Award | Works of non-fiction of relevance to the gay community | ||
Robert Chesley Award | Works by playwrights in the LGBT community | ||
Thom Gunn Award | Works of gay male poetry | ||
Writers' Trust of Canada | Dayne Ogilvie Prize | Emerging LGBT+ Canadian writer |
The LGBTQ community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBT community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community.
Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ+ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ+ literature. The awards were instituted in 1989.
Over the course of its history, the LGBTQ community has adopted certain symbols for self-identification to demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another. These symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. The two symbols most recognized internationally are the pink triangle and the rainbow flag.
LGBT themes in horror fiction refers to sexuality in horror fiction that can often focus on LGBTQ+ characters and themes within various forms of media. It may deal with characters who are coded as or who are openly LGBTQ+, or it may deal with themes or plots that are specific to gender and sexual minorities.
Bisexual erasure, also called bisexual invisibility, is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or re-explain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, the news media, and other primary sources.
Diane Anderson-Minshall is an American journalist and author best known for writing about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender subjects. She is the first female CEO of Pride Media. She is also the editorial director of The Advocate and Chill magazines, the editor-in-chief of HIV Plus magazine, while still contributing editor to OutTraveler. Diane co-authored the 2014 memoir Queerly Beloved about her relationship with her husband Jacob Anderson-Minshall throughout his gender transition.
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the United States-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works that celebrate or explore LGBT themes. The awards are presented annually for books published in the previous year. The Lambda Literary Foundation states that its mission is "to celebrate LGBT literature and provide resources for writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, and librarians—the whole literary community."
Campus Pride is an American national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded by M. Chad Wilson, Sarah E. Holmes and Shane L. Windmeyer in 2001 which serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders and/or campus organization in the areas of leadership development, support programs and services to create safer, more inclusive LGBT-friendly colleges and universities.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight Alliance (GLBTSA) of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest LGBTIQ student organization in the Southeastern United States. GLBTSA sponsors the annual Southeast Regional Unity Conference as well as Lambda magazine, the nation's oldest LGBTIQ student publication. The general body holds weekly meetings as well as guest speakers, drag shows, retreats, trips, and service projects. GLBTSA has three additional programs: Colors, Committee for a Queerer Carolina (activism), and Fruit Bowl (social).
Theta Pi Sigma (ΘΠΣ) was an American queer-focused, gender-neutral fraternal organization. It was established in 2005 at the University of California, Santa Cruz and has expanded to six chapters across the United States. It was the world's first queer-focused, gender-neutral Greek organization.
Amber Dawn is a Canadian writer, who won the 2012 Dayne Ogilvie Prize, presented by the Writers' Trust of Canada to an emerging lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender writer.
Michael Bronski is an American academic and writer, best known for his 2011 book A Queer History of the United States. He has been involved with LGBT politics since 1969 as an activist and organizer. He has won numerous awards for LGBTQ activism and scholarship, including the prestigious Publishing Triangle's Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. Bronski is a Professor of Practice in Media and Activism at Harvard University.
The following outline offers an overview and guide to LGBTQ topics:
Bisexual literature is a subgenre of LGBT literature that includes literary works and authors that address the topic of bisexuality or biromanticism. This includes characters, plot lines, and/or themes portraying bisexual behavior in both men and women.
No Straight Lines is an anthology of queer comics covering a 40-year period from the late 1960s to the late 2000s. It was edited by Justin Hall and published by Fantagraphics Books on August 1, 2012.