Celebrating Gay and Lesbian Writers: National LGBT Pride Month

by | Literary Journals And Magazines | 35 comments

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Deadline: Thursday, February 22nd

Gay and Lesbian Writers

June is LGBT Pride Month, and so we’re here to celebrate LGBT writers and literary magazines.

Writers of the LGBT community have long had a profound impact on literature of all kinds. To commemorate their contributions and Pride Month, here’s our (abbreviated!) list of famous GLBT writers (and/or writers who have expressed attraction toward people of the same gender).

List of Some LGBT Poets And Writers

W. H. Auden (1907–1973), English poet

James Baldwin (1924–1987), African American author, wrote Giovanni’s Room (1956)

Truman Capote (1924–1984), American writer, wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958) and In Cold Blood (1966)

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), American poet

E. M. Forster (1879–1970), English author, wrote Maurice (1972)

Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997), American poet, wrote Howl (1956)

Alan Hollinghurst (b. 1954), English novelist, wrote The Line of Beauty, winner of the 2004 Booker Prize

D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), English author, wrote The Rainbow (1915)

David Sedaris (b. 1956), American author, speaker, comedian

Maurice Sendak (1928–2012), American author and illustrator, wrote Where the Wild Things Are (1963)

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946), American author, wrote The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933)

Alice Walker (b. 1944), African American author, wrote The Color Purple (1982)

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), Anglo-Irish writer, wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)

Jeanette Winterson (b. 1939), wrote Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1985)

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List of Literary Journals And Magazines Dedicated To GLBT Writers

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender writers are fortunate these days because there are a good number of literary journals dedicated to LGBT issues and writings. Here are just a few of the many that are out there (and accepting submissions!):

Assaracus – The only print journal in the world dedicated to poetry of gay men.

Bloom – An active journal that was “founded to support the work of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered writers and artists and to foster the appreciation of queer literature and creation.”

Blithe House Quarterly – An online mag with a tagline that says it all: “queer fiction lives here.”

Chelsea Station – An online magazine devoted to gay literature.

FourTwoNine – A quarterly print magazine and daily website covering art, culture, style, entertainment, and politics with a sophisticated queer edge.

Gay & Lesbian Review – This lively magazine has a broad scope and a strong mission: to “provide a forum for enlightened discussion of issues and ideas of importance to lesbians and gay men; to advance gay and lesbian culture by providing a quality vehicle for its best writers and thinkers; and to educate a broader public on gay and lesbian topics.”

Gertrude – This nonprofit is intent on “showcasing and developing the creative talents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer-identified, and allied individuals.”

Lavender Review – Established in 2010, this literary journal is “an international, biannual e-zine dedicated to poetry and art by, about, and for lesbians, including whatever might appeal to a lesbian readership.”

Mary – An online lit mag whose mission is “to showcase Queer/Gay writings of artistic merit.”

Polari Journal – A journal to showcase emerging, developing, and established writers as a means of bringing readers and writers together in mutually enriching ways. Polari publishes the best writing by and about LGBT persons.

RFD – This unique magazine is “a country journal for gay men everywhere.”

Sinister Wisdom – According to the site, this is “the oldest surviving lesbian literary journal—now celebrating 30 years.”

 

NOTE: We’re using LGBT and GLBT interchangeably and intentionally.

Writer QuestionsQUESTION: Do gay and lesbian characters ever play a role in your writing? Feel free to add to our list of LGBT poets and writers in the comments below.

35 Comments

  1. Bruce

    It’s great to see so many journals dedicated to GLBT issues! And I LOVE this list of writers. David Sedaris is one of my all-time favorite creative nonfiction authors and humorists.

    Reply
  2. Kate

    I haven’t written any GLBT characters yet, but I’m open to writing or reading about them. I’m waving my Pride flag 🙂

    Reply
  3. Babs

    I’ve written GLBT characters into almost all my stories. Not so much by intention, but because they’ve jumped out and proclaimed ‘this is who I am, write me that way!’

    A few characters in the novel I’m currently focusing on are gay or lesbian, including the two protagonists.

    Reply
    • Writers Relief Staff

      Babs, thanks for the comment! It’s good to see you’re enjoying the development of your unique characters so thoroughly.

      Reply
  4. George Akerley

    I began a story last year about a family headed by an oddly-addled father. I originally thought that his teenage daughter would be a “questioning” character, trying to consider if she liked girls. Early this year, I discovered that I needed to elaborate on her character, and it has now developed into an entirely new story revolving around her and her coming-out as lesbian. I’ve not dropped the original idea, but I’m very much focused on her now. It’s fascinating to get into her mind, and it’s also most enjoyable.

