Sisters in Crime is accepting applications for its inaugural Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers, a $2,000 grant awarded to an up-and-coming writer who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Candidates must apply by March 15, 2021. The winner will be announced in April, 2021. Complete guidelines and the application can be found here.
The award is being established as the legacy project of former Sisters in Crime president Sherry Harris, who said, “Sisters in Crime was founded more than thirty years ago as an advocacy group for women crime writers. When considering my legacy project, I knew I wanted to establish a way for us to build on our traditions of expanding inclusiveness in crime fiction publishing and helping to lift up voices that need to be heard.”
The grant, which has been funded for 2021 by an anonymous donor, is intended for a crime writer beginning their career and will support activities related to career development including workshops, seminars, conferences, retreats, online courses, and research activities required for completion of his, her, or their work. The winner and five runners-up will also be awarded a one-year Sisters in Crime membership and each will receive a critique from an established Sisters in Crime member.
The judges for the inaugural Pride award are Sisters in Crimes members John Copenhaver, Cheryl Head, and Kristen Lepionka, who have all written award-winning LGBTQIA+ crime fiction.
“Representation for queer authors is key within the mystery writing community,” said Copenhaver. “Not too many years ago, gay and lesbian mysteries weren’t even shelved in the mystery section of chain bookstores, but in the ‘Gay and Lesbian section, usually at the back of the store. The award offers individual support for new voices in queer mystery and is a symbolic gesture, reminding the broader reading and writing community of the validity of our perspective and our ability to tell great crime stories.”
Sisters in Crime recognizes that not all LGBTQIA+ community members can be out, and each individual’s privacy is valued. Winners and any runners-up who wish to maintain their anonymity may do so, or they may choose to select a pen name for announcement.
Sisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. It has 4,200 members and more than 60 chapters worldwide.
[Based on a press release. Thanks to Cora Buhlert for the story.]
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I really wish the use of QUILTBAG would catch on. I mean, someday (fingers crossed) we won’t need any label,.but until then, maybe something less imposing than several competing strings of letters would be more inviting. Or has the string of letters assumed the role of a.shibboleth,.separating those who care enough to get it right from those who,.well, don’t. Speaking as an incompetent goober, I can tell you that I do not use the term QUILTBAG dismissively or derisively, but from grateful avail, like a life preserver upon the social ocean.
QUILTBAG is fun and I’m happy to use it, but I actually find it easier to remember what the letters in LGBTQIA+ stand for. Ease of pronunciation vs ease of reading, maybe? Or maybe just a personal preference – I remember when it was just “Lesbian & Gay” and I quite like the sense of expanding on the old narrow categories.
Back in the day, “lesbigay” was my favorite formulation. Though it isn’t inclusive enough for our times, just thinking the term makes me feel lighter.
I like QUILTBAG a lot (I use it on public facebook threads because it tends to cut off the “alphabet soup” complaints) but I’ll use whatever, really, depending on the discussion. Queer’s my favourite umbrella term and it’s also the one I’ll usually use for myself.
ETA But more importantly I’m really pleased to hear of the creation of this! It sounds like a great addition.