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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2021

The 2021 Lambda Literary Awards went to You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat (Bisexual Fiction), Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irby (Bisexual Nonfiction) and Salt Body Shimmer by Aricka Foreman (Bisexual Poetry), with winners in 21 more categories. 120 books were finalists across 24 categories.

Winners

Bisexual Fiction

  1. You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafatsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irbysource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. Salt Body Shimmer by Aricka Foremansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Neotenica by Joon Oluchi Leesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. A Dutiful Boy: A Memoir of a Gay Muslim's Journey to Acceptance by Mohsin Zaidisource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Guillotine by Eduardo C. Corralsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. The Ghost and Charlie Muir by Felice Stevenssource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Anthology

  1. Love after the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction by Joshua Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Children's/Middle Grade

  1. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callendersource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Comics

  1. Apsara Engine by Bishakh Somsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Drama

  1. The Book of Mountains and Seas by Yilong Liusource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Erotica

  1. The Nerves by Lena Suksisource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Mystery

  1. I Hope You're Listening by Tom Ryansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Nonfiction

  1. The Lonely Letters by Ashon T. Crawleysource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboesource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Studies

  1. Becoming Human: Matter and Meaning in an Antiblack World by Zakiyyah Iman Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Young Adult

  1. Flamer by Mike Curatosource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Fiebre Tropical by Juli Delgado Loperasource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shaplandsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Funeral Diva by Pamela Sneedsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleursource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadarsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. The Black Trans Prayer Book by J Mase III and Dane Figueroa Edidisource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. I Love You and I'm Not Dead by Sade LaNaysource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhangsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Silence Is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addoniasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbertsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Terroir: Love, Out of Place by Natasha Sajésource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia by Emma Copley Eisenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Wanting Was a Wildernerss: Cheryl Strayed's Wild and the Art of Memoir by Alden Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. This Is Major: Notes of Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope by Shayla Lawsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. Birthright by George Abrahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. One God at a Time by Meghan Privitellosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Wild Peach by S*an D. Henry-Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. sick by Jody Chansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Cleanness by Garth Greenwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Real Life by Brandon Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuartsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staplessource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourtsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir by Dr. François S. Clemmonssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard by John Birdsallsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Fantasia for the Man in Blue by Tommye Blountsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sacrament of Bodies by Romeo Oriogunsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Thanksgiving: A Poem by Ted Reessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Malevolent Volume by Justin Phillip Reedsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Finding Joy by Adriana Herrerasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Flower of Iowa by Lance Ringelsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ink and Ice by Erin Colleen McRae and Racheline Maltesesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastiansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Anthology

  1. Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement by Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinhasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Glitter + Ashes: Queer Tales of a World That Wouldn't Die by dave ringsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Non-Binary Lives: An Anthology of Intersecting Identities by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker and Kat Guptasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics by Andrea Abi-Karam and Kay Gabrielsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Children's/Middle Grade

  1. A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. From Archie to Zack by Vincent X. Kirschsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercuriosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Comics

  1. Everything is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection by Yao Xiaosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. SFSX (Safe Sex), Vol. 1: Protection by Tina Horn, Laurenn McCubbin, Jen Hickman, Alejandra Gutiérrez, Michael Dowling, Steve Wands, Tula Lotay, Katie Skelly and Chris O'Halloransource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Spellbound: A Graphic Memoir by Bishakh Somsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Contradictions by Sophie Yanowsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Drama

  1. Babel by Jacqueline Goldfingersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. F*ck7thGrade by Liza Birkenmeier and Jill Sobulesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. House Plant by Sarah Einspaniersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Safe Space by R. Eric Thomassource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Erotica

  1. Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 5 by Sinclair Sexsmithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Femme Tales by Anne Shadesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Smut Peddler Presents: Silver by Andrea Purcellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Smut Peddlers: Glad Day 50 by Kel Hardy, Tianna Henry and MJ Lyonssource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Mystery

  1. Death Before Dessert by A.E. Radleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Find Me When I'm Lost by Cheryl A. Headsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Vera Kelly Is Not a Mystery by Rosalie Knechtsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Nonfiction

  1. All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burkssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Excess of Quiet: Selected Sketches by Gustavo Ojeda, 1979-1989 by Gabriel Ojeda-Sagué and Erich Kessel Jrsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Forget Burial: HIV Kinship, Disability, and Queer/Trans Narratives of Care by Marty Finksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Lexington Six: Lesbian and Gay Resistance in 1970s America by Josephine Donovansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorsesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Subcutanean by Aaron A. Reedsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Chosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaasesource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Studies

  1. Information Activism: A Queer History of Lesbian Media Technologies by Cait McKinneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Sense of Brown by José Esteban Muñozsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Sex Obsession: Perversity and Possibility in American Politics by Janet R. Jakobsensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Tragedy of Heterosexuality by Jane Wardsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Young Adult

  1. Camp by L.C. Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sasha Masha by Agnes Borinskysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Bestiary by K-Ming Changsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Exile Music by Jennifer Steilsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Fraziersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. And The Walls Come Crumbling Down by Tania de Rozariosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America's First Celebrity by Tana Wojczuksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Practicing for Love: A Memoir by Nina Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Change: My Great American, Postindustrial, Midlife Crisis Tour by Lori Soderlindsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. : once teeth bones coral : by Kimberly Alidiosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Devil's Lake by Sarah M. Salasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Flèche by Mary Jean Chansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. dayliGht by Roya Marshsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Nottingham by Anna Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. One More Chance by Ali Valisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jaesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Finna by Nina Ciprisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Seep by Chana Portersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Subtweet by Vivek Shrayasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Trans-Galactic Bike Ride: Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories of Transgender and Nonbinary Adventures by Lydia Roguesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Fairest: A Memoir by Meredith Talusansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Nepantla Squared: Transgender Mestiz@ Histories in Times of Global Shift by L Heidenreichsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Freezer Door by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamoresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Trans Care by Hil Malatinosource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. Greyhound by Aeon Ginsbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. More Than Organs by Kay Ulanday Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Nancy Reagan Collection by Maxe Crandallsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Theories of Performance by Jay Besemersource (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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