Subject Guide
What Are Library of Congress (LC) Subject Headings?
A “keyword” search looks for the search terms in any part of the resource record. This is great for yielding general and broad search results when beginning research. However, a term may appear in a work that is not substantially about that term.
For a more specific search, conduct a ”Subjects” search. Subject headings, assigned and used by the Library of Congress, are similar to digital tags and categories, curated by catalogers. Searching for subject headings is similar to conducting a search for a specific social media hashtag, an online website, or a video on YouTube, for example.
In this guide, you will find examples of Library of Congress subject headings related to the LGBTQ experience. The terms that comprise these subject headings may be limited or outdated by today's standards, especially compared to Homosaurus, but they may still prove useful when conducting searches in catalogs or databases.
Peruse through the examples below or click on the tabs on the left for more specific subject headings.
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BOOKS, FILMS AND OTHER RESOURCES
- African American bisexual men
- African American lesbians
- African American gays
- Asexuality - still a new field of studies; this heading is not wisely used yet. Some publications use "Sexual Attraction," "Sexual Orientation," or "Sexual Desire Disorders" as related subject headings.
- Bisexual men
- Bisexual women
- Bisexuality
- Coming out (Sexual orientation)
- Feminist Theory
- Gay men
- Gay men -- Sexual behavior -- United States
- Gay men -- United States
- Gay men -- United States -- Biography
- Gay men -- United States -- Psychology
- Gay liberation movement
- Gender Identity [includes topics such as genderqueer culture]
- Genderqueer - see Gender Identity
- Heterosexism
- Hispanic American gays
- HIV-positive gay men
- HIV-positive women
- Homosexuality
- Homosexuality -- Europe -- History
- Homosexuality -- Religious aspects
- Homosexuality -- Russia (Federation) [example of an individual country]
- Homosexuality -- Social aspects -- United States
- Homosexuality -- United States
- Homosexuality -- United States -- History
- Intersexuality
- Lesbians
- Lesbians -- Sexual behavior -- United States
- Lesbians -- United States
- Lesbians -- United States -- Biography
- Lesbians -- United States -- Psychology
- Male homosexuality
- Mexican American gays
- Polyamory: Use Non-monogamous relationships or Open marriage
- Queer theory
- Radical Faeries (New Age movement)
- Transgender people
- Transgender people -- Legal status, laws, etc.
- Transgender youth
- Transgenderism
- Transvestism
- Transvestites
- Transsexuals
- Transsexuals -- Identity
- Transsexuals -- United States
PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS
- African American lesbians -- Periodicals
- African American gays -- Periodicals
- Bisexuality -- Periodicals
- Hispanic American gays -- Periodicals
- Homosexuality -- Newspapers
- Homosexuality -- Periodicals
- Gay men -- Newspapers
- Gays -- United States -- Periodicals
- Gay liberation movement -- Periodicals
- Lesbians -- Periodicals
- Mexican American gays -- Periodicals
- Transvestites -- Periodicals
- Transsexuals -- Periodicals