Emanuel Xavier

Poet, Fiction Writer, Spoken Word Artist

Staten Island, NY
New York US
Email: 
emanuelxavier9@gmail.com
Website: 
www.emanuelxavier.org

Author's Bio

Emanuel Xavier is a poet, author, and activist born in Brooklyn, New York. A former homeless gay teen involved in the ball scene, he rose to prominence as a spoken word artist and has been featured at colleges and universities nationwide for over twenty-five years. His collections include Love(ly) Child, Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier, Radiance, Nefarious, If Jesus Were Gay, Americano, and Pier Queen. He is also the author of the novel Christ Like and editor of Me No Habla With Acento: Contemporary Latino Poetry, Bullets & Butterflies: Queer Spoken Word Poetry, and Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry. Xavier has received International Latino Book Awards, multiple Lambda Literary Award nominations, and several American Library Association Over the Rainbow Books selections. Honors include a New York City Council Citation Award, the Gay City Impact Award, The Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award, and recognition as an LGBTQ+ Icon by The Equality Forum. His literary agent is Tom Miller at Liza Dawson Associates.

Literary agent: 
Tim Miller of Liza

Publications & Prizes

Fiction

Anthologies:
Studs: Gay Erotic Fiction (Cleis Press, 2014)
,
For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough (Magnus Books, 2013)
,
Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay (Quirk Books, 2012)
,
Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing (University of Wisconsin Press, 2011)
,
Queer & Catholic (Routledge, 2008)
,
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name (Boheme Press, 2003)
,
Men on Men 7 (Plume, 1999)
,
Virgins, Guerrillas & Locas (Cleis Press, 1999)
,
Best Gay Erotica 1997 (Cleis Press, 1997)
Book:
Christ Like (Rebel Satori Press, 2009)
Journal:
Long Shot

Poetry

Anthologies:
Me No Habla With Acento: Contemporary Latino Poetry (Rebel Satori Press, 2011)
,
Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry (Floricanto Press, 2008)
,
Bullets & Butterflies: queer spoken word poetry (Suspect Thoughts Press, 2005)
Books:
Love(ly) Child (Rebel Satori Press, 2023)
,
Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier (Rebel Satori Press, 2021)
,
Radiance (Rebel Satori Press, 2016)
,
Nefarious (Rebel Satori Press, 2013)
,
Americano (Rebel Satori Press, 2012)
,
Pier Queen (Rebel Satori Press, 2012)
,
If Jesus Were Gay (Rebel Satori Press, 2010)
Journals:
Drumvoices Revue
,
Hanging Loose
,
Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review
,
Hostos Review

Spoken Word

Performances:
Brooklyn College Lavender Graduation (2020)
,
Miguel Algarin Tribute (2020)
,
The United Nations (2018)
,
Faison Firehouse Theater (2013)
,
Museum of Modern Art (2013)
,
Broward College (2012)
,
College of William & Mary (2012)
,
Lesley University (2012)
,
Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art (2012)
,
The Front Porch (2012)
,
El Museo del Barrio (2011)
,
El Museo del Barrio (2010)
,
Princeton University (2010)
,
Bates College (2009)
,
El Museo Del Barrio (2009)
,
Ghent University (2009)
,
Giovanni's Room (2009)
,
El Museo Del Barrio (2008)
,
Housing Works Bookstore (2008)
,
San Francisco Public Library (2008)
,
School of Visual Arts (2008)
,
University of Florida (2008)
,
El Museo Del Barrio (2007)
,
Miami Dade College (2007)
,
Naranja Library (2007)
,
Princeton University (2007)
,
Towson University (2007)
,
University of Louisville (2007)
,
Amherst College (2006)
,
Queens Museum of Art (2006)
,
Resistencia Bookstore (2006)
,
Wellesley College (2006)
,
Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO (2005)
,
Bar 13 Lounge (2005)
,
Bowery Poetry Club (2005)
,
LGBT Community Services Center (2005)
,
Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO- 2005 (2005)
,
University of Chicago (2005)
,
Aaron Davis Hall (2004)
,
Central Park Summerstage (2004)
,
Hartford Public Library (2004)
,
Joe's Pub (2004)
,
New York University (2004)
,
Resistencia Bookstore in Austin (2004)
,
Tillery Street Theatre in Austin (2004)
,
Columbia University (2003)
,
Lincoln Center (2003)
,
Nuyorican Poets Cafe (2003)
,
Rikers Island Prison (2003)
,
Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO- 2003 (2003)
,
University of Massachusetts (2003)
,
Brown University (2002)
,
Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans (2002)
,
The New School (2002)
,
Washington Square Park (2002)
,
Centro Cultural de la Raza ()
,
Quinnipiac University ()
Prizes won: 

New York City Council Citation, Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award, 2008 World Pride Award recipient, Equality Forum 2010 GLBT History Month Icon, American Library Association's Over The Rainbow selection for "If Jesus Were Gay & other poems"

Watch

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Latino/Latina/Latinx, LGBTQ
Prefers to work with: 
Adults, At Risk Youth, Immigration, LGBTQ, Men, Seniors, Teachers, Teenagers, Women
Fluent in: 
English, Spanish
Born in: 
Brooklyn, NY
New York
Raised in: 
Brooklyn, NY
New York
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 04, 2025