February marks LGBT+ History Month in the UK, commemorating the repeal of Section 28, a law that prohibited the teaching or promotion of homosexuality by local authorities. Twenty-two years later, the theme for 2025 is ‘Activism and Social Change’, highlighting the progress made by the LGBT+ community and its allies in shaping a more inclusive future.
To celebrate, we’ve curated a list of 40 free-to-access books on LGBT+ history and activism, covering a broad range of topics within the theme of ‘Activism and Social Change.’
Here are five key titles to get you started:
1. Octavia Hill, Social Activism and the Remaking of British Society, edited by Elizabeth Baigent and Ben Cowell
Explore the life of Octavia Hill, one of School’s Out’s 2025 celebrated LGBT+ historical figures. Hill was an authority on enforcing positive changes in social housing and protecting Britain’s green spaces. As founder of the Army Cadet Force, co-founder of the National Trust and the first woman invited to sit on a royal commission, she initiated crucial changes in the twentieth century that are still relevant today.
2. Queer Reflections on AI, edited by Michael Klipphahn-Karge et al.
With AI driving social change in 2025, this book explores how AI reflects and shapes social norms and attitudes towards sexuality and gender. Explaining why queer theory is essential for understanding AI, this future-forward read offers thought-provoking insights into the role of AI in queerness, sexuality and social change.
3. Transgender and the Literary Imagination by Rachel Carroll
Looking back on trans narratives in literature, this book explores their lasting effects on society and how they have shaped, reconstructed and demonstrated gender understanding over the last century. With a foundation in feminist scholarship and queer theory, reinforced by transgender studies, this title provides deep insight into the representation of trans characters and its impact on evolving cultural perspectives on gender.
4. My Gay Middle Ages by A.W. Strouse
Strouse offers a light-hearted and humourous exploration of sexuality, using medieval literature to make sense of everyday life. With Chaucer and Boethius as narrators of Strouse’s ‘gay lifestyle,’ they introduce ‘homo-medievalism’ as an alternative approach to engaging with queer theory in an accessible and creative way.
5. Queer-Feminist Punk by Maria Katharina Wiedlack
This feisty and informative book is reminiscent of the music it explores. Wiedlack transports us through the timeline of feminist punk rock in the US and Canada from its origins in the 1980s. With bold chapter titles rooted in antisocial theories, this book captures your attention and gives you a deep understanding of feminist-punk activist movements and how they have evolved over time.
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