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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2017

The 2017 Lambda Literary Awards went to The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Health Care by Zena Sharman (Anthology), Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me by Ana Castillo (Bisexual Nonfiction) and Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard (Children’s/Young Adult), with winners in 18 more categories. 143 books were finalists across 23 categories.

Winners

Anthology

  1. The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Health Care by Zena Sharmansource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me by Ana Castillosource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girardsource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

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

Erotica

  1. Soul to Keep by Rebekah Weatherspoonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. The Angel of History by Rabih Alameddinesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. When We Rise by Cleve Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Speakers of the Dead: A Walt Whitman Mystery by J. Aaron Sanderssource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Thief in the Interior by Phillip B. Williamssource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Into the Blue by Pene Hensonsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novel

  1. Wuvable Oaf: Blood & Metal by Ed Lucesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Bennsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. The Wind Is Spirit: The Life, Love and Legacy of Audre Lorde by Gloria Josephsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Complete Works of Pat Parker by Julie R. Enszersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. play dead by francine j. harrissource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. The Scorpion's Empress by Yoshiyuki Lysource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS by David Francesource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. The Devourers by Indra Dassource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Sex Museums: The Politics and Performance of Display by Jennifer Tyburczysource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Small Beauty by jia qing wilson-yangsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Life Beyond My Body: A Transgender Journey to Manhood in China by Lei Mingsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. Reacquainted with Life by Kokumosource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Anthology

  1. ALPHABET: The LGBTQAIU Creators from Prism Comics by Jon Macy and Tara Madison Averysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Building Fires in the Snow: A Collection of Alaska LGBTQ Short Fiction and Poetry by Martha Amore and Lucian Childssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. No Tea, No Shade: New Writings in Black Queer Studies by E. Patrick Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Queer by David J. Getsysource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Beautiful Gravity by Martin Hyattsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mouth to Mouth by Abigail Childsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. When Watched by Leopoldine Coresource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. I Have Devoted My Life to the Clitoris by Elizabeth Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Body's Alphabet by Ann Tweedysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Women in Relationships With Bisexual Men: Bi Men By Women by Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli and Sara Lubowitzsource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Beast by Brie Spanglersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Gravity by Juliann Richsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherlandsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Midnight Star by Marie Lusource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. Freda and Jem's Best of the Week by Lois Finesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Perfect Arrangement by Topher Paynesource (opens in a new tab)

Erotica

  1. Camp Rewind by Meghan O’Briensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Roped In by Marie Sexton and L.A. Wittsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Skyscraper by Scott Alexander Hesssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Steel and Promise by Alexa Blacksource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Black Deutschland by Darryl Pinckneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Hide by Matthew Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jazz Moon by Joe Okonkwosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Moonstone by Sjónsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Cosmopolitans by Sarah Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Rope Swing by Jonathan Corcoransource (opens in a new tab)
  7. What Belongs To You by Garth Greenwellsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Books For Living by Will Schwalbesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boy Erased by Garrard Conleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Capsid: A Love Song by Joseph Osmundsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cursed Legacy: The Tragic Life of Klaus Mann by Frederic Spottssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lust & Wonder by Augusten Burroughssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. One Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin by Michael Schreibersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Proxies by Brian Blanchfieldsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Bitter Legacy by Dal Macleansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Homo Superiors by L. A. Fieldssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Lay Your Sleeping Head by Michael Navasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Nights in Berlin by Janice Lawsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. DIG by Bryan Borlandsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Primer by Aaron Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rapture by Sjohnna McCraysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Halo by C. Dale Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Taxidermist's Cut by Rajiv Mohabirsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Trouble the Water by Derrick Austinsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Adulting 101 by Lisa Henrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Caught Inside by Jamie Deaconsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Country by Jeff Mannsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Femme by Marshall Thorntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pansies by Alexis Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Rank by Richard Compson Satersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Rented Heart by Garrett Leighsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novel

  1. Active Voice The Comic Collection: The Real Life Adventures Of An Asian-American, Lesbian, Feminist, Activist And Her Friends by P. Kristen Enossource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Case of Alan Turing: The Extraordinary and Tragic Story of the Legendary Codebreaker by Eric Liberge and Arnaud Delalande, translated by David Homelsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. A Thin Bright Line by Lucy Jane Bledsoesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bull & Other Stories by Kathy Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pretend I'm Your Friend by MB Caschettasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tears in the Grass by Lynda A. Archersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Day After Death by Lynn C. Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. They May Not Mean To, But They Do by Cathleen Schinesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. A Body, Undone: Living On After Great Pain by Christina Crosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder by Ma-Nee Chacabysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. I'm Just a Person by Tig Notarosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Indomitable: The Life of Barbara Grier by Joanne Passetsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Blood Money Murder by Jessie Chandlersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bury Me When I'm Dead by Cheryl A. Headsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Collide-O-Scope by Andrea Bramhallsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Final Cut by Lynn Amessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pathogen by Jessica L. Webbsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Requiem for Immortals by Lee Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Under Contract by Jennifer L. Jordansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Walk-in by T.L. Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Bestiary by Donika Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Journal of Ugly Sites by Stacy Szymaszeksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Night by Etel Adnansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Swarm Queen's Crown by Stephanie Adams-Santossource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Old Philosopher by Vi Khi Naosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. You're the Most Beautiful Thing That Happened by Arisa Whitesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Coils by Barbara Ann Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Finding Lizzie by Karma Kingsleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Little Lies by Lila Brucesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lost in the Starlight by Kiki Archersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albertsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spanglersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Liberators of Willow Run by Marianne K. Martinsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility and the Duty of Repair by Sarah Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York by Donald Albrecht with Stephen Vidersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ghost Faces: Hollywood and Post-Millennial Masculinity by David Grevensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pride & Joy: Taking the Streets of New York City by Jurek Wajdowiczsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Spill: Scenes of Black Feminist Fugitivity by Alexis Pauline Gumbssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Estrangement Principle by Ariel Goldbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability by Kristen Hogansource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. A Little Queermas Carol by Sassafras Lowreysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All Good Children by Dayna Ingramsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Irish Black by David Lennonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Kissing Booth Girl by A.C. Wisesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lily by Michael Thomas Ford and Staven Andersensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Style of Attack Report by Ras Mashramani, Rasheedah Phillips, Alex Smith and M. Eighteen Téllezsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairstonsource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Asegi Stories: Cherokee Queer and Two Spirit Memory by Qwo-Li Driskillsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Homintern by Gregory Woodssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Indian Blood: HIV and Colonial Trauma in San Francisco's Two-Spirit Community by Andrew J. Jolivettesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Melodrama: An Aesthetics of Impossibility by Jonathan Goldbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Not Straight, Not White: Black Gay Men From The March on Washington to the AIDS Crisis by Kevin Mumfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Out in the Periphery: Latin America's Gay Rights Revolution by Omar G. Encarnaciónsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Queer Clout: Chicago and the Rise of Gay Politics by Timothy Stewart-Wintersource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thomsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russosource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Outside the XY: Black and Brown Queer Masculinity by Morgan Mann Willissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Outspoken: A Decade of Transgender Activism and Trans Feminism by Julia Seranosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Trunky (Transgender Junky): A Memoir by Samuel Petersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. You Only Live Twice: Sex, Death and Transition by Chase Joynt and Mike Hoolbloomsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. Safe Space by Jos Charlessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sympathetic Little Monster by Cameron Awkward-Richsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Romance of Siam: A Pocket Guide by Jai Arun Ravinesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. even this page is white by Vivek Shrayasource (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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