
LEZS, a lesbian magaine made in Taiwan.
The Leiden Chinese Queer Collection
Building on its extensive holdings in Asian studies, including much material that can support the study of “unofficial” histories and cultures, Leiden University Libraries has established the Leiden Chinese Queer Collection (LCQC). The LCQC aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible primary source material and scholarship on the Chinese queer experience, and to facilitate collaboration between academics, activists, and archivists. Thus, it hopes to help advance gender and sexual equality and diversity through research, education, and outreach, with a key role for community involvement.

LES+, a lesbian magazine made in mainland China.
In the LCQC, “queer” is a broad signifier for people identifying with non-normative genders and sexualities, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+). “Chinese” denotes the Chinese-speaking world (mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore) and its diasporas. “The Chinese queer experience” is an overarching expression for diverse experiences at individual and collective levels. These can relate to identity and community formation, familial and social relationships, public health, social justice, legal rights, language, cultural production, discourses and histories of queerness, queering theory and method in scholarship, etc. Accordingly, the LCQC wants to support research, education, and outreach on the topic of queerness in different spheres of life.
Leiden University Libraries already has a solid and diverse collection of primary source material and scholarship on the Chinese queer experience in literary works, films, monographs, journal publications, and so on. Regular acquisition will allow the LCQC to grow steadily. Continue reading The Leiden Chinese Queer Collection →