Did you know April 24-30, 2023 is Lesbian Visibility Week? Here is a nice post from PHC:
Lesbian Visibility Week Article from Nurse, Jody Max: A story from one out-and-proud PHC Lesbian social worker…
Once upon a time, in the era before the internet, as a young Lesbian Feminist activist in the 1990s in Ottawa, I was involved in organizing International Lesbian Week events. We had dances to celebrate, free community expos with speakers, Lesbian organizations, local Lesbian-owned businesses, and performances by Lesbian musicians and artists. We used a phone tree and newspaper ads, to promote everything. These were empowering and exciting celebrations that created welcoming and supportive spaces for Lesbians to find each other, share support and build community.
The fact that a quick internet search does not mention any of this, and incorrectly says that Lesbian Visibility Day and Week started in 2008, just speaks to the invisibility of Lesbians and our unique diverse community. The very first North American Lesbian conference was held in 1971 in California and the first Canadian Lesbian conference was held in 1973. Lesbian Visibility events started back in the 1980s and events have been organized since then in Canada, the US, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.
Lesbian Visibility Day is celebrated on April 26th and Lesbian Visibility Week is celebrated April 24th to 30th. This day seeks to acknowledge, empower and celebrate Lesbians. It aims to raise awareness about the stereotypes, judgments and lack of representation that Lesbians face. The day hopes to encourage closeted Lesbians to come out and be their authentic selves within a supportive community.
I am grateful to the thousands of brave Lesbians before me – here and all over the world – who paved the way to make it possible for so many women like myself to grow into the happy Lesbians that we are today.
Of course, many women and non-binary people are still not safe enough to be fully themselves as Lesbians, here in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Lesbian visibility is so important to help make it possible for an isolated Lesbian to know she is not alone, to provide positive images and role models to show that it is possible to live a good, happy and full life as a Lesbian. I, for one, am so grateful to have lived as an out, happy Lesbian for the past 30 years of my life, and will continue to advocate for freedom and safety for all Lesbians, from all of our diverse communities, all over the world.
Please join me in celebrating Lesbian Visibility Day and Week!
Further Learning:
https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/
Respectfully,
HLI EDI Committee