Lambda’s Values Statement
Author: Lambda Literary
March 15, 2024
Lambda Literary would like to open this statement with an apology for our silence during a time of terrorism and genocide. We acknowledge that as an organization, we arrived late to this moment. The lack of clarity on who we are internally resulted in an abdication of the responsibility we have to our community members whose lives, families, and art have been impacted by violence. We own this breach of trust and understand that it cannot be mended within our organization or communities without acknowledging that we have caused others to feel unheard or excluded.
We join other institutions in demanding a permanent ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages, and an end to Israeli apartheid. We demand Israel cease its obstruction of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And we demand that those who participate in these atrocities be held accountable under international laws and those of the lands in which they reside.
Since its inception, Lambda has championed underrepresented LGBTQ+ voices by nurturing and advocating for LGBTQ+ writers and their readers. Our mission is rooted in the belief that elevating these voices creates a stronger, more pluralistic world and affirms the value of our diverse stories and lives. We recognize the value and intersectionality of each LGBTQ+ person’s life, and our struggle for liberation is intertwined with broader movements for full equality. We believe that people and communities with different identities coexisting peacefully and equitably is essential to every person’s self-actualization and liberation. For this reason, we stand in solidarity against genocide, white supremacy, and systems of oppression. We also stand with the region’s oppressed LGBTQ+ communities and call for an end to homophobia and transphobia.
After the Hamas attack on the 7th of October and the deaths of over 1,139 people in Israel, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza. These figures do not include those missing, injured, or held hostage. Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced and now face death from disease or starvation. We are witness to the attempted annihilation of a people and their cultures, as Israel’s ongoing bombardment and invasion have destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure, homes, arts institutions, schools, and hospitals. We mourn the loss of civilians, medical workers, journalists, and artists. Condemnation of the Israeli government and Hamas should not be conflated with anti-Arab racism or antisemitism, which are abhorrent.
Over the past months, members of our staff and board met with community stakeholders, received public feedback, and came together to discuss how we can meaningfully support struggles for Palestinian freedom. We extend our deepest gratitude to those individuals who have pushed to hold us to a higher standard, and who have themselves been brave and candid in sharing with us both their pain and their vision for what Lambda should represent.
We, the Lambda board and staff have reached a shared understanding that the nature of who we are as an organization requires that when we commit ourselves to a stated belief, it must be embodied in praxis. To that end, we have begun work on a number of initiatives and features within Lambda’s existing programs that we hope to share with you soon. We welcome opportunities to hold essential conversations with community members about Lambda’s mission in action and meaningful representations of solidarity.
