Debate on a Motion on Lesbian Visibility Week

Lesbian Visibility Week takes place this year during the week beginning Monday 22 April 2024. The theme for this year is described on the Lesbian Visibility Week website as:

the power of sisterhood by uplifting incredible LGBTQIA women and non-binary people from every generation, in every field and in every country around the world.

Lesbian Visibility Week originated in 1990 in West Hollywood, through the efforts of the West Hollywood Lesbian Visibility Committee, founded in 1989. The event began as a programme of cultural activities and workshops aimed at “raising awareness around lesbian issues and identities”. The event was co-funded by the City of West Hollywood, partly because there was “a lot of attention for the gay male community, but not as much for lesbians”.

The modern iteration of Lesbian Visibility Week was founded in 2020 by Linda Riley, publisher of the UK-based magazine Diva, which describes itself as “the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQIA women and non-binary people”. The week built on the foundations of Lesbian Visibility Day, celebrated annually on 26 April.

An Early Day Motion was tabled in 2023 by Hannah Bardell MP to recognise last year’s fourth annual Lesbian Visibility Week, stating that:

That this House recognises the fourth annual Lesbian Visibility Week, which aims to show solidarity with all LGBTQI woman and non binary people, celebrate lesbians and is a voice for unity to lift up all women, especially those from marginalised communities; congratulates Lesbian Visibility Week founder Linda Riley for her long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion and her work to empower the LGBTQ+ community; and further notes the importance of Lesbian Visibility Week in celebrating and supporting lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women across the UK and beyond to be their true selves at work, at home and socially.

Some commentators have highlighted the importance of a week that celebrates lesbians specifically, rather than under the broader umbrellas of LGBT History Month or Pride Month. This is partly because Lesbian Visibility Week can highlight particular issues faced by lesbians and because not all lesbians feel welcome at or represented by events focused on broader “LGBT+ umbrella communities”.

This debate pack provides background to the debate along with statistics relating to the UK’s lesbian population.