Lesbian Day of Visibility 2023

Today is Lesbian Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to raising awareness and visibility for lesbians and their experiences, and showing solidarity with all LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people in the community as we celebrate the diversity of lesbian identities to promote acceptance and inclusivity. It is also the only nation wide day that is dedicated to LGBTQIA+ women.

About Lesbian Visibility Day

Lesbians have historically faced discrimination, invisibility, and violence due to their sexual orientation. Even today, many lesbians still struggle with stigma, prejudice, and discrimination in various aspects of their lives, including at school, work, and in their communities.

The purpose of Lesbian Day of Visibility is to highlight the experiences, challenges, and achievements of lesbians and all other LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, to celebrate their contributions to society, and to promote a more accepting and inclusive world.

Visibility is an essential aspect of achieving acceptance and inclusivity for female LGBTQIA+ groups, especially those that are marginalised, such as trans women and non-binary people. It is essential that Lesbian Day of Visibility is a voice for unity and lifts up ALL women. And by promoting lesbian visibility, we can challenge stereotypes, promote positive representation, and increase understanding and empathy towards the community.

Why is it needed?

Amplifying the intersectional voices of lesbian, queer and trans women has never been more important. The UK Census 2021 data showed more Gen Z are identifying as lesbian, gay and bisexual than ever – currently 6.91 per cent (436,000) of the population.

Across all age ranges, more women are identifying as queer than men, at 3.32 per cent (830,000) versus 3 per cent (706,000) respectively.

Meanwhile, anti-trans groups such as the LGB Alliance continue to whip up division between cis lesbians and trans women under the slogan “LGBWithoutTheT”. To combat this in 2023, Lesbian Day of Visibility is fully embracing trans and non-binary inclusion with the hashtag “LWithTheT”.

Celebrating Lesbian Day of Visibility

Sharing stories: One way to promote visibility is to share personal stories and experiences of the lesbian community. This can help to challenge stereotypes and promote empathy and understanding. Check out Stonewalls Instagram feed for loads of great content you could share.

Advocacy: Advocate for laws and policies that promote equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This can include supporting laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as laws that promote access to healthcare, housing, and education. One of the biggest campaigns for the lesbian community right now is based around equal access to IVF. You can find out more about that, and how to show your support, here. To find out about other lesbian equality campaigns, check out this Stonewall article.

Allies: Being an ally to lesbians is essential in promoting visibility and acceptance. Allies can support and amplify the voices of lesbians, challenge discrimination, and promote inclusivity in their communities. Check out what you can do as an ally to help the lesbian community, here.

Lesbian Visibility Day is an essential day to celebrate the diversity and contributions of lesbians and promote visibility and acceptance. By promoting visibility, challenging discrimination and advocating for equality, we can create a more accepting and inclusive world for all.