Following the annual BookExpo [6] industry trade show, to take place at the Javits Convention Center in New York City from May 29-31, 2019, booksellers who are in New York City also have the opportunity to attend the 31st annual Lambda Literary Awards [7] ceremony, on Monday, June 3.

Each year, the Lambda Literary Awards, or “Lammys,” convene over 500 writers, celebrities, and members of the publishing industry to celebrate queer literary excellence. This year, a panel of 60 literary professionals reviewed a record number of submissions from over 30 publishers. Lambda Literary Award submissions are judged principally on literary merit and content relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer lives.

In addition to awarding Lammys to books in 24 categories, Alexander Chee, Masha Gessen, and Barbara Smith will receive special honors [8], to be presented by Anthony Rapp, Lydia Polgreen, and Cheryl Clark. This year, Chee will receive the 2019 Trustee Award, Gessen will recieve the Visionary Award, and Smith will receive the Publishing Professional Award.

Additional special guests at this year’s awards, to be hosted by Mx. Justin Vivian Bond at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts at 7:00 p.m., will include Garrard Conley, Cole Escola, Kenyon Farrow, Melissa Febos, Tyler Ford, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Marlon James, Karla Jay, Torrey Peters, and others to be announced. 

Booksellers can purchase their tickets on the Lambda Literary website [9]. General admission ($150) includes admission to the ceremony and after-party at Le Poisson Rouge, which features an open bar, and the VIP ticket ($250) includes a catered cocktail reception and priority access to the ceremony and after-party, although space is limited.