For February, we’ve put up a book display to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. It features selections from our subject librarians, as well as recommendations from readers in previous years. This will be the first of a series of blog posts highlighting aspects of our book display. This post covers the recommendations made for specific subjects at the SSL!

Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development

For Forced Migration, African and Commonwealth Sarah Rhodes has suggested: Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development (eds. Cornwall, Corrêa & Jolly). Sarah Rhodes has said:

‘The shift towards a rights-based approach to development has brought the human rights dimensions of sexuality into clearer view, and consequently the need to address discriminatory laws and violations of the human rights of those whose sexual identity and practices diverge from dominant sexual orders/norms.

This book offers compelling insights into contemporary challenges and transformative possibilities of the struggle for sexual rights. As Arit Oku-Egbas, (African Regional Sexuality Resource Centre, Nigeria) highlights: ‘’We used to talk about development with a human face. We should be talking about development with a body’

An e-book is available at: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,development%20with%20a%20body&tab=local&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&sortby=rank&vid=SOLO&facet=frbrgroupid,include,239740091&lang=en_US&offset=0

Russian Homophobia from Stalin to Sochi

For Russian and Eastern-European Studies, the SSL recommends Russian Homophobia from Stalin to Sochi, by Dan Healey.

Professor Dan Healey is both a pioneering researcher of Soviet and Russian homosexuality, and a retired member of Oxford’s own History Faculty. In Russian Homophobia from Stalin to Sochi he explores the Stalinist roots of contemporary Russian homophobia, through a series of case studies.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has accorded a new relevance to Healey’s work: homophobia is key to the Putin administration’s justification of its war.

An e-book is available at https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph021828375&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=local&query=any,contains,dan%20healey%20russian%20homophobia&sortby=rank&facet=frbrgroupid,include,374131911&offset=0

Samoan Queer Lives

In the field of Anthropology, Helen Worrell recommends Samoan Queer Lives by Dan Taulapapa McMullin and Shigeyuki Kihara. Helen says:

‘This volume examines the unique lives of Samoan people who are ‘fa`afafine’ – broadly understood as persons who are of part of the LGBTIQA+ community.  As Kihara notes in her introduction, the book offers a counterpoint to the western centric and colonialist study of Samoan culture (often conducted by anthropologists) by giving fa`afafine the space to tell their own stories.’

‘This book, the first of its kind, is edited and written by fa`afafine. Here fa`afafine share their stories in their own words.  Featuring 14 autobiographical stories from fa`afafine and LGBTIQA+ Samoans based in Sāmoa, Amerika Sāmoa, Australia, Aotearoa NZ, Hawai`i and USA.

Samoan Queer Lives can be found on the book display. Its shelfmark is DU813.KIH 2018

When States Come Out: Europe’s Sexual Minorities and the Politics of Visibility

Jo Gardner (Politics and International Relations Subject Consultant) has selected When States Come Out: Europe’s Sexual Minorities and the Politics of Visibility by Philip Ayoub.

‘This innovative book breaks new ground in the study of human rights, international relations, social movements, and identity politics. Phillip Ayoub provides a deep and rigorous multi-method analysis of a critical issue at the frontiers of the struggle for human dignity.’ Alison Brysk (Mellichamp Professor of Global   Governance, University of California)

‘This is an important contribution not only to the literature on LGBT politics, but also to that on comparative social movements and the politics of social change more broadly.’ Robert Singh (Birkbeck, University of London)

The e-book is available here: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph001342024&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=local&query=any,contains,When%20States%20Come%20Out:%20Europe%E2%80%99s%20Sexual%20Minorities%20and%20the%20Politics%20of%20Visibility%20%20Philip%20Ayoub&sortby=rank&facet=frbrgroupid,include,433731689&offset=0

Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship: Towards a Politics of Difference

Jo also suggested Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship: Towards a Politics of Difference by Sally Hines:

‘A wonderful, scholarly elaboration of a politics of difference, carefully argued and grounded in the claims and experiences of transgender people.’ Fiona Williams (Professor of Social Policy, University of Leeds)

‘In a nuanced and vivid account of trans people’s engagements with gender recognition law, Hines offers important new reflections on the politics of recognition and difference.’  Davina Cooper (Professor of Law & Political Theory, University of Kent)

Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship is available on the book display, and we have an additional copy under the shelfmark HQ77.9.HIN 2013

Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places: A Changing World

Andy Kernot (Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies Subject Consultant) has selected Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places (Eds. Blidon & Brunn).

“This book addresses LGBTQ issues in relation to (among others): law and policy, mobility and migration, children and family, social well-being and identity, visible and invisible landscapes, teaching and instruction, parades, arts and cartography and mapping. This extensive book stimulates future pioneering research ventures in rural and urban settings about existing and proposed LGBTQ policies, individual and group mapping, visible and invisible spaces, and the construction of public and private spaces. Through the various methodologies and rich bibliographies, this book provides a rich source for future comparative research of scholars working in social work, NGOs and public policy, and community networking and development.”

This title is only available as an ebook, and can be accessed here: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph022922462&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=local&query=any,contains,lgbtq%20spaces%20and%20places&offset=0

Feel free to pop by and browse or borrow any of these titles, or suggest your own! We’ll be highlighting other resources, including those recommended by SSL readers, later in the month!