Every February the UK observes LGBT+ History Month in celebration of the rich history of the LGBT+ community and in remembrance of the related histories of the gay rights and civil rights movements.
This year the UK celebrates the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the census for the first time in over 200 years. As Stonewall summarises: 'after years of invisibility, we are now officially part of our country's story'.
2023 also marks two decades since the repeal of Section 28 - a law which banned the 'promotion of homosexuality' which led to censorship in schools and libraries all over the UK.
To mark LGBT+ History Month, the Library team have set up displays in both libraries. Here you can find a wide range of books including classic works of literature written by famous LGBTQ authors including Virginia Woolf and Alice Walker, biographies of historical figures such as Anne Lister and Alan Turing, historical fiction featuring queer protagonists and novels we have highlighted for their roles in introducing larger audiences to LGBTQ+ stories.
To find out more about literary queer icons Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, E.M. Forster and Alice Walker check out last years blogpost 'LGBT+ History Month at the Library' here!
We have also highlighted some (of the many!) figures in LGBTQ+ History below with an accompanying book recommendation.
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
- Alan Turing was responsible for breaking the Nazi's code during WWII. He played a major role in ending the war and his work is said to have shortened the war and undoubtedly saved many lives.
- He was convicted for his relationship with another man and prosecuted in 1952.
- In 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a public apology to Turing on befalf of the government.
- Turing was eventually pardoned in 2013 by Elizabeth II and the 2017 law that retroactively pardoned all men convicted for homosexual acts is commonly known as the 'Alan Turing Law'.
- He has been voted 'The Greatest Person of the 20th Century'.
- Marsha was an American trans and gay liberation activist.
- When Marsha was 23, police raided the famous Stonewall Inn in New York and used excessive force against the patrons. Marsha stood up to the police during the raids and led protests demanding rights for the LGBT community.
- Together with Silvia Rivera, Marsha founded an organisation called STAR in order to help gay and trans people who had become homeless.
- Marsha is remembered as the 'Saint of Christopher Street' by many for their unfailing generosity to the LGBT community in New York.
- Frida Kahlo was a famous Mexican artist and openly bisexual woman.
- Kahlo taught herself to paint whilst recovering from a serious bus accident and her art was often influenced by her experiences with chronic pain. It is thought that prior to the accident, Kahlo intended to study medicine.
- Her works are also notable for their explorations of class, gender, race, identity and postcolonialism.
- Dorey, Hole and Cutbill were activists who founded the UK's first LGBTQ bookshop Gay's the Word in 1979.
- They provided a much needed space for the LGBTQ community in London to meet and share their love of books.
- In the 1980s, the store served as the headquarters of 'Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners' in support of the striking workers.
- Josephine Baker was the first African American woman to star in a film.
- During the German occupation of France she worked for the Red Cross and spied for the French Resistance.
- Though she lived in France, she travelled back to the U.S. to partake in Civil Rights demonstrations.
- Baker had romantic relationships with both men and women including French author Colette and artist Frida Kahlo.
- Jacqueline Wilson is a much-loved children's author but before the breakthrough success of Tracey Beaker in the 1990s, she had already written over 40 books.
- Wilson took the A-Level English exam when she was 40 years old - for which she was awarded an 'A'.
- In 2020 she publicly announced that she was in a relationship with her partner Trish. They have now been together for over 20 years.
