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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2015

The 2015 Lambda Literary Awards went to Understanding and Teaching US Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History by Leila J. Rupp & Susan K. Freeman (Anthology), Give It to Me by Ana Castillo (Bisexual Fiction) and Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Charles M. Blow (Bisexual Nonfiction), with winners in 21 more categories. 152 books were finalists across 24 categories.

Winners

Anthology

  1. Understanding and Teaching US Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History by Leila J. Rupp and Susan K. Freemansource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Give It to Me by Ana Castillosource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Charles M. Blowsource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federlesource (opens in a new tab)

Debut Fiction

  1. The Walk-In Closet by Abdi Nazemiansource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. Bootycandy by Robert O’Harasource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. The King by Tiffany Reiszsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. I Loved You More by Tom Spanbauersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh by John Lahrsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Prince of Los Cocuyos by Richard Blancosource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Blackmail, My Love: A Murder Mystery by Katie Gilmartinsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. [insert] boy by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Salvation: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Mannsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novel

  1. Second Avenue Caper by Joyce Brabner and Mark Zingarellisource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. Lesbian Sex Bible by Diana Cagesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Yabo by Alexis De Veauxsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith by Alethia Jones, Virginia Eubanks and with Barbara Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. The Old Deep and Dark-A Jane Lawless Mystery by Ellen Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Mysterious Acts by My People by Valerie Wetlaufersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. The Farmer’s Daughter by Robbi McCoysource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Hold Tight Gently: Michael Callen, Essex Hemphill, and the Battlefield of AIDS by Martin Dubermansource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Bitter Waters by Chaz Brenchleysource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within US Slave Culture by Vincent Woodard; Justin A. Joyce and Dwight McBridesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. A Safe Girl To Love by Casey Plettsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Man Alive: A True Story of Violence, Forgiveness and Becoming a Man by Thomas Page McBeesource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Anthology

  1. A Family by Any Other Name: Exploring Queer Relationships by Bruce Gillespiesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call by Charles Stephens and Steven G. Fullwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Outer Voices Inner Lives by Mark McNease and Stephen Dolainskisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Queer South: LGBTQ Writers on the American South by Douglas Raysource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Best Bi Short Stories: Bisexual Fiction by Sheela Lambertsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Extraordinary Adventures of Mullah Nasruddin by Ron J. Sureshasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Finder of Lost Objects by Susie Harasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. She of the Mountains by Vivek Shrayasource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cummingsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Recognize: The Voices of Bisexual Men by Robyn Ochs and H. Sharif Williamssource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Double Exposure by Bridget Birdsallsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Forgive Me If I’ve Told You This Before by Karelia Stetz-Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pukawiss the Outcast by Jay Jordan Hawkesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. This is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleetsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. When Everything Feels like the Movies by Raziel Reidsource (opens in a new tab)

Debut Fiction

  1. A Map of Everything by Elizabeth Earleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Death in Venice, California by Vinton Rafe McCabesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Kill Marguerite and Other Stories by Megan Milkssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Nochita by Dia Felixsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Part the Hawser, Limn the Sea by Dan Lopezsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Music Teacher by Bob Sennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Unaccompanied Minors by Alden Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. A Kid Like Jake by Daniel Pearlesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Beast of Times by Adelina Anthonysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Whale by Samuel D. Huntersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wolves by Steve Yockeysource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. Incubus Tales by Hushichosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Leather Spirit Stallion by Raven Kalderasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Bears of Winter by Jerry Wheelersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Thief Taker by William Holdensource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. All I Love and Know by Judith Franksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkassource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bitter Eden: A Novel by Tatamkhulu Afrikasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Little Reef and Other Stories by Michael Carrollsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Next to Nothing: Stories by Keith Bannersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Souljah by John R Gordonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The City of Palaces by Michael Navasource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival by Sean Strubsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Charles Walters: The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance by Brent Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Closets, Combat and Coming Out: Coming Of Age As A Gay Man In The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Army by Rob Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Inside a Pearl: My Years in Paris by Edmund Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Letter to Jimmy by Alain Mabanckou, translated by Sara Meli Ansarisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Wagstaff: Before and After Mapplethorpe by Philip Geftersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. A Gathering Storm by Jameson Curriersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boystown 6: From the Ashes by Marshall Thorntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Calvin’s Head by David Swatlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. DeadFall by David Lennonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Fair Game by Josh Lanyonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Moon Over Tangier by Janice Lawsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Next by Rafe Hazesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Clean by David J. Danielssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Don’t Go Back To Sleep by Timothy Liusource (opens in a new tab)
  3. ECODEVIANCE: (Soma)tics for the Future Wilderness by CAConradsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The New Testament by Jericho Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. This Life Now by Michael Brodersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. This Way to the Sugar by Hieu Minh Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Everything’s Coming Up Roses: Four Tales of M/M Romance by Barry Lowesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Foolish Hearts: New Gay Fiction by Timothy Lambert and R.D. Cochranesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Like They Always Been Free by Georgina Lisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Message of Love by Jim Provenzanosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pulling Leather by L.C. Chasesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Companion by Lloyd A. Meekersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Passion of Sergius & Bacchus, A Novel of Truth by David Reddishsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novel

