Lambda Literary Awards book display honors excellence in LGBTQ+ literature

For LGBT History Month, Emory’s Woodruff Library is featuring a book display dedicated to the Lambda Literary Awards, highlighting a selection of distinguished LGBTQ+ literature honored for its impact on the literary world.

Poster showing the covers of 12 books that won a Lambda Literary Award. The poster promotes a display of these books in Emory's Woodruff Library.The display includes a range of works, from novels that tackle memory and desire, poetry that delves into identity, and nonfiction on gender expression, race, and politics, to graphic novels about the queer experience and speculative fiction imagining alternate futures, presents, and pasts. Many of these works are distributed by publishers that Emory Libraries connected with at the Rainbow Book Fair earlier this year.

This display celebrates the power of literature to inspire, educate, and transform, particularly from voices historically underrepresented in the literary canon. We invite you to explore the significance of the Lambda Literary Awards and how these works enrich our collection. Emory Libraries actively collects LGBTQ+ materials, and if you have suggestions or notice missing titles, please use our purchase request form.

Introducing the Lambda Literary Awards

The Lambda Literary Awards, commonly referred to as the “Lammys,” recognize the achievements of LGBTQ+ writers and their contributions to literature. Established in 1989, these awards highlight voices often underrepresented in mainstream literary circles.

Spanning genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, the Lammys honor works that address LGBTQ+ experiences, including themes of identity, love, discrimination, and personal growth. This exhibit underscores the role of storytelling in representation and advocacy, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives that reflect the varied experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.

Our Lambda collection

Emory Libraries offer a diverse collection of Lambda Literary Award-winning books, thoughtfully integrated across genres to reflect the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ experiences. This inclusive approach underscores the shared human experiences within these narratives. From coming out stories to explorations of historical events, our catalog highlights the significant contributions of LGBTQ+ authors to literature.

Patrons can utilize our advanced search filters to specifically search for Lambda Literary Award winners across genres and navigate the Emory Libraries catalog to explore these exceptional works. To locate Lambda Award winners and other LGBTQ+ specific texts, use the following search terms in a keyword or subject search:

Gender and sexuality terms have evolved and proliferated over the last 30 years and locating materials can prove difficult without substantial background knowledge of shifting terminology. Please refer to Emory’s research guides on locating LGBTQ+ materials for more information on navigating the Emory Libraries catalog.

Explore the exhibit in person

You’ll find the Lambda Literary Awards display on the second floor of Woodruff Library, right next to the tower elevators. This book display reminds us of literature’s power to unite, educate, and inspire. The featured books amplify LGBTQ+ voices while fostering understanding and empathy among all readers. By providing a platform for these stories, the library honors the diversity of human experiences and highlights literature’s role in shaping conversations and driving positive change, advancing our journey toward a more inclusive and compassionate world.

You can also help us with making our catalog more inclusive. If you see something in the catalog that seems offensive, harmful, or misrepresented, please let us know via our “Report Harmful or Offensive Language in Emory Library Catalog Entries” form.

—Russ Peterson, head of instruction and engagement, Woodruff Library at Emory University