ShakesQueer: A resource list
This LGBTQ+ History Month we’re sharing books, digital resources, podcasts and more, to further explore sexuality in Early Modern England
This February we’re celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month by exploring our past and its relation to Shakespeare in all ways. Below, Dr Will Tosh shares some of his favourite queer resources, including books, digital resources, research projects, museums, archives and podcasts, where people’s experience of sexuality through the ages can be explored, and where learning and discussion can start.
Most of these resources can be accessed for free online. For book purchases, please support your local independent bookshops – we’d recommend Gay’s The Word.
Books
Classic books about queer Shakespeares, and the queer Shakespearean past.
Homosexuality in Renaissance England (1982) by Alan Bray
Same-Sex Desire in Early Modern England 1550–1735 An Anthology of Literary Texts and Contexts (2013) edited by Marie H. Loughlin
Shakesqueer A Companion to the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (2011) edited by Madhavi Menon
The Renaissance of Lesbianism in Early Modern England (2002) by Valerie Traub
Digital resources
A Bit Lit
Conversations about history, culture, and creativity with scholars from all over the world, with a rich selection of queer topics
Roaring Girl: London’s Sharp-Elbowed, Loudmouthed Mary Frith and Life Story: Thomas(ine) Hall
Two stories of extraordinary gender-nonconforming people from the 17th century
Black and Gay Back in the Day
A photo-archive of Black queer experience in Britain
Research projects
Engendering the Stage
UK-Canadian project investigating early modern women’s performance, as well as traces of trans and queer identities on the early modern stage
Museums & Archives
LGBTQ+ Archives at the Bishopsgate Insitute
One of the most extensive collections of LGBTQ+ history, politics and culture in the UK, covering the late nineteenth century onwards
Queer Britain
Get in early, and support this charity working to establish the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum
Podcasts
Bad Gays
A podcast about ‘evil and complicated queers in history’. Why do we remember our heroes better than our villains? Hosted by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller
The Log Books
Stories from LGBTQ+ life in Britain as told by the volunteers of Switchboard. Hosted by Adam Zmith and Tash Walker
This Movie is Gay
Hosts Emma Rosa Went and Hailey Bachrach uncover the gay vibes in all your favourite movies
