Lesbian Visibility Week 2024 runs from 22 April to 28 April, during which time Lesbian Day of Visibility will also take place on 26 April.
Lesbian Day of Visibility has been celebrated in the UK since 2008 and in 2020, a week-long Lesbian Visibility Week was established by Linda Riley, the publisher of DIVA (a magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people). Linda has said “…an annual Lesbian Visibility Day… was simply not enough. It was clear to me that we needed more than just one single day to shine the spotlight on lesbian visibility. This is also a time to acknowledge the full diversity and range of people who identify under the label lesbian.”
For Lesbian Visibility Week 2024, the organisers aim to celebrate 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. The hashtag #UnifiedNotUniform emphasises the theme of one community, comprised of many brilliant individuals.
To mark Lesbian Visibility Week at Queen Mary, the Sunset Lesbian Pride Flag is being flown outside the Queens’ Building on our Mile End campus.
The flag, designed by Emily Gwen, features seven stripes in a gradient of orange to pink with their own meanings:
We spoke with the Co-Chairs of QMOut, Queen Mary’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network and asked them about lesbians that were important role models and inspirations to them. In addition to many lesbian role models in their everyday lives (friends, family, work colleagues, etc.) who they can relate to and look up to, this is who they highlighted:
You can find more amazing and inspiring role models here: 8 lesbians of colour you should know about and also visit the Lesbian Visibility Week website, where you can explore their events listings (Please note the listing of an external event is not an endorsement by Queen Mary).
At Queen Mary we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and be treated with kindness, dignity and respect and where the contributions of our LGBTQIA+ staff and students are celebrated.
However many LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience bigotry, hatred and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia can take many forms such as name-calling, derogatory jokes, intrusive or hostile questioning, threatening to ‘out’ someone, as well as unwanted physical contact and violence. It can happen verbally, in writing, in person or virtually (eg by email, messages, social media). Whatever form it takes, it is always unacceptable.
If you experience or witness homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, you can report it (anonymously if you like) and / or access support through the Queen Mary Report + Support tool. Incidents of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia may constitute a criminal offence as a hate incident or hate crime under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003. If you believe you have been a victim of a hate incident or hate crime you are within your rights to contact the police.