Lambda Literary Awards 2008: Complete list of winners

The 2008 Lambda Literary Awards showcased some of the most compelling storytelling in LGBTQ+ literature that year, with winners spanning multiple genres and identities within the community. The Lambda Literary Awards, often called the “Lambdas” by devoted followers, serve as one of the most prestigious honors for LGBTQ+ writers, recognizing excellence across fiction, memoir, poetry, and essays. This year’s crop of winners reflected the diversity of queer voices—from André Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name, which captured hearts with its lush exploration of same-sex desire, to Kevin Sessums’s Mississippi Sissy, a searing memoir of Southern identity and self-discovery that resonated deeply with readers seeking authentic queer narratives.

What made 2008’s Lambda Literary Awards particularly noteworthy was the range of experiences represented across the winners. Brent Hartinger’s Split Screen earned recognition for its nuanced depiction of bisexual identity, while Ali Liebegott’s The IHOP Papers brought experimental, witty energy to lesbian fiction. Nicola Griffith’s And Now We Are Going to Have a Party continued her acclaimed memoir writing, and Cris Beam’s Transparent pushed boundaries in transgender representation through fiction. Together, these award winners demonstrated the Lambda Literary Awards’ commitment to honoring not just quality writing, but the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ lived experience.

Below, you’ll find the complete list of 2008 Lambda Literary Award winners across their respective categories.

Bisexual Literature

• Split Screen by Brent Hartinger

Gay Fiction

• Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

Gay Memoir/Biography

• Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums

Lesbian Fiction

• The IHOP Papers by Ali Liebegott

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

• And Now We Are Going to Have a Party by Nicola Griffith

Transgender Fiction

• Transparent by Cris Beam