    Reply
  5. Jake Richert

    I so appreciate this list. Though I’m well acquainted with the authors listed, your list of literary journals and magazines is a great find! I’m sorry to say that I didn’t know they existed before but it’s perfect for me as I not only look for the perfect audience for my own stories with LGBT main characters but also look for exceptional work to read. Many thanks!

    Reply
  6. george akerley

    Babs, I somehow neglected to tell you how much I liked your comment. It is so beneficial to incorporate LGBT characters, no matter the genre. As you noted, some of them simply jump out! I had no intention of going into detail on the lesbian daughter of my original story’s protagonist; but she forced herself out of my imagination onto the page! And I love it!

    Reply
  7. george akerley

    Jake, I am happy to see your commentary and pleased to see that you regularly have LGBT characters. I’m just getting into my stories, and found that my characters insert themselves before I’ve even fleshed them out!

    Reply
  8. Christopher

    Great list! The best one I’ve seen actually.

    Reply
  9. TJ Askren (@tjaskren)

    Both of my novels, “An American Tale” and “Killian James” contain both gay and lesbian characters.

    Reply
  10. MARIE COLLIGAN

    Even though I am not LGBT, I have featured a (male) gay couple in my novel MARCEL’S GIFT. They are a major part of the sub-plot and impact the life of the main character.

    Reply
  11. veronica Fearon

    My character, Dani in ‘The Girl with the Treasure Chest’ is a lesbian gang negotiator in London

    Reply
  12. Brad Windhauser

    Hello,
    I’m a gay author who often tackles issues important to our community. I recently completed a project where, as a gay author, I read the Bible for the first time and blogged about my experience. My first novel, Regret, is a gay-themed thrilled set in Philadelphia. It’s available on iTunes and Amazon.

    Reply
  13. Lori Carlson

    Wonderful list of LGBT writers and magazines that publish LGBT work. You did leave off two writers. Virginia Woolf and Anne Sexton, the poet, both of whom were noted to be Bisexual.

    I am a bisexual poet and short fiction writer. My poetry at times drips with lesbianism. So far, LGBT issues and characters have not made it into my short fiction. Something I need to remedy!

    Reply
  14. Mary Diane Hausman

    What a great list. Always makes me proud to see these greats showcased and acknowledged for their contribution to literature and to history. And of course there are so many more poets and writers that didn’t get to the fame level as these and are part of our literary history.
    Many of my short stories and poems contains lesbian and gay characters. My collection of poems, A Born-Again Wife’s First Lesbian Kiss is definitely autobiographical!
    Thanks WR for showcasing these greats for Pride Month!

    Reply
  15. Jody Taylor

    Has anyone else read the new booked benefiting The Trevor Project titled, “Reflections of a Desperate Soul”? Just wondering what others thought before I read it.

    Reply
  16. Veleda Turner

    I was asked at the beginning of the year to write some poems for LGBT for greeting cards.I myself am bi sexual and married. I created a logo for my company and would love to submit my work to someone who can help me get it out there. I don’t have familial support with this and I stumbled upon your website looking for the Dandelion Project after watching the documentary. If you have any suggestions, my ears are open.

    Reply
  17. Eric Wilson

    Glad to know that there are these magazines! I have a number of gay-oriented stories and now I know where to send them. Thanks!

    Reply
  18. George M. Akerley

    Veleda, I’m wondering…were you successful in finding help with your project?

    Reply
  19. Andrew Calimach

    All my characters are gay and none of my characters are gay, according to how you want to see them. I restore the Greek myths of male love, have published one collection (“Lovers’ Legends: The Gay Greek Myths”) and I am planning a second edition with three more myths, tentatively titled “School for Love”. You can read one of the newly restored myths at my Academia website.

    Reply
  20. Kirk

    I have a gay-themed short story I’ve just written. As such, I thought it best to send it to a gay-themed literary magazine. I figured there was, like, one, and I’d send it there. Now I find there are many. Do some of these have better reps than others. Should I send the same story to all of them? Anyone know the answer?

    Reply
  21. Mary D. Brooks

    I write a series where the two main characters are lesbians. The first novel is set during World War II in German Occupied Greece.

    The first novel is called “In the Blood of the Greeks” and that is free on my site along with book 2 of the series “Where Shadows Linger”.

    Thank you for the chance to highlight my work and for the links above.

