A list of literary awards for LGBTQ literature and books with queer content. This page uses the following acronyms, all of which may be considered synonymous:
LGBT: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender LGBT+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer identities LGBTQ: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer / questioning LGBTQIA: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/ questioning, intersex, asexual
Awards
SponsorAward / CategoryAwarded to Years activeThe Alice B Readers Appreciation CommitteeThe Alice B Readers AwardFor living writers who have consistently produced well-written stories and novels about lesbians.2004–presentAmerican Library Association's Rainbow Round TableOver the Rainbow Book ListBooks for adult readers with "commendable literary quality and significant, authentic [LGBTQIA+)] content"2011–presentRainbow Book ListBooks celebrating LGBTQIA+ youth and families, for readers from birth to age 182008–presentStonewall Book Award (SBA)Books of exceptional merit relating to the LGBTQIA+ experience. Split into further awards in 1990 and 2010.1971–presentSBA - Barbara Gittings Literature AwardStonewall Book Award, literature category1990–presentSBA - Israel Fishman Non-Fiction AwardStonewall Book Award, non-fiction categorySBA - Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature AwardStonewall Book Award, children and young adult literature category2010–presentAssociation for Queer AnthropologyRuth Benedict PrizeFor anthropology books about LGBTQ topics1986–presentBi Writers AssociationBisexual Book AwardsBest works of literature addressing themes of bisexuality2013–presentBlue MetropolisBlue Metropolis Violet PrizeEstablished LGBTQ writer to honour their body of work2018–presentDwijen Dinanath Arts Foundation's Rainbow AwardsFiction of the YearNovels, graphic novels or collections of short stories authored by a single author that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities.2023–presentNon-fiction of the YearMemoirs, biographies, history or other non-fictional works that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities.Feature of the YearFeature story that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities.Op-Ed of the YearAn op-ed piece that is an "exemplary" affirmative work on the lives of sexual and gender minorities.Lifetime Achievement AwardProfound contributions to the queer literary world. Gaylactic Spectrum Awards FoundationBest novelScience fiction, fantasy, and horror works that explore LGBT topics in a positive way. Split into categories for novels, short fiction, and other texts.1999–presentBest short fictionBest other workGlamour Prix République du GlamourFrench novels with lesbian contentGolden Crown Literary Society's Goldie AwardsAnn Bannon AwardBook selected as a favorite among Golden Crown Literary Society members2007–presentContemporary RomanceModern novel with a focus on a lesbian relationship: split into categories for short, mid-length, and long novels.
Formerly "Romance / Erotic Love Stories," established in 2005, then "Romance" in 2007Debut AuthorsDebut novel with lesbian content2006–presentDirectors AwardGolden Crown Literary Society member for contribution to the SocietyErotic NovelsNovel with a "high level of sexual content" between women
Formally "Romance / Erotic Love Stories," established in 20052007–presentFiction Anthology/CollectionsAnthologies with significant lesbian contentGeneral FictionNovel with lesbian content that is not the main focus of the book
Formally "Dramatic / General Fiction," established in 20072007–presentHistorical FictionNovel set at least 25 years in the past with lesbian content that is not the main focus of the bookHumorous NovelsComedic novels with lesbian contentMystery/Thriller/CrimeMystery, thriller, or crime novel with lesbian content2005–presentNew Adult FictionNovels with lesbian content whose target audience is people aged 19–29NonfictionNonfiction works with lesbian contentParanormal/Occult/HorrorNovels with paranormal, occult, or horror elements as part of the main plot that also include lesbian contentPoetryPoetry with lesbian contentRomantic BlendNovels with two main focuses, one of which is a lesbian relationshipScience Fiction/FantasyScience fiction or fantasy novels with lesbian content2005–presentShort Story/Essay Collections2007-Speculative Fiction2007-Young AdultYoung adult novels with lesbian contentThe Lee Lynch Classic Book AwardClassic books with lesbian content Tee Corinne Award for Outstanding Cover DesignBook with a cover selected as a favourite among Golden Crown Literary Society membersTrailblazer AwardWriter in recognition of their lifetime achievement and contributions to lesbian literature2005–presentJapanese Association for Gender, Fantasy & Science FictionSense of Gender AwardsScience fiction or fantasy fiction that best explores and deepens the concept of gender2001–presentGreen Carnation Committee in association with FoylesGreen Carnation PrizeBooks by LGBTQ writers in the UK.2014-2017Lambda Literary Foundation's Lambda Literary AwardsJ. