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LGBTQ Resources: Book Awards and Reading Lists

Resources and information for LGBTQ+ individuals, family members, and allies.

LGBTQ Book Awards

  • The Stonewall Book Awards honors books with prominent LGBTQ+ themes. Sponsored by the American Library Association's Rainbow Round Table, this award has been granted annually in January since 1971. 

  • The Lambda Literary Awards champions LGBTQ authors and books. Founded in 1989, the Lammy's exist to bring visibility to LGBTQ+ literature. Each year, the Lambda Literary Awards celebrate LGBTQ+ writers in 25 literary categories.

  • The Publishing Triangle Awards recognize LGBTQ+ authors and texts. Presented by The Publishing Triangle, the association of LGBTQ people in publishing, these annual awards span genres, age level, and identities.

  • The Dayne Ogilvie Prize is awarded to emerging Canadian LGBTQ+ authors who publish a debut novel in any genre. Established in 2007, the award serves to recognize excellent LGBTQ+ writers in Canada.

  • The Goldies are an annual award celebrating excellence in fiction about lesbians. Founded in 2005, the Golden Crown Literary Awards are presented in 19 categories.

  • The Alice B. Awards serve to reward writers of high-quality fiction about lesbians. Founded in 2004, Alice B Medals are given annually to authors who have written at least five books over their lifetime. 

  • The Otherwise Award  is a donation-based prize recognizing sci-fi, fantasy, or speculative fiction that explores and challenges concepts of gender, with trans-inclusive and intersectional works particularly recognized. 

LGBTQ Reading Lists From Around the Web

  • The National Education Association recommends several LGBTQ+ titles for schools. 

  • Over The Rainbow Books features a list of titles with noteworthy literary content and LGBTQIA+ topics, characters, and themes.  This list of titles is organized by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association.  

  • PFLAG's Recommended Reading for Coming Out includes titles who may help individuals navigate the coming-out process. 

  • The Stonewall Book List features LGBTQ-inclusive books for youth and teens. Their website has booklists for young people aged: 2-4, 5-7, 8-11, 12-14, and 15+. 

  • Social Justice Books recommends all-ages books about gender diversity. You can see their reading suggestions on their website.