Lesbain Visibility Week took place from April 20-26, celebrating lesbian women and non-binary people while promoting intersectional visibility, health and wellbeing. Established in 2023 (in the US), the week includes events like the DIVA Power List, a film series and community gatherings supported by the Curve foundation.
It was originally celebrated in July of 1990 in California, and more recently has been celebrated in England and Wales. It was conceived out of lesbians’ frustrations with the higher visibility of gay men than lesbians, and their intention was to gain awareness. LVW was coordinated by the West Hollywood Lebsian Visibility Committee and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. They devoted it to raising awareness of lesbain identities, topics, and celebrating the lesbian community. The celebration was a combination of cultural programming, workshops addressing current and impending needs, awards ceremonies, and special events. Events included film screenings, safe sex discussions, dog shows, marches, and more.
Today you can celebrate LVW by uplifting lesbian voices, supporting queer women-owned businesses and engaging in local or virtual events. This year’s theme was “Health and Wellbeing”, and you can focus on that by advocating safe spaces, sharing stories and wearing the lesbian pride flag to increase visibility, whether that’s a pin, a piece of clothing, or an accessory.
It’s also important to educate yourself on queer history. Did you know that lesbian history spans from ancient Greek poet Sappho, to modern rights activism? Significant historical figures include but are not limited to, Anne Lister (the “first modern lesbian”) and pioneering groups like the 1955 Daughters of Bilitis. Early history includes “romantic friendships” and “Boston marriages,” while the 20th century saw the rise of bars, publications, and political activism.
While Lesbian Visibility Week is important to uplift and significant in queer history, lesbians still exist out of all 365 days of the year, and should be recognized (as well as supported) all of the time.