New York, NY - The winners of the 28th Annual Lambda Literary Awards ( the "Lammys" ) were announced last night in a gala ceremony hosted by comedienne Kate Clinton at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The Lambda ceremony brought together over 500 attendees, sponsors, and celebrities to celebrate excellence in LGBT literature and 28 years of the groundbreaking literary awards. The celebration continued at Le Poisson Rouge at the Official After-Party with celebrity DJs Sammy Jo and Tikka Masala, VJ Bleue Liverpool and an electrifying performance by Macy Rodman.
As master of ceremonies, Clinton once again took the stage, saying, "Welcome to the Skirball Center, our new home!" as she began her fifth consecutive year as host. "Thank you careful and constant readers," she said. "It's like Words With Friends in real life," and continued, "Reading takes me away."
Broadway star and Style Rookie editor Tavi Gevinson said, "This is an amazing event," as she introduced Hilton Als, New Yorker writer and author of the award winning, White Girls, who received the Trustee Award for Excellence in Literature. She continued, "Thank you for everything you've gotten us readers to think about and feel through your writing. I am in awe of you." Hilton, in his acceptance, said, "Powerful feelings rise up in me as I stand before you. Other people are my art."
Native poet Natalie Diaz introduced the celebrated poet Eileen Myles, who received Lambda's Pioneer Award. "It amazes me that it has taken this long for the country and arts to recognize what I have known all along. That Eileen is amazing. She made a space for us." Eileen, in accepting, said "I go forward with confidence."
In the gay poetry category, the winners were Crevasse by Nicholas Wong andReconnaissance by Carl Phillips. "I would encourage you to start reading Asian poets," said Wong.
"Throughout tonight's ceremony we were reminded of the impact that LGBT literature has on people's lives," said Tony Valenzuela, Lambda Literary Executive Director. "Congratulations to all the winners and honorees."
Clinton summed up the event saying, "Never have the Lambda Literary Awards ever sounded so much like the People's Choice Awards."
As always, the stage sparkled with a glittering roster of presenters from the worlds of film, television, theatre, politics, music, and, of course, literature. Just some of the presenters who graced the stage were: Richard Blanco, Kate Bornstein, Natalie Diaz, Tim Federle, Tavi Gevinson, Silas Howard, Paul Rudnick, Ira Sachs, Rakesh Satyal and Pamela Sneed.
28th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners
Lesbian Fiction
Under the Udala Trees, Chinelo Okparanta, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Gay Fiction
God in Pink, Hasan Namir, Arsenal Pulp Press
Bisexual Fiction
The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, Anna North, Penguin Random House / Blue Rider Press
Bisexual Nonfiction
Irrepressible: The Jazz Age Life of Henrietta Bingham, Emily Bingham, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Transgender Fiction
Tiny Pieces of Skull, or a Lesson in Manners, Roz Kaveney, Team Angelica Publishing
LGBT Debut Fiction
A Love Like Blood, Victor Yates, Hillmont Press
LGBT Nonfiction
"No One Helped": Kitty Genovese, New York City, and the Myth of Urban Apathy, Marcia M. Gallo, Cornell University Press
Transgender Nonfiction
Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice for Cultural Competency, Willy Wilkinson, Hapa Papa Press
Lesbian Poetry
Life in a Box is a Pretty Life, Dawn Lundy Martin, Nightboat Press
Gay Poetry ( TIE )
Crevasse, Nicholas Wong, Kaya Press
Reconnaissance, Carl Phillips, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Transgender Poetry
succubus in my pocket, kari edwards, EOAGH Books
Lesbian Mystery ( TIE )
Ordinary Mayhem, Victoria Brownworth, Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Tarnished Gold, Ann Aptaker, Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Gay Mystery
Boystown 7: Bloodlines, Marshall Thornton, Kenmore Books
Lesbian Memoir/Biography
Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, Kate Carroll de Gutes, Ovenbird Books
Gay Memoir/Biography
James Merrill: Life and Art, Langdon Hammer, Alfred A. Knopf
Lesbian Romance
Making A Comeback, Julie Blair, Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Gay Romance
When Skies Have Fallen, Debbie McGowan, Beaten Track
Lesbian Erotica
The Muse, Meghan O'Brien, Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Gay Erotica
Erotiques Suprèmes, Miodrag Kojadinovic, Choose the Sword Press
LGBT Anthology - Fiction
Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology, Sfé R. Monster ( Editor ) & Taneka Stotts ( Assistant Editor ), Beyond Press
LGBT Anthology - Nonfiction
Glitter and Grit: Queer Performance from the Heels on Wheels Femme Galaxy, Edited by Damien Luxe, Heather M. Acs, Sabina Ibarrola, Publication Studio
LGBT Children's/Young Adult
George, Alex Gino, Scholastic Press
LGBT Drama
Bright Half Life, Tanya Barfield, Dramatists Play Service
LGBT Graphic Novels
The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ & Amal, EK Weaver, Iron Circus Comics
LGBT SF/F/Horror
The Gracekeepers, Kirsty Logan, Crown Publishers
LGBT Studies
A Taste for Brown Bodies: Gay Modernity and Cosmopolitan Desire, Hiram Pérez, NYU Press
