The Gay & Lesbian Review / Worldwide (The G&LR) is a bimonthly magazine of LGBTQ+ history, culture, and politics.

For Pride Month this year, we're featuring 20 of our favorite LGBTQ+ literary magazines. (Psst... if you're seeing this in June 2026, they're open right now, so don't miss out!)

LGBTQ+ Lit Mags We Love

Explore the most popular literary magazines of all time. These long-established publications are a staple in the literary world for writers of all genres.

Most Popular Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the all-time most popular nonfiction literary magazines. These outlets have been influential for writers of essays, memoirs, and nonfiction.

Most Popular Nonfiction-Only Literary Magazines of All Time

Find out the all-time most submitted-to nonfiction literary magazines. These publications are the go-to for writers of creative nonfiction.

Most Submitted-To Nonfiction-Only Literary Mags of All Time

The Gay & Lesbian Review / Worldwide

<i>The Gay &amp; Lesbian Review / Worldwide</i> is seeking personal essays for our online column, “Here’s My Story.” Because our print magazine generally does not publish first-person narratives, this web feature provides a dedicated space for writers to share their lived experiences as members of the LGBTQ+ community.<div><br></div><div>Send submissions and pitches to <i>The G&amp;LR</i>’s web and social media editor at <b>sam.dapanas@glreview.org</b>.<br><div><br></div><div><b>What We Are Looking For</b></div><div>We want tightly focused narratives. Rather than trying to condense an entire autobiography into a few pages, please zero in on one specific, meaningful story. There are no strict restrictions on subject matter, but some broad areas of interest include:</div><div><br></div><div>•	Coming-out stories

</div><div>•	Memorable love affairs

</div><div>•	A personal epiphany (e.g., sparked by a work of art)

</div><div>•	Intersectionality: How race, religion, class, disability, and cultural heritage intersect with queer identity

</div><div>•	Autonomy: A first gender-affirming haircut, shopping for a new wardrobe, or your evolving relationship with your body

</div><div>•	Queer joy: The everyday happiness and normalcy of living authentically

</div><div>•	Aging &amp; generational divides: Connecting with queer elders or navigating the uncharted territory of aging in the LGBTQ+ community

</div><div>•	Pop culture awakenings: Seeing yourself in a specific movie or television series, book, song, any piece of art, or niche fandom long before you had the vocabulary to define it

</div><div>•	Chosen families &amp; Family building: Queer parenting, adoption, and beyond

</div><div>•	Navigating queer spaces: Stepping into a gay bar for the first time, mourning the loss of historic venues, or finding community in unexpected places

</div><div>•	Professional code-switching: Deciding when, how, or if to come out at work, and the exhaustion of repeatedly having to come out to new people

</div><div>•	Healthcare: Navigating a medical and therapeutic system that often lacks structural LGBTQ+ competency.</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, all LGBTQ+ writers are warmly encouraged to send us a pitch or submission, even if your personal essay falls entirely outside the categories listed above.</div><div><br></div></div>

We actively seek out voices that are too often left out of the mainstream conversation. We highly encourage pitches and submissions highlighting queer histories and contemporary lives from:

•	Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Global Majority communities
•	Working-class and rural writers
•	Perspectives from outside the United States
•	Disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent writers
•	Individuals across the entire lesbian, bisexual, trans, and queer spectrum

The Gay & Lesbian Review / Worldwide

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Featured Call

Call for Personal Essays: LGBTQ+ BIPOC, Working-Class, and Disabled Writers

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