February 2025 – Grains of Knowledge

LGBT+ History month was founded by Schools Out with a new theme is outlined each year on their Schools Out website

This year the UK 2025 LGBT+ History Month theme is: Activism and Social Change.

*Library Displays in the Ross Library and University Library*

Throughout history LGBT+ people have been activists and helped shape and create social change, advancing society for everyone using many different approaches to activism. In addition to simply living openly with their sexuality or gender identity, activism can be participation in protests and rallies, campaigning for rights, boycotts and direct action to creative protests such as art, music, literature, poetry, theatre, comedy, dance or creating zines to highlight the issues of the day. There are many ways throughout history that LGBT+ people have been actively lobbying for rights and for meaningful change.

Each year, five LGBT+ historical figures are chosen in line with the theme. This year, five LGBT+ people have been chosen, who have created social change from across the centuries in progressing change for women, the environment, housing, nuclear disarmament, preserving heritage, abolition of the slave trade, and immigration, among many other causes.

The 2025 LGBT+ Historical Figures are:

Octavia Hill
Ivor Cummings
Annie Kenney
Charlie Kiss
Olaudah Equiano

The University Library and Ross Library have produced displays and reading list to highlight the life and work of these amazing activists and change makers. In addition, the reading list also highlights the activists who have fought for LGBTQI+ rights over the years. In the current political climate it continues to be necessary for LGBTQI+ people and their allies to stand up against bigotry and discrimination.
University Library LGBTQI+ History Month 2025 Reading list

A group from the Library team were treated to a trip to London to celebrate our award-winning Zine Collection. We visited the London College of Communications to explore their amazing collection of vintage zines, and then were allowed to choose an exhibition of our own to visit.

Jemima chose ‘Rebel – 30 Years of London Fashion‘ at the Design Museum, London. (REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion – Design Museum # RebelFashion)

This exhibition celebrates 30 years of the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme, which supports new design talent. Guest-curated by BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent Sarah Mower MBE and co-curated by Design Museum Senior Curator Rebecca Lewin, the exhibition showed many outfits which have garnered attention throughout the last three decades, such as Bjork’s swan dress from 2001 and Sam Smith’s inflatable latex suit from 2023’s BRIT awards. Items such as the sketchbooks, accessories, and the design process were shown alongside the clothes. Nearly 100 innovative fashion designs were included, from names such as JW Anderson, Wales Bonner, Erdem, Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, Russell Sage, and many more. There were also interactive experiences such as backstage virtual make-up mirrors to get an idea of the culture behind the scenes at a fashion show, and video of the original catwalk shows, complete with music to transport you back in time to the turn of the millennium.

Jocelyn chose ‘Fantasy: Realms Of The Imagination‘ at The British Library

The British Library exhibition explored the beautiful, uncanny and sometimes monstrous makings of fantasy. It celebrated some of the finest fantasy creators, revealing how their imagined lands, languages and creatures came into being. It explored the traditions of a genre that has created some of the most passionate and enduring fandoms. From fairy tales and folklore to the fantastical worlds of Studio Ghibli. I was able to travel through Middle-earth and into the depths of Pan’s Labyrinth. And discover how the oldest forms of literature continue to inspire fantasy authors, filmmakers and game producers today.

Oonagh chose ‘Women in Revolt: Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990‘ at Tate Britain.

The exhibition presents two decades of art as provocation, protest and progress. Taking the 1970 National Women’s Liberation Conference as it’s starting point, the exhibition explores the relationship between art and the women’s movement in the UK. It rings together women who made art about their lives and the inequalities that informed them, acknowledging that the personal is political.

There were over 100 artists represented and the exhibition follows the footsteps of the artists, historians and archivists who have safeguarded their history. Art historians Rozsika Parker and Griselda Pollock published ‘Framing Feminisim‘ in 1985 which introduces the reader to art and the women’s movement in the UK.

Overall, the trip was a fantastic opportunity to network with library professionals and to take advantage of the amazing experiences London has to offer.

Month: February 2025

A day of zines, fashion, art and imagination.