Emanuel Xavier is the author of the poetry collections Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier, Radiance, Nefarious, If Jesus Were Gay, Americano, Pier Queen, and the novel Christ Like. He is also 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. An Equality Forum LGBTQ History Month Icon, Emanuel Xavier is a poet and author of queer youth and is a longtime LGBTQ rights activist. Xavier is the recipient of a New York City Council Citation Award, an International Latino Book Award, Lambda Literary Award nominations, and American Library Association Over the Rainbow Books selections for his collections. He is the recipient of a Gay City Impact Award and the Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award.

As a survivor of child abuse, former homeless gay teen, and member of the House ball scene, he has staged many benefits for queer youth and is a longtime LGBTQ rights activist. Xavier is the recipient of a New York City Council Citation Award, an International Latino Book Award, Lambda Literary Award nominations, and American Library Association Over the Rainbow Books selections for his collections. He is the recipient of a Gay City Impact Award and the Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award.