Badpuppy Gay Today

Thursday, 20 March, 1997

The 1997 Lambda Literary Awards, recognizing excellence in gay and lesbian writing and in publishing, promises to be another gay-le affair. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the well-known review magazine, Lambda Book Report, the banquet's emcee will be HBO comic, Bob Smith, who is also an author with a new collection of comic essays titled Growing Up Gay, to be published in the fall.

Rob Weisbach Books (an imprint of William Morrow) and Smith's publisher, is helping to underwrite costs, though other sponsors, yet to be announced, are expected to be contributors to the undertaking. The Lambda Book Report began the new year (1997) with additions to its editorial staff but, significantly, without its longtime financial ties to Lambda Rising, a major gay and lesbian book chain with stores in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, Norfolk, Virginia, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The magazine is now published by the Lambda Literary Foundation, at new offices at 1773 T Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009.

Twenty-eight books about transgendered subjects were considered a trend by The Lambda Book Report, and hence worthy of the making of a new category. True-life cultural and racial differences find room in this category for everything from studies of black transgendered prostitutes (Miss Thang) to scholarly historic evidences of worldwide transgendered pasts (Gender Shock).

"The 'Lammy's' have always tried to reflect trends in gay and lesbian publishing," said Jim Marks, publisher of the Lambda Book Report, a man who has responsibly executed a decade of successful soirees where booksellers, writers, agents, and publishers mingle.

The Lambda Literary Awards have been hosted in all parts of the nation. It is one of the few events wherein an unusually large gay reading public looks forward to exchanging thoughts with authors they admire. These award ceremonies are also a place where sometimes progressive ideas show their promise.

Among the more standard categories in which certain authors win special recognition are Gay and Lesbian Biography; Gay Men's Poetry; Lesbian Poetry; Gay Men's Fiction; Lesbian Fiction; Gay Men's Mystery; Lesbian Mystery; Gay Men's Studies and Lesbian Studies.

The awards banquet is being held on the eve of Book Expo America, formerly the American Booksellers Association Convention. Aspiring authors and accomplished writers will be on hand at both events.

For tickets or for further information, publisher Jim Marks can be e-mailed at LBREditor@aol.com