It’s that time of the year again, Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW) when LGBT-Plc compete to show how important lesbians are. Lesbian visibility is achieved by the promotion not just of homosexual women, but with the celebration of pervy men and straight people who claim to be ‘queer’ as some sort of personality substitute. 2021 promises a bumper year of LVW activities with a collaboration between DIVA magazine and Stonewall attracting sponsors including Proctor & Gamble, Tesco and TSB.
A quick look at the #lesbianvisibilityweek hashtag on social media amply shows what the problem is; creepy pornographic anime drawings, dodgy grifts and confused corporate statements of support for trans ideology. A talk on lesbian history supported by the LGBT Foundation proudly advertises itself as for “self-identifying women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer or questioning, all or part of the time” as if lesbianism and indeed womanhood are roles to be stepped in and out of.
LVW has become a statement of support for the idea that men not only become women when they say the magic words ‘I identify as’ but that if they demand it, they ought to be recognised as lesbian but with extra oppression points.
Once upon a time, in the days when Eddie Izzard was a transvestite and funny, DIVA used to be a lesbian magazine. Today it proudly advertises itself as ‘world’s leading entertainment group for LGBTQI women.’ First-up on the specially crafted LVW front page, alongside actual lesbians Sandi Toskvig, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and Liz Carr, is “Britain’s only goth, lesbian, transsexual comedian” Bethany Black. Naturally Black had to be included, because what vagetarian menu would be complete without sausage? LVW has become a statement of support for the idea that men not only become women when they say the magic words ‘I identify as’ but that if they demand it, they ought to be recognised as lesbian but with extra oppression points.
DIVA have a socially distanced awards ceremony planned for Thursday 29th April. With categories including ‘corporate ally’ and ‘brand of the year’ this is of course largely an exercise in mutual masturbation for their various sponsors and advertisers, though there are also individual awards. Interestingly, those who make the grade include the likes of trans activist David Paisley, short-listed as ‘Awesome Ally of the Year,’ and ‘Unsung hero’ nominee trans activist Helen Belcher, who sits on Stonewall’s Trans Advisory Group. Paisley has a history of targeting businesses and individuals who disagree with his stance on trans inclusion. Belcher resigned from a position as a judge of a prestigious journalism prize when gender critical feminist Janice Turner reached the shortlist. One wonders what either of these questionable ‘lesbian allies’ have done to increase the visibility of lesbians.
Other events include ‘non-binary’ people exploring ‘how gender identity and sexuality orientation intersect’ and a discussion hosted by the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights on LBT parenting, to include ‘having a child as a trans lesbian.’
The most publicised event for LVW is ‘Gigless;’ organised by Stonewall the event promises ‘a fabulous line-up of some of the UK’s best LBT comics.’ First of the three comediennes mentioned is ‘Jen Ives’, who “has been doing stand up (sic) comedy around London and the South Coast for three and a half years, and in that short time has reached the finals in the Funny Women Awards 2019.” As with Bethany Black, Ives identifies as a transwoman. Given the apparent barriers faced by ‘trans lesbians’ it is surprising that two transbian comedians have found their way to the front and centre of LVW. Arguably, it’s the funniest thing about them.
Other events include ‘non-binary’ people exploring ‘how gender identity and sexuality orientation intersect’ and a discussion hosted by the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights on LBT parenting, to include ‘having a child as a trans lesbian.’
Lynne Harne of the Lesbian Rights Alliance is critical of the mainstream events for LVW. She is keen to remind the likes of Stonewall of the truth, that: “Lesbians are women who are attracted to their own sex. Men cannot be lesbians. Real lesbians are