    Mary

    Reply
  22. Sharon Lowry

    I’m currently writing an LGBT novel, a romance where one of the men is HIV positive. I’m aiming for a modern look at HIV, it’s come from spending a few year working in a HIV charity. But being a straight woman I do worry that I may end up making my characters either to stereotypical, or perhaps to feminine or even just too cute. It could be argued that I leave it to people who have lived it but then that’s the whole point about writing, you don’t have to have been to space to write Star Trek. So, all I can do is carry on and see where it takes me.

    Reply
  23. A'Nu

    Eight out of ten times my lead character will be a female who is either a lesbian or bi curious. I have noticed after I have written these stories and have allowed others to read them that I am puzzled as to where to go next. This list was a perfect find for me as I am who I am and write what expels from my heart. I know most people have turned away from those characters, but I have learned a lot of people embrace them as in a way they are a small portion of who they are.

    Reply
  24. Mae

    It is truly a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad
    that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  25. Emery C. Walters

    My books and short stories are exclusively LGBT main characters, mostly YA, coming of age, etc. Surviving trauma and finding your way are my themes. Finding help, not being afraid, and keeping on trying. Your page here could be doing a lot more good for people who stumble across it looking for help, or perhaps it’s just new. There are many more LGBT authors than you can imagine, including the old classics and the new authors who write solely for ebook publication. Being gay, looking for a place to publish, just like being LGBT, is one place you should never give up. You can do it. Keep on trying.

    Reply
  26. Edward Palmore

    I spent almost twenty years in prison in Georgia and consequently wrote every single day. I wrote poem, novel, song lyric and have come up with a melody for many of them. I spoke about relationship between the gangs and gay prisoners. I talked about how long prison sentences have changed behaviors. I addressed the issue of what it is to be tossed out of prison with $25 on a debit card and the clothes on one’s back. Look for my books. I speak about homophobia and injustice. The violations of constitutional rights. All of this from a man who was right there in prison. It wasn’t my imagination, it was my life. I have plenty stories to share within the next year.

    Reply
  27. Cyrus Erel

    What a great list, thank you.
    I want to be a good writer, I want to touch people, I want them to read my words and feel something.
    I was 14 when I came out, 2 days later I was disowned and committed to a mental hospital in Toronto.
    From there I ran away to New York and have been on my own ever since.
    We all have our own stories, we’re all capable of writing something that resonates, the trick is to organize your words in a way that jumps off the page.
    Your list is of great help to me. I appreciate it.
    Regards, Cyrus Erel

    Reply
  28. Michael Clements

    I had four books of poetry published by Publish America at their expense
    but have never had anything [published in the UK wherte I live.Maybe it is different now that LGBT people are no longer lepers.
    Michael Clements

    Reply
  29. Vernon Moyse

    I am an English writer (a gay male in a 50 year relationship) with a series of poetry and fiction books self-published because I am into writing rather than marketing. My web site at http://www.poetrynorfolk.net may give you an idea of my work, but my latest books are available via Amazon, “The Lissome Gay but Mostly Mr Fox”, the non-gay “The Lord Chief Injustice” and a Harry Potter derivative “Muggles Bereaved”. My book of verse “The Mormon Gay” documents my excommunication from that sad anti gay cult because of my support for a gay lifestyle. I am now interested in developing a series of explicitly sexual gay short stories, mainly as an attempt to establish the gay equivalent of the Victorian pillow books which were heterosexual aids to male masturbation. From test publications I know there is a huge demand for such titillating enterprise.

    Reply
  30. Timothy Jay Smith

    I write literary thrillers and mysteries, which are genres still largely uninhabited by gays. I’ve been fortunate to live and work around the world, and through my novels, I endeavor to expand my readers’ understanding of homosexuality in different international settings. In all my novels, the plot turns on something gay, and the way it does is always something that wouldn’t have happened in the same way anywhere else because of the cultural context.

    In most of my work, the protagonists are a gay men. The only exception is The Fourth Courier, in which technically the protagonist is a white straight FBI agent who teams up with a black gay CIA agent, who is the story’s real hero. Nevertheless, Bookstr selected The Fourth Courier as 1 of 5 books to honor Stonewall’s 50th anniversary!

    Reply
  31. Mark John

    I’m a gay author who often tackles issues important to our community. My first book, is a King of Star. It’s available on ryanheller.com

    Reply
  32. Cyrus

    Hi There,
    I was 14 when I came out in 1977. Two days later I was disowned and committed to a mental hospital. My father dropped me off and never spoke to me again. It’s a painful story with a lot of twists and turns and I am ready to tell it, where do you think I should submit a story like mine? Any advice you could give me would be so appreciated because I know nothing about the publishing world, all I know is that I have a compelling story to tell and have no idea what to do with it.

    Reply

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