Get The Lowdown On Lesbian Visibility Week
Celebrate LVW from Monday 24th April — Sunday 30th April 2023.
Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW) is an annual celebration to show support and unity with LGBTQI+ women and non-binary people. It’s a chance to celebrate people and women from these communities and to give them a voice.
Run by Diva Media Group, Europe’s biggest LGBTQ media group, they describe the celebration as ‘the only national campaign and event targeted at LGBQ women’. It was created to raise more awareness of issues that lesbians and LGBTQI+ women face, and to celebrate their contributions to the community as well as their achievements in both their personal and professional lives.
The history of Lesbian Visibility Week
Dating back to the 1990s, the concept of LVW was first introduced in West Hollywood, to encourage more visibility of lesbians within the area and to recognise their unique struggles. Lesbian Visibility Day emerged in the UK in 2008 as a single-day celebration which was endorsed by LGBTQ+ activists, charities, and publications.
It was thanks to Linda Riley, DIVA magazine publisher, who founded the week-long return of Lesbian Visibility Week in the UK in 2020. Her reasoning for the week-long celebration was that:
‘[we] needed, and deserved, more time to shine a light on some of the amazing women in our community, and to celebrate who we are without fear of prejudice, harassment or vilification.’
And she’s absolutely right. Even with the huge steps society has made over the last few decades, there’s still a long way to go to ensure marginalised communities have their voices heard and respected.
Why is Lesbian Visibility Week needed?
We know it’s 2023, but there’s still progress to be made for the LGBTQI+ community to be fully integrated with society and to help prevent the prejudice they experience.
Data from the UK census 2021 showed that Gen Z (ages 16-24) had the highest proportion of lesbian, gay and bisexual people — just under 7% (436,000) identifying as such. It is for those, as well as others across all generations, as to why we need Lesbian Visibility Week.
In support of the new generation, and the older ones who have faced more discrimination and abuse than some of us can even imagine, we need to continue celebrating and raising awareness of the struggles they face.
It’s not just the present, but the past and future that we’re fighting for.
Lesbian Visibility Week 2023 events
If you fancy showing your support for the community and educating yourself a little further on the issues, there are plenty of events this week you can get involved in.
Or, you could host your own party to show your respect — just make sure we get an invite, pretty please?
PinkNews Business Community Live – Celebrating Lesbian Visibility Week
- Wednesday, April 26 2023
- 8:30 – 9:30 am
- Via ZOOM
The PinkNews Business Community will host a one-hour webinar to celebrate LVW and is joined by Raga D’Silva, an author, poet, screenplay writer, TEDx speaker and a lot more.
Raga will share her story and experience of being out in the work-place and the importance of representation and freedom to be yourself at home and at work.
Women in Football fireside chat with Liz Ward & Dawn Airey
- Wednesday, April 26 2023
- 11:00 – 11:30 am
- Online event
In an open discussion and ensuring an honest conversion, Liz Ward (Stonewall Director of Programmes) and Dawn Airey (Chair of the FA Women’s super league) will talk about their challenges, successes and progress of women in football. They will dive into how queer women have played a huge part in the game and how the game has evolved.
The resurgence of butch culture
- Thursday, April 27 2023
- 11:00 – 11:30 am
- Online event
There’s been a recent comeback of butch culture here in the UK — but why? Pioneers of the scene answer all your questions and delve into its importance and why the label is becoming increasingly more popular with lesbians identifying with it.
COREcruitment – April LGBTQIA Networking Event
- Thursday, April 27 2023
- 18:00 – 21:00 pm
- Glasshouse Rooftop Bar at the NYX Hotel London Holborn 50 – 60 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AR
Join like-minded LGBTQIA individuals at the COREcruitment Networking Event celebrating LVW and network with people who express the same views.
The power of grassroots women’s football in creating lesbian spaces
- Friday, April 28 2023
- 11:00 – 11:30 am
- Online event
Watch a panel of people who are part of grassroots women’s football clubs in the UK. They will discuss why creating a lesbian culture in these spaces is important for the community to express themselves and to have their freedom.
25th Anniversary Celebration Of Sarah Waters’s Tipping The Velvet
- Sunday, April 30 2023
- 14:30 – 16:30 pm
- The Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way London SE11 4TH
- Book here
Join the screening of the first episode of BBC TV 2002 adaptation of Tipping The Velvet, with author Sarah Waters in conversation with Film and Events Curator, Caroline Seddon, plus an audience Q&A. Sarah will also be doing a book signing.
Rosewater: An Evening with Liv Little
- Sunday, April 30 2023
- 19:00 – 20:30 pm
- The Feminist Bookshop, 48 Upper North Street, Brighton, BN1 3FH
- Book here
Join author, Liv Little, to mark the launch of her debut novel, Rosewater — a multi-generational love story. The evening will start off with a short reading by Liv, then a discussion around her inspiration and her own struggles as a young Londoner, while talking about her writing about queer relationships. The evening will include a Q&A and book signing.
Lesbian Visibility Week Closing Party
- Sunday, April 30 2023
- 21:00 – 04:00 am
- Piano Works West End: 47 Whitcomb St., London WC2H 7DH
- Buy tickets here
Attend the Lesbian Visibility Week Closing Party, hosted by Mint Events in partnership with Diva Magazine and Pride in London.
Hosted at Piano Works, celebrate all things lesbian and show your solidarity with all LGBTQI+ women and non-binary people. Expect vibes to be immaculate and enjoy eight talented DJs who will be delivering the tunes and ensuring you’re stuck on the dance floor.
All events and more information can be found on Lesbian Visibility Week’s page.
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