25/04/2023
Hoorah! We are in Lesbian Visibility Week, and lots of people are celebrating this auspicious week of parties, awareness raising and workshops internationally. The Lesbian Movement has always been an important part of both the gay and the feminist / women's movements, and despite what some scurrilous sources such as the hated right wing muckraker, the Daily Express might have you believe, lesbian women have always been an important part of solidarity for gay men, trans people and do not subscribe to right wing separatism. Indeed, as leading feminist academics such as Doctor Finn MacKay, Judith Butler and Roxanne Gay have pointed out, feminism has always questioned gender roles and patriarchal ideas of what it means to be male, female or other. Lesbian women have been highly active in all movements for social reform, progress and justice, ranging from the Suffrage Movements of the nineteenth century, the trade union movement, the new left, counterculture and squatting, and the international peace movement. Lesbian Visibility Week was founded in 2020, by Linda Riley from the best selling pan European lesbian magazine DIVA. British Pride and LGBTQIA retailer The Pride Shop note that it was created to "celebrate and raise awareness of the experiences, challenges, and achievements of lesbians and all LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people. The week aims to increase the visibility of lesbians in various spheres of society, including politics, media, culture, and the arts". Well known human rights campaigner and democratic socialist activist Peter Tatchell sent his message of support for the week, saying "It's a celebration of lesbian love, culture & life. And it's solidarity with all LGBTQI women & non-binary people. " Hundreds of events are planned throughout the week, and will be announced online. Visit the main organisational hub for more at https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/
In addition, stay tuned to LGBTQIA Media and community radio generally for Lesbian Visibility Week events near you. Here are some of the many LGBTQIA radio services in the UK:
https://www.glitterbeam.co.uk/
https://thisisqueerly.com/radio/
https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/
