Lambda Rising

Founded by Deacon Maccubbin in 1974 with 250 titles, it was known for its wide selection of books, ranging from queer theory and religion to erotica, as well as DVDs, music CDs and gifts.

[4] In February 1975, Lambda Rising ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial; it aired on WRC (owned by NBC) and WTOP (the local CBS affiliate, now WUSA).

[6] In February 2003, Lambda Rising bought the Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the country's first gay and lesbian bookstore, to prevent it from closing.

When we set out to establish Lambda Rising in 1974, it was intended as a demonstration of the demand for gay and lesbian literature.

[2] It was part of a spate of LGBT brick and mortar bookstores closures in the early 21st century, including the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in New York and A Different Light in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Lambda Rising in March 2009, shortly before it closed
Deacon Maccubbin (right), founder and co-owner of Lambda Rising, at the Capital Pride gay parade in 2003