DIVA publisher Linda Riley on how and why she founded Lesbian Visibility Week
Every 26 April since 2008, women who love women have been celebrating Lesbian Visibility Day, 24 hours when our community comes together to celebrate and commemorate the achievements of a group of people which has for so long been marginalised.
Two years ago, together with my colleagues at DIVA magazine, which I publish, I came to the conclusion that a single day was simply insufficient to shine a light on some of the amazing women in our community, and also to be able to celebrate who we are without fear of prejudice, harassment or vilification.
Because I am fortunate to be able to leverage DIVA as an established platform – it is, after all, once of the world’s most widely read and longest established titles for LGBTQI people – gathering support from other LGBTQI organisations was fairly straightforward, and it was not long before GLAAD, Stonewall, Kaleidoscope, UK Black Pride, akt, LGBT Foundation, Mermaids, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and many others came on board.
These organisations all agree that lesbians need to be shown in a positive light. For too long, we have been fetishised by the heterosexual male gaze as little more than the stuff of sexual fantasy while, at the same time, a small number of cisgender lesbians, whose opposition to the rights of our trans siblings has become ever louder and more toxic, have led some to believe that all lesbians are transphobic bigots. I can assure you that this is not the case, which is why I am committed to celebrating all under the LGBTQI umbrella.
The transphobia of a small minority in our community has caused concern that the word lesbian is now inextricably linked to the diminution of trans rights, leading some – especially the younger generation – to eschew the moniker in favour of alternatives which they perceive as less contentious, queer often being the adjective of choice. I believe that people should be able to identify however they like, and during Lesbian Visibility Week we celebrate all sexualities and all labels, but it is also important that we reclaim the L in LGBTQI and represent it as being fully inclusive, accepting and respectful, as I believe the vast majority of cisgender lesbians are. I cannot help but find it galling that IDAHOBIT – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia - is not called IDAHOBLIT. Some may argue that that prejudice against lesbians is included within “homophobia”, but it is my belief that the experiences of gay men are very different from their female counterparts; just ask the two women who were beaten up on the top deck of a London bus in 2019 for refusing to put on a performance for the titillation of a group of young heterosexual thugs.
While it is true that, in some disciplines, it is easier than ever for lesbians to be out and proud - the Visible 100 is indeed proof of that – featuring women and non-binary people from TV, comedy, politics, sport business and more – in too many walks of life, LGBTQI women and non-binary people remain firmly in the closet. We hear stories often of those in music and film, for example, who are encouraged by management to suppress their gayness lest they sell fewer records or are refused auditions for straight roles. Go on - try to name five out, lesbian British actors: I think you’ll struggle.
Much has been achieved, of course, and we celebrate that progress during Lesbian Visibility Week. But there is so much more to do, and I for one will not rest we are all honoured, celebrated and respected equally, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity.
lesbianvisibilityweek.com
Two years ago, together with my colleagues at DIVA magazine, which I publish, I came to the conclusion that a single day was simply insufficient to shine a light on some of the amazing women in our community, and also to be able to celebrate who we are without fear of prejudice, harassment or vilification.
Because I am fortunate to be able to leverage DIVA as an established platform – it is, after all, once of the world’s most widely read and longest established titles for LGBTQI people – gathering support from other LGBTQI organisations was fairly straightforward, and it was not long before GLAAD, Stonewall, Kaleidoscope, UK Black Pride, akt, LGBT Foundation, Mermaids, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and many others came on board.
These organisations all agree that lesbians need to be shown in a positive light. For too long, we have been fetishised by the heterosexual male gaze as little more than the stuff of sexual fantasy while, at the same time, a small number of cisgender lesbians, whose opposition to the rights of our trans siblings has become ever louder and more toxic, have led some to believe that all lesbians are transphobic bigots. I can assure you that this is not the case, which is why I am committed to celebrating all under the LGBTQI umbrella.
The transphobia of a small minority in our community has caused concern that the word lesbian is now inextricably linked to the diminution of trans rights, leading some – especially the younger generation – to eschew the moniker in favour of alternatives which they perceive as less contentious, queer often being the adjective of choice. I believe that people should be able to identify however they like, and during Lesbian Visibility Week we celebrate all sexualities and all labels, but it is also important that we reclaim the L in LGBTQI and represent it as being fully inclusive, accepting and respectful, as I believe the vast majority of cisgender lesbians are. I cannot help but find it galling that IDAHOBIT – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia - is not called IDAHOBLIT. Some may argue that that prejudice against lesbians is included within “homophobia”, but it is my belief that the experiences of gay men are very different from their female counterparts; just ask the two women who were beaten up on the top deck of a London bus in 2019 for refusing to put on a performance for the titillation of a group of young heterosexual thugs.
While it is true that, in some disciplines, it is easier than ever for lesbians to be out and proud - the Visible 100 is indeed proof of that – featuring women and non-binary people from TV, comedy, politics, sport business and more – in too many walks of life, LGBTQI women and non-binary people remain firmly in the closet. We hear stories often of those in music and film, for example, who are encouraged by management to suppress their gayness lest they sell fewer records or are refused auditions for straight roles. Go on - try to name five out, lesbian British actors: I think you’ll struggle.
Much has been achieved, of course, and we celebrate that progress during Lesbian Visibility Week. But there is so much more to do, and I for one will not rest we are all honoured, celebrated and respected equally, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity.
lesbianvisibilityweek.com