  1. 100 Crushes by Elisha Limsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Band Vs. Band Comix Volume 1 by Kathleen Jacquessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pregnant Butch: Nine Long Months Spent in Drag by A.K. Summerssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Snackies by Nick Sumidasource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. All You Can Eat. A Buffet of Lesbian Erotica and Romance by Andi Marquette and R.G. Emanuellesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Forbidden Fruit: stories of unwise lesbian desire by Cheyenne Bluesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Adult Onset by Ann-Marie Macdonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Last Words From Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Ari Larissa Heinrichsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 by Francine Prosesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Miracle Girls by MB Caschettasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. New York 1, Tel Aviv 0 by Shelly Oriasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Palace Blues by Brandy T. Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waterssource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Cease – a memoir of love, loss and desire by Lynette Loeppkysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Eating Fire: My Life as a Lesbian Avenger by Kelly Cogswellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The End of Eve by Ariel Goresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Under This Beautiful Dome: A Senator, A Journalist, and the Politics of Gay Love in America by Terry Mutchlersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Done to Death by Charles Atkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Slash and Burn by Valerie Bronwensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Acquittal by Anne Laughlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. UnCatholic Conduct by Stevie Mikaynesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Haiti Glass by Lenelle Moïsesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Janey’s Arcadia by Rachel Zolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Last Psalm at Sea Level by Meg Daysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Like a Beggar by Ellen Basssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. MxT by Sina Queyrassource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Only Ride by Megan Volpertsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Termination Dust by Susanna Mishlersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Christmas Crush by Kate McLachlansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Jolt by Kris Bryantsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Nightingale by Andrea Bramhallsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Seneca Falls by Jesse J. Thomasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tangled Roots by Marianne K. Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. That Certain Something by Clare Ashtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Heat of Angels by Lisa Girolamisource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. An American Queer: The Amazon Trail by Lee Lynchsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Nevirapine and the Quest to End Pediatric AIDS by Rebecca J. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Robert Gober: The Heart Is Not a Metaphor by Hilton Als, Ann Temkin, Claudia Carson, Robert Gober, Paulina Pobocha and Christian Scheidemannsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sexplosion: From Andy Warhol to A Clockwork Orange, How a Generation of Pop Rebels Broke All the Taboos by Robert Hoflersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality by Julie Sondra Deckersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Transgender Archives: Foundations for the Future by Aaron H Devorsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Up Stairs Lounge Arson: Thirty-Two Deaths in a New Orleans Gay Bar, June 24, 1973 by Clayton Delery-Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Afterparty by Daryl Gregorysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Butcher’s Road by Lee Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Child of a Hidden Sea by A. M. Dellamonicasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstonesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. FutureDyke by Lea Daleysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Skin Deep Magic by Craig Laurance Gidneysource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. After Love: Queer Intimacy and Erotic Economies in Post-Soviet Cuba by Noelle M. Stoutsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Charity & Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America by Rachel Hope Clevessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Queen for a Day: Transformistas, Beauty Queens, and the Performance of Femininity in Venezuela by Marcia Ochoasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sexual Futures, Queer Gestures, and Other Latina Longings by Juana Maria Rodriguezsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Queerness of Native American Literature by Lisa Tatonettisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Sexuality of History: Modernity and the Sapphic by Susan S. Lansersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Under Bright Lights: Gay Manila and the Global Scene by Bobby Benedictosource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Everything Must Go by La JohnJosephsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. For Today I Am a Boy by Kim Fusource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Moving Forward Sideways like a Crab by Shani Mootoosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Revolutionary: A Novel by Alex Myerssource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love and So Much More by Janet Mocksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community by Laura Erickson-Schrothsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Lambda Literary Awards

Winners and finalists in every book category, from Lambda Literary's own Lammys Directory (an Airtable embed on the cited page). Year is the ceremony year: the 18th annual awards (2006) through the 37th (2025). The directory lists each book under its publication year, one year earlier, so year = directory year + 1. Ties are recorded as Winner. For 2025 the directory labels non-winners "Shortlist"; Lambda's announcement calls them finalists, so they are Finalist here. Editor and illustrator role tags are dropped from author names; translators go in the translator field. Special Prizes (career and emerging-writer awards to people) are out of scope.

Organization: Lambda Literary Foundation. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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