Lambda Rising

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Lambda Rising is the oldest LGBT bookstore in Washington, D.C., and has long been recognized as one of the world's leading LGBT bookstores. Started in 1974 with 250 titles, it is now known for its wide selection, ranging from queer theory and religion to erotica, as well as DVDs, music CDs and gifts.

In 1975, Lambda Rising ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial. It aired on Channels 4 and 9 in the Washington DC market (the NBC and CBS outlets) in February of that year. Also in 1975, Lambda Rising organized the first annual Gay Pride Celebration held in Washington DC, and continued to host the event for the next 4 years before turning it over to a non-profit organization.

To support LGBT literature, Lambda Rising created the Lambda Book Report in 1987 and the Lambda Literary Award in 1989. In 1996, Lambda Rising helped form the Lambda Literary Foundation to take over both of those tasks.

The main location is on Connecticut Avenue in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It also has locations in Baltimore, Maryland; Norfolk, Virginia; and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

In February 2003, Lambda Rising bought the Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the world's first gay and lesbian bookstore, and saved it from closing. The Oscar Wilde Bookshop, founded in 1967, is located at the corner of Christopher and Gay streets in Manhattan. After working with the New York staff for 3 years and getting the store on solid financial footing, Lambda Rising sold the store to the long-time manager in order to return the store to New York control.