jaye simpson has been named a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Awards in the Transgender Poetry category for her collection a body more tolerable (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2025). The recognition places simpson among leading LGBTQ+ writers whose work reflects the diversity and complexity of queer and trans experiences.

Presented annually by Lambda Literary, the awards—now in their 38th year—celebrate excellence in LGBTQ+ literature across 26 categories. This year’s cycle saw a record number of submissions, underscoring the continued growth and visibility of queer storytelling in publishing. The Lambda Literary Awards (fondly known as the Lammys) were created in 1989 to garner national visibility for LGBTQ books, which had established a foothold through a nascent network of lesbian and gay publishers and bookstores.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 12 at Sony Hall in New York City.

simpson’s collection brings together poetry that blends mythology, fairy tale and lived experience to explore Indigenous grief, trans identity and resistance. Structured in three parts, the work moves through themes of destruction and re-creation, challenging conventional narratives of the body while asserting a self-defined voice.

Through visceral imagery and lyrical intensity, a body more tolerable contributes to a broader conversation about identity, colonialism, and transformation—marking simpson as a significant voice within contemporary poetry.