The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence is named in honor of Michael Denneny, who founded the first ever LGBTQ+ imprint at a major publishing house, was essential in the publishing of literature dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and so generously shared his talents with writers right up until the end of his life. The award will go to an editor whose commitment to the publication of LGBTQ+ writers and literature contributes significantly to the advancement of the LGBTQ+ community. The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence is the only editorial award that not only recognizes the support provided by editors to the literary community, but also the importance of editors in the advancement of a social movement. The winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500.
Eligibility
- The award will go to an editor whose commitment to the publication of LGBTQ+ writers and literature contributes significantly to the advancement of the LGBTQ+ community. Candidates can work in any genre, be at any publication, and be at any stage of their career.
- Nominations for the Denneny Prize may be made by anyone. Submission materials will require that the applicant provide samples of the nominee’s work as well as a personal statement on how the nominee has impacted their work/life and why they should be awarded this prize.
Additional Information
This award is for an editor, not a specific piece of editorial work. Applicants’ contributions to the LGBTQ creative field beyond their writings and publications shall also be considered.
The Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction, established in memory of the beloved activist and author, honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming authors who are committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history. The winner of the prize will have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking and challenging work. The award was introduced in 2018 and includes a cash prize of $2,500.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- self-identify as lesbian/queer or trans/gender non-conforming;
- have written and published at least one book of nonfiction that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history;
- be of demonstrated ability and show promise for continued growth; and
- show meaningful engagement with LGBTQ literary communities.
Additional Information
The award is for a writer, not a book. The application must therefore focus on prior and ongoing writings, showing the author’s commitment to lesbian/queer nonfiction (including, but not limited to: memoir, biography, history, philosophy, and social justice genres and themes).
The applicant's contributions to the LGBTQ literary field beyond their writings and publications will also be considered. For example: reviewing LGBTQ literature, conducting relevant research, participating in LGBTQ literary events, contributing to LGBTQ journals and reviews, membership in online LGBTQ literary forums, etc.
The prize recognizes an individual with an emerging career in Gender and Sexuality Studies research, writing, and publication. The winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- submit a 1-page personal statement, bio of up to 300 words, and a writing sample.
- meet the prize's definition of "emerging" (see below)
Additional Information
The award is for a writer, not a specific title.
“Emerging” is here defined as having authored and published fewer than two (2) substantial works of greater than 40,000 words on the topic or earning less than 20% of annual income from publication, promotions, or speaking engagements on gender studies.
Dedicated to the memory of author and journalist Jim Duggins, this prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation and following, and show promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come. Made possible through the generous support of the James Duggins Estate, two winners will each receive a cash prize of $5,000.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer;
- have written and published at least three novels or two novels and substantial additional literary work (including poems, stories, or essays); and
- be of demonstrated ability and show promise for growth in their writing.
Additional Information
This award is for a writer, not a book. The application must therefore focus on the qualifications of the writer, not the qualities of a particular book. The prize will be awarded with a goal of gender diversity among recipients.
This award honors mid-career novelists. For the purposes of this prize, Lambda Literary defines mid-career novelists as those who have published at least three novels or two novels and substantial additional literary work (including poems, stories, and essays).
Applicants’ contributions to the LGBTQ literary field beyond their writings and publications shall also be considered.
The J. Michael Samuel Prize honors emerging LGBTQ writers over the age of 50. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must be unpublished and meet our minimum age requirement. The award includes a cash prize of $5,000.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- be 50 years of age or older as of January 1st of the award year;
- be unpublished and have no books under contract or forthcoming from a publisher (up to one (1) self-published title is permitted). Writers with bylines for short stories, poetry, and essays are still eligible.;
- be of demonstrated ability and show promise for continued growth; and
- show meaningful engagement with LGBTQ literary communities.
Additional Information
The applicant's contributions to the LGBTQ literary field beyond their writings will also be considered. For example: reviewing LGBTQ literature, conducting relevant research, participating in LGBTQ literary events, contributing to LGBTQ journals and reviews, membership in online LGBTQ literary forums, etc. This award is made possible by founding sponsor Chuck Forester.
The Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers (formerly the Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award) recognizes LGBTQ-identified writers whose work demonstrates their strong potential for promising careers. Two winners will each receive a cash prize of $1,500.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer;
- have written and published at least one but no more than two books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry;
- be of demonstrated ability and show promise for growth in their writing; and
- show meaningful engagement with LGBTQ literary communities.
Additional Information
This award is for a writer, not a book. The application must therefore focus on the qualifications of the writer, not the qualities of a particular book. The prize will be awarded with a goal of gender diversity among recipients.
This award honors emergent writers. Established authors are not eligible for consideration. Lambda Literary defines emergent writers as those who have published at least one but no more than two books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
Applicants’ contributions to the LGBTQ literary field beyond their writings and publications shall also be considered.
The Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing is presented in memory of the celebrated author and long-time SF Chronicle book review editor Patricia Holt and honors LGBTQ Critical Writing on Arts & Literature. The award will go an LGBTQ arts critic or literary reviewer committed to examining queer works of art and culture, as Holt ground-breakingly did for 16 years. This award is made possible by Lesbians for Good, a fund of the Horizons Foundation, and includes a cash prize of $4,000.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- The applicant must identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.
- In addition to a cover letter and CV/resume, applicants must submit three (3) samples illustrative of their critical or review work. Samples must be of work that is published in a publicly available print or online periodical.
Additional Information
This award is for an arts critic or reviewer, not an individual piece of criticism. Applicants’ contributions to the LGBTQ creative field beyond their writings and publications shall also be considered.
The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction, in memory of the celebrated author Randall Kenan, honors Black LGBTQ writers of fiction. The award will go to a Black LGBTQ writer whose fiction explores themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking work. The award includes a cash prize of $3,000.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, the applicant must:
- self-identify as LGBTQ and Black;
- have written and published (self-published or traditionally published) at least one book of fiction that captures the depth and complexity of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history;
- be of demonstrated ability and show promise for continued growth; and
- show meaningful engagement with LGBTQ literary communities.
Additional Information
The applicant's contributions to the LGBTQ literary field beyond their writings and publications will also be considered. For example: reviewing LGBTQ literature, conducting relevant research, participating in LGBTQ literary events, contributing to LGBTQ journals and reviews, membership in online LGBTQ literary forums, etc.
This award is made possible by founding sponsor Cedric Brown, Darnell Moore, and Dr. L. Lamar Wilson.