Pride Month

Queer digital primary source collections

For archival runs of many of the most influential, longest-running serial publications covering LGBTQ+ interests. Includes the pre-eminent US and UK titles – The Advocate and Gay Times, respectively. These archive chronicle more than six decades of the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.

Archives of Gender and Sexuality

With material dating back to the sixteenth century, examine how sexual norms have changed over time, the development of sex education, the rise of sexology, changing gender roles, social movements and activism, erotica, and many other interesting topical areas. This growing archival program offers rich research opportunities across a wide span of human history.

LGBT Thought and Culture

This is an online resource hosting books, periodicals, and archival materials documenting LGBT political, social and cultural movements throughout the twentieth century and into the present day.

Selection of book covers for LGBTQ+ History Month available on the Libby app.

New from Library Services is the Libby App! With access to free audiobooks and eBooks check out our Pride Month 2024 collection, chosen by staff, of contemporary and historical queer fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Book recommendations from Library Staff, all from our Bristol Reads collection!

Queer Intentions: A (Personal) Journey Through LGBTQ+ Culture by Amelia Abraham

Queer Intentions is an author’s personal journey through LGBTQI+ culture; it documents Abraham’s travels through various countries and conversations with LGBTQ+ people from all walks of life. Discussions cover a wide breadth of themes, including politics, religion, spirituality, capitalism, education and exploitation. This is an immersive, accessible and thought-provoking book with curiosity, good humour and a disarming openness.

A Natural History of Transition by Callum Angus

A Natural History of Transition is a collection of short stories that disrupts the notion that trans people can only have one transformation. Like the landscape studied over eons, change does not have an expiration date for these trans characters. The collection blends emotional, humanistic tales with magical realism, in doing so Angus works to normalize gender transition and appreciate the nuances of human identity.

None of the Above: Reflections on Life Beyond the Binary by Travis Alabanza

In None of the Above, Travis Alabanza considers seven phrases people have directed at them about their gender identity that have stayed with them over the years. Some are deceptively innocuous, some deliberately loaded or offensive, some celebratory; sentences that have impacted them for better and for worse. This work of reflection speaks to the broader issues raised by a world that insists that gender must be a binary.

This selection of queer historical badges comes from the Feminist Archive South, managed by our very own Special Collections! Do reach out to the team if you are interested in knowing more. Archive ref DM2123

LGBTQ+ History in Cultural Collections

Check out a digital exhibit highlighting materials held in the University's Special Collections which relate to various aspects of LGBTQ+ history in the UK and Ireland.

Berta Freistadt Archive

Berta Freistadt MA (1942 – 2009) was lesbian-feminist playwright, stage director, novelist, teacher and performance poet. Notable published works include: Dope Smoking Lesbians Can Never Be Good Teachers (1990) and A Fine Undertaking (1984), set in a funeral parlour, which slyly parodied lesbian rallies.

The Berta Freistadt Collection held as part of the Bristol University Theatre Collection contains approximately 425 documents, contact them to find out more or peruse the online catalogue.

BFI - LGBTQIA+ film collection

As a University of Bristol student you have access to the British Film Institute's student subscription! When you sign in with your student details you can freely watch loads of films, including many queer films. Watch screen representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives from around the world. Some of the films part of the current BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ collection include;

Blue Jean (2022) dir. Georgia Oakely
20,000 Species of Bees (2023) dir. Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren
The Handmaiden (2016) dir. Park Chan-Wook
Caravaggio (1986) dir. Derek Jarman
Joyland (2022) dir. Saim Sadiq

Plus many, many more!

Join a LGBTQ+ bookclub!

The University's LGBTQ+ society runs a book club, join for chats and discussions of their favourite queer reads, authors, and recommendations, check out their Instagram to find out more!

Ernest Thesiger Archive

Ernest Thesiger (1879 - 1961) was an actor most notorious for his portrayal of Dr Pretorius in the film The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Thesiger identified as bisexual, was well known for his camp demeanour, and was a key figure in the embroidery circles of his time - once holding the title of Vice Patron for the Embroidery Guild. Ernest believed that embroidery was a physical and mindful tool that could provide relief and exercise for improving hand dexterity for wounded soldiers during WWI.