This February Manchester Libraries are proud to present a range of specially commissioned online events and special collections celebrating LGBTQ authors in Manchester and the North West.

Sunday, 14 February 7.00pm – Celebrate Valentines Day with Poet Afshan D’souza-Lodhi

Manchester Libraries presents a specially commissioned video by the wonderful Afshan D’souza-Lodhi performing her poetry and discussing how as a queer Muslim woman, falling in love is a political act. 

‘For me to find love I must wade though the homophobes and the Islamophobes and the sexists and the racists and then, maybe, I’ll find someone who will stand beside me during protests and wipe my face when bigots spit on me’.

Afshan D’souza-Lodhi is an award-winning writer of plays and poetry. She has been commissioned to write and direct a short film for Channel 4 and a radio play for BBC Sounds. Afshan has edited many anthologies and has an essay featured in Picador’s collection by Muslim women called Its Not About The Burqa.

Tune in to the video launch on the Manchester Libraries Facebook page.

Friday, 19 February 7.00pm – An Evening with Paul Magrs

Join acclaimed fantasy and sci-fi writer Paul Magrs for a special evening celebrating the re-release of his much loved ‘Brenda and Effie’ novels!

After a long and eventful life, Brenda has settled in Whitby, to run a guest house by the sea. But it isn’t long before she has teamed up with Effie, the white witch from the antiques shop next door. Together they get themselves involved in a series of supernatural investigations including a visit to the Deadly Boutique and a romantic run-in with a certain immortal Count…

Paul Magrs brought out his first novel in 1995 when he was 26. He has lectured in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. In 2019 he published his book on writing, ‘The Novel Inside You’. In 2020 Snow Books republished his Brenda and Effie Mystery series of novels. He lives and writes in Manchester with Jeremy and Bernard Socks.

Tune in to the live stream on Paul’s Facebook page. 

 

The Best Queer Book Ever?

Tell us about your favourite queer* book! We’d love to see images and videos submitted by you for our social media pages to show the wide variety of queer books and share the love of reading throughout LGBT History Month in February.

Want to take part? Record a 1-min video of yourself talking about why this book is your favourite or take a picture (of the book, of you and the book, whatever you fancy) and write a little about your choice.

You can submit them to the form here.

*By queer we mean any books that have gender and/or sexuality diverse content, character(s), or theme(s).

 

LGBT Foundation and Archives+ Oral Histories Interviews

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation and Manchester Libraries Archives+ are currently recording oral histories interviews with people from LGBT communities who are over 50 and live or have a connection to Greater Manchester. These interviews will take place throughout this year and can take place over the phone or via video call. Find out more information here.

Archives+ Manchester Pride & LGBTQ History Month Memory Box

Here’s another chance to check out some brilliant photos from the archives exploring the history of the LGBTQ community in Manchester, including the early days of Canal Street, ACT-UP and Section 28 Marches and some brilliant Manchester Pride celebrations!

The latest LGBTQ books

Manchester Libraries have created a brand new list of the latest LGBTQ books and some favourite classics. All available for you to click and collect for free from your local library! Check out the full list here.

LGBTQ Books on Borrowbox

If you’d prefer to access your books from home, there is a new collection of e-books and audio books celebrating LGBTQ History Month on the Borrowbox service. You can download and reserve the titles here.