“Samiya has extensive roots within the communities she will be serving and was previously on the Board of Fire & Ink, a nonprofit devoted to increasing the understanding, visibility, and awareness of the works of LGBTQ+ writers of African descent and heritage, for more than 15 years,” said Roz Lee, Chair Lambda Literary’s Board of Directors. “Samiya herself is also a two-time Lambda Literary Awards finalist, and we could not be more excited for all she brings to our organization.”
Since January, Lambda Literary has been led by two interim Co-Executive Directors – Cleopatra Jach Acquaye and Maxwell Scales – while the Board conducted a thorough search for the organization’s next long-term leader.
“Samiya Bashir is a walking library of knowledge and with a history of literary service that now spans 25 years,” said Jericho Brown, author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. “I can think of no one more qualified to lead our cherished Lambda!”
Throughout 2021, Lambda Literary underwent a community-driven strategic planning process, which resulted in a Roadmap for the organization’s future. Bashir will now steward that Roadmap, while creating opportunities to apply her own distinctive vision and holding space for ongoing community input. Bashir’s initial team-building focus is dedicated to creating a supportive, service-oriented place to work for LGBTQ+ writers, readers, and professionals.
“It is a deeply personal honor to join Lambda Literary as its Executive Director,” said Samiya Bashir. “As someone who has long benefited from this incredible organization and the passionate work of its champions, I know just how important this learning, growing organization is for LGBTQ+ authors and artists, readers, and publishing professionals – those who’ve paved many paths and those still to come – searching for some star or another to light their way.”
