The Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in February 2004 as a literary and educational organization for the study, discussion, enjoyment, and enhancement of lesbian literature. The GCLS membership includes publishers, distributors, authors, and readers of lesbian fiction. An all-volunteer effort, GCLS is open to all individuals who are interested in enjoying, discussing, promoting and enhancing the future of lesbian literature.[1] In 2011 (and retroactive to 2007), the GCLS attained federal nonprofit status.
Contents |
In 2004, five women became the founding members of the GCLS: Carrie Carr, C. LeNoir, Lori L. Lake, Radclyffe, and Kathy L. Smith. The current Board of Directors list is available at the organization web site [1].
The GCLS has participated in a number of charitable functions. In response to Hurricane Katrina, which took place just after the organization's first conference in New Orleans, members of the organization raised thousands of dollars in direct aid to lesbians affected by the disaster. Books and other materials have often been donated to charities (such as GLBT libraries).
In 2005, the organization held the first conference where lesbian writers, teachers, and speakers joined readers, fans, publishers, and others to document lesbian literary history,[2] award "Goldies" to top finalists in the book awards categories, and share needed information about writing craft and technique in multiple workshops. Fundraising efforts began in 2006 to support scholarships, a Mentoring Program was added in 2007,[3] and in 2008, seventeen scholarships were awarded to enable more individuals to attend.
Conference attendees cite the event as a crucial social and professional link, important to maintaining a strong lesbian literary field. Since 2005, the Society has awarded a "Trailblazer Award" to a lesbian writer for lifetime achievement, in recognition of the contributions she has made to the field of lesbian literature.
Conferences have been held in:
GCLS promotes lesbian fiction through the "Goldie Awards",[6] a yearly awards program with the awards bestowed at the yearly conference. Since their inception, the awards categories have expanded from four novel categories in 2005 to twelve broader categories in 2008, recognizing novels, short story collections, erotica, and anthologies. Eight finalists can be shortlisted in each of the categories with a maximum of three equal winners named in each category. In recent years, more than 130 titles from more than a three dozen publishers (such as Alyson, Bella Books, Bold Strokes Books, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Copper Canyon Press, Farrar Straus Giroux, Haworth, Regal Crest Enterprises, Spinsters Ink, and St. Martin's Press) were nominated for consideration.
Winners of all awards over the years can be found at the Golden Crown Literary Awards website: www.goldencrown.org.
In addition to the regular book awards, there are three special awards given: