Overview of LLF Awards

Lambda Literary Awards, aka “The Lammys”

The Lambda Literary Awards identify and honor the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books in their year of publication and are given out at an annual ceremony. Scroll down for a description of the categories.

[ Guidelines | Previous Winners ]

Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award

The Emerging Writer Award will be presented annually at the Lambda Literary Award ceremony. The award, made possible by Teresa DeCrescenzo, consists of two cash prizes of $1000. The awards will be presented to two LGBT-identified authors. Age is not a determining factor. The award will recognize LGBT content of importance to the LGBT community and with emergent LGBT authors who have written and published up to 2 books (fiction or nonfiction), or 1 book and substantial additional literary work such as short stories and essays. A panel will be created to identify candidates & winners. Recommended winners will be reviewed by the Staff and Board of Trustees of the Lambda Literary Foundation.

[ Guidelines | Previous Winners ]

Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize

The Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize will be presented annually at the Lambda Literary Awards ceremony. The award, made possible by James Duggins, PhD, consists of two cash prizes of $5000. The awards will be presented to two LGBT-identified authors. Age is not a determining factor. The award will recognize LGBT content of importance to the LGBT community and with emergent LGBT authors who have written and published at least three novels, or two novels and substantial additional literary work such as poetry, short stories, and essays. A panel (or panels) will be created to identify candidates & winners. Recommended winners will be reviewed by the Staff and Board of Trustees of the Lambda Literary Foundation.

[ Guidelines | Previous Winners ]

Pioneer Award

At least one Pioneer Award will be given each year to a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual. Age is not a determining factor. The award will recognize LGBT authors who have made a significant contribution to LGBT literature and/or the lives of LGBT people. The LLF board of Trustees will determine the recipient.

[ Previous Winners ]

Trustee Award

The Trustee Award honors a distinguished individual who, through their literary work, has made a considerable contribution to a wider awareness and understanding of the lives of LGBT people.

Bridge Builder Award

The Bridge Builder Award honors a distinguished ally to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community whose work promotes meaningful understanding about the lives of LGBT people. This contribution is not limited by sexual orientation or to the literary world.

Lambda Literary Awards: Description of Categories

LESBIAN and GAY CATEGORIES (12)
LESBIAN: Books eligible for this category are those that feature a lesbian main character.
GAY: Books eligible for this category are those that feature a gay main character.

Gay Erotica*
Lesbian Erotica*

Anthologies, novels, novellas, graphic novels, memoirs, and short story collections whose content is principally of an erotic nature.

Gay General Fiction
Lesbian General Fiction

Novels, novellas, and short story collections. May include historical novels, graphic novels, cross-genre works of fiction, humor, and other styles of fiction. Anthologies are not eligible.

Gay Memoir/Biography
Lesbian Memoir/Biography

Posthumously published authors or those with co-authors are also eligible. Anthologies are not eligible.

Gay Mystery
Lesbian Mystery

Novels, novellas, and short story collections that adhere to the criteria of a “mystery,” as defined by the Mystery Writers of America: “A mystery is considered to be any novel in which a crime, or a series of crimes, are an integral part of the story.” Anthologies are not eligible.

Gay Poetry
Lesbian Poetry

Single volumes, selected and collected poems, and anthologies are eligible. Chapbooks are not eligible.

Gay Romance
Lesbian Romance

Novels, novellas, and short story collections that adhere to the criteria of a “romance.” As defined by the Romance Writers of America: “A romance is defined as a work of fiction with two critical elements: a central love relationship and a positive ending stating or implying a commitment between the two characters.” Anthologies are not eligible.

LGBT CATEGORIES (7)
These categories are non-gender specific.

LGBT Anthology*

Collections of fiction and/or nonfiction are eligible.

LGBT Children’s/Young Adult

Fiction, nonfiction, picture books, poetry, and anthologies—whose intended audience is young
readers—are all eligible.

LGBT Debut Fiction

Novels, novellas, or short story collections by authors who have not previously published a book of fiction. Anthologies are not eligible. Authors who have appeared in anthologies are eligible, as long as they have not published a volume identified as theirs alone.

LGBT Drama*

Plays that have been published in book/script form during 2012. Collections of plays and anthologies of plays are eligible.

LGBT Nonfiction

Books and subjects for the general reader, e.g. histories, politics, community organizations, humor, parenting, religion, spirituality, relationships, psychology, travel, etc.

LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

Novels, novellas, short story collections, and anthologies are eligible.

LGBT Studies*

Scholarly work oriented toward academia, libraries, cultural professionals, and the more academic reader.

BISEXUAL and TRANSGENDER CATAGORIES (4)

Bisexual Fiction
Transgender Fiction

Novels, novellas, poetry, short story collections and anthologies. May include historical novels, graphic novels, cross-genre works of fiction, humor, and other styles of fiction.

Bisexual Nonfiction
Transgender Nonfiction

Books and subjects for the general reader, e.g. history, memoirs, anthologies, cultural studies, public policy, law, politics, poetry, community organizations, humor, spirituality, gender studies, parenting, religion, spirituality, relationships, psychology, travel, etc.