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50Authors who identify as LGBTQ who published their first book after the age of 50Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer NonfictionNonfiction authors who identify as lesbian or queer or who are transgender or gender non-conformingJim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist PrizeAuthors who identify as LGBTQ and have published multiple well-received novels, seeming likely to publish moreJudith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ WritersWriters who identify as LGBTQ and have published one or two books, showing promise for their future writing careersAIDS LiteratureTexts with HIV/AIDS content(discontinued)AnthologyAnthologies with LGBT+ content. Previously divided into categories for anthologies about various LGBT identities.Arts and Culture(discontinued)Belles LettresWorks of Belles-lettres(discontinued)Children's or Young Adult LiteratureChildren's and young adult texts with LGBT+ contentDebut FictionDebut fictional texts with LGBT+ content. Previously was divided into gay and lesbian debut fiction categories.(discontinued)DramaDrama with LGBT+ contentEditor's Choice(discontinued)Fiction
Bisexual Fiction Gay Fiction Lesbian Fiction Transgender FictionFictional texts with LGBT+ content, often divided into categories based on identity.Graphic NovelGraphic novels with LGBT+ contentHumorHumorous texts with LGBT+ content(discontinued)Memoir or Biography
Gay Memoir/Biography Lesbian Memoir/BiographyMemoirs or biographies with LGBT+ contentMystery Gay Mystery Lesbian MysteryMystery texts with LGBT+ contentNonfictionNonfiction texts with LGBT+ content, sometimes split into categories based on identityPoetry Gay Poetry Lesbian PoetryPoetry with LGBT+ content, sometimes split into categories based on identity.Romance & Erotica Gay Romance Lesbian RomanceWorks of romance and erotica with LGBTQ+ content, sometimes divided into separate categories based on romance, erotica, or specific LGBTQ identitiesLGBTQ+ StudiesAcademic texts with LGBTQ+ content, sometimes split into categories by identityPhotography/Visual ArtsPhotography and visual art works with LGBT+ content(discontinued)Speculative FictionScience fiction, fantasy, or horror texts with LGBTQ+ content. Sometimes split into categories based on gay or lesbian identity. Transgender LiteratureWorks with transgender contentRandall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ FictionBlack LGBTQ fiction writersTrustee AwardIndividuals who have broken new ground in the field of LGBTQ literature, publishing, filmmaking, journalism, playwriting, etc.Visionary AwardIndividuals who have broken new ground in the field of LGBTQ literature and publishing.Lesfic Bard Awards, LLCLesfic Bard AwardsAwards for lesbian writers. A triple-blind judging process is used to determine finalists and winners.2018–presentOtherwise AwardOtherwise Award (formerly The James Tiptree Jr. Award)Works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore one's understanding of gender. Awarded yearly at WisCon. 1991–presentPolari SalonPolari Children's and YA PrizeBooks on LGBTQ+ themes by authors from the UK and Ireland.2022–Polari First Book Prize2011–Polari Book Prize2019–Publishing TriangleAudre Lorde AwardLesbian poetryBetty Berzon Award for Emerging Writers Early career achievement of an LGBT+ writerBill Whitehead AwardLifetime achievement by writers within the LGBT communityEdmund White AwardDebut novels by writers within the LGBT communityFerro-Grumley AwardFiction with LGBT contentJudy Grahn AwardWorks of non-fiction of relevance to the lesbian communityLeslie Feinberg AwardWorks of literature on transgender themesRandy Shilts AwardWorks of non-fiction of relevance to the gay communityRobert Chesley AwardWorks by playwrights in the LGBT communityThom Gunn AwardWorks of gay male poetryWriters' Trust of CanadaDayne Ogilvie PrizeEmerging LGBT+ Canadian writer
See also List of American Library Association awards Lambda Literary Awards List of LGBTQ-related awards
References