It’s February already! In the UK, this means that it’s LGBT+ History Month, which offers the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people throughout the ages. This year’s theme, Science and Innovation, fits perfectly with the LGBT+ related items in the Social Science Library’s collections. To learn more about LGBT+ History Month and this year’s theme, visit the LGBT+ History Month website.

At the Social Science Library, we’ve created a book display showcasing the contributions made by LGBT+ scientists, inventors, and innovators across the social science subjects. We’ve also selected material in our collection that reflects how science has sometimes been used to medicalise and pathologise LGBT+ identities, reminding us how we need to continue addressing these issues today.

Alongside titles from the SSL’s own collection, we’ve included works from the Collections Storage Facility that explore LGBT+ history more widely. Some of these books are available to borrow, while others are for use in the library only — please ask a member of staff if you’re unsure.

In addition to our physical display, Oxford University staff and students can access eBooks from the display through SOLO. For an even broader selection of texts exploring LGBT+ History across the Bodleian Libraries, take a look at the LGBTQ+ History Resources LibGuide.