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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2020

The 2020 Lambda Literary Awards went to Exquisite Mariposa by Fiona Alison Duncan (Bisexual Fiction), Socialist Realism by Trisha Low (Bisexual Nonfiction) and Pet Sounds by Stephanie Young (Bisexual Poetry), with winners in 21 more categories. 163 books were finalists across 24 categories.

Winners

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Exquisite Mariposa by Fiona Alison Duncansource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Socialist Realism by Trisha Lowsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. Pet Sounds by Stephanie Youngsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Lot by Bryan Washingtonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Carved in Bone: A Henry Rios Novel by Michael Navasource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. SLINGSHOT by Cyrée Jarelle Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Joseph Chapman: My Molly Life by James Lovejoysource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Anthology

  1. A Rainbow Thread: An Anthology of Queer Jewish Texts from the First Century to 1969 by Noam Siennasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Love WITH Accountability: Digging up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse by Aishah Shahidahsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult

  1. Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelowsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasantesource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Drama

  1. A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Erotica

  1. Whore Foods by LA Warmansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Graphic Novels

  1. Cannonball by Kelsey Wrotensource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Nonfiction

  1. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machadosource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ SF/F/Horror

  1. The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipessource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Studies

  1. All Our Trials: Prisons, Policing, and the Feminist Fight to End Violence by Emily L. Thumasource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Bennsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habibsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Galileo by Ann McMansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. & more black by t'ai freedom fordsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Aurora's Angel: A Dark Fantasy Romance by Emily Noonsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Jane Plantesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. We Both Laughed in Pleasure: The Selected Diaries of Lou Sullivan by Ellis Martin and Zach Ozmasource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. HULL by Xandria Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Big Familia by Tomas Monizsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jude by Garrett Leighsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Just Pervs by Jess Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Man Who Saw Everything by Deborah Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Not Wives by Carley Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated by Sophie Hughessource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. A World Without Martha: A Memoir of Sisters, Disability, and Difference by Victoria Freemansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. IMPERVIOUS: Confessions of a Semi-Retired Deviant by Janet W. Hardysource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. A Sand Book by Ariana Reinessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Build Yourself a Boat by Camonghne Felixsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. HoodWitch by Faylita Hickssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Moira of Edges, Moira the Tart by Moina Pam Dicksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. ROMANS/SNOWMARE by Cam Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Revenge of the Asian Woman by Dorothy Chansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. water/tongue by mai c. doansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Animalia by Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, translated by Frank Wynnesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. In West Mills by De'Shawn Charles Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Like This Afternoon Forever by Jaime Manriquesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lord by João Gilberto Noll, translated by Edgar Garbelottosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Murmur by Will Eavessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuongsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Archive of Alternate Endings by Lindsey Dragersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. DISASTERAMA! Adventures in the Queer Underworld 1977-1997 by Alvin Orloffsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I.M. by Isaac Mizrahisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. In the Shadow of the Bridge by Joseph Caldwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Indefinite Sentence: A Personal History of Outlawed Love and Sex by Siddharth Dubesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Jimmy Neurosis by James Oselandsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Amphitheater of the Dead by Guy Hocquenghem, translated by Max Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Light Years by Chris Rushsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. ChoirMaster: A Mister Puss Mystery by Michael Craftsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Death Takes a Bow by David S. Pedersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rewind by Marshall Thorntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Royal Street Reveillon by Greg Herrensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Fourth Courier by Timothy Jay Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Nowhere by Chris Gillsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Quaker by Liam McIlvanneysource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Doomstead Days by Brian Tearesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers by Jake Skeetssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Losing Miami by Gabriel Ojeda-Saguésource (opens in a new tab)
  4. NDN Coping Mechanisms: Notes from the Field by Billy-Ray Belcourtsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Experiment of the Tropics by Lawrence Lacambra Ypilsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Revisionist & The Astropastorals by Douglas Crasesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Tradition by Jericho Brownsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Best Man by Chris Delyanisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blue Umbrella Sky by Rick R. Reedsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Code Name: Liberty by Marshall Thorntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Digging Deep by Jay Hogansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Escaping Camp Roosevelt by Bryan T. Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leighsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. My Baby Chased Away the Blues by R.A. Thornsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Anthology

  1. Foglifter Volume 4 Issue 2 by Luiza Flynn-Goodlettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. HUstling Verse: An Anthology of Sex Workers' Poetry by Amber Dawn and Justin Ducharmesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. LGBTQ Fiction and Poetry from Appalachia by Jeff Mann and Julia Wattssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity by Micah Rajunov and Scott Duanesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The BreakBeat Poets Volume 3: Halal if You Hear Me by Fatimah Asghar and Safia Elhillosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Heart of the Matter: The Gerald Kraak Anthology Volume III by The Other Foundationsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult

  1. All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Hurricane Season by Nicole Mellebysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pet by Akwaeke Emezisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pride Colors by Robin Stevensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Wilder Girls by Rory Powersource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Drama

  1. Dr. Ride's American Beach House by Liza Birkenmeiersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Amateurs by Jordan Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Erotica

  1. Lord of the Senses by Vikram Kolmannskogsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lot's Wife: An Erotic Novella by Rosalind Chasesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Texas Crude by Thomas Kearnessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Shape of the Earth by Gary Garth McCannsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Graphic Novels

  1. Are You Listening? by Tillie Waldensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Death Threat by Vivek Shrayasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Is This How You See Me? by Jaime Hernandezsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Nonfiction

  1. A Year Without a Name by Grace Dunhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bloodflowers: Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Photography, and the 1980s by W. Ian Bourlandsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dying to Be Normal: Gay Martyrs and the Transformation of American Sexual Politics by Brett Krutzschsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women by E. Patrick Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Bodies of Others: Drag Dances and Their Afterlives by Selby Wynn Schwartzsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History by Hugh Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Why Karen Carpenter Matters by Karen Tongsonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ SF/F/Horror

  1. A Spectral Hue by Craig Laurance Gidneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. False Bingo by Jac Jemcsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Stories to Sing in the Dark by Matthew Brightsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Rampant by Julie C. Daysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Wake, Siren by Nina MacLaughlinsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ Studies

  1. Archiving an Epidemic: Art, AIDS, and the Queer Chicanx Avant-Garde by Robb Hernándezsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beside You in Time: Sense Methods and Queer Sociabilities in the American Nineteenth Century by Elizabeth Freemansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Queer Times, Black Futures by Kara Keelingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Queering Black Atlantic Religions: Transcorporeality in Candomblé by Santería, Vodou and Roberto Strongmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Reading Sideways: The Queer Politics of Art in Modern American Fiction by Dana Seitlersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Scorpio Rising: A Queer Film Classic by R.L. Caglesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Trans Exploits: Trans of Color Cultures and Technologies in Movement by Jian Neo Chensource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. A Generous Spirit: Selected Work by Beth Brant by Janice Gouldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramaniansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Cantoras by Caroline De Robertissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. On Swift Horses by Shannon Pufahlsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Stay and Fight by Madeline ffitchsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. A Wild and Previous Life by Edie Windor with Joshua Lyonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Maddensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Motherland: A Memoir of Love, Loathing, and Longing by Elissa Altmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díazsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Mosersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Rib Joint: A Memoir In Essays by Julia Koetssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimiate Histories of Social Upheaval by Saidiya Hartmansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. The Blood Runs Cold by Catherine Maiorisisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Hound of Justice by Claire O'Dellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Mirror of Muraro by Amelia Ellissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Twisted at the Root: A Jane Lawless Mystery by Ellen Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. (the other house) by Rocío Carlossource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Odes to Lithium by Shira Erlichmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pressure Cooker Love Bomb by Sharanpal Rupraisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Soft Science by Franny Choisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Time by Sarah Riggssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Without Protection by Gala Mukomolovasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. tsunami vs. the fukushima 50 by Lee Ann Roripaughsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Create a Life to Love by Erin Zaksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pretending in Paradise by M. Ullrichsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Tennessee Whiskey by Donna K. Fordsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Roommate Arrangement by Jaesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Secret Chord by Virginia Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Top of Her Game by M. Ullrichsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Honey Walls by Bones McKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Poet, Prophet, Fox: The Tale of Sinnach the Seer by M.Z. McDonnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Beatrix Gates by Rachel Pollacksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takácssource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Samantha Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Theorizing Transgender Identity for Clinical Practice: A New Model for Understanding Gender by S.J. Langersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through by T Fleischmannsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. Dispatch by Cameron Awkward-Richsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. EXTRATRANSMISSION by Andrea Abi-Karamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Our Weather Our Sea by Samuel Acesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Year of Blue Water by Yanyisource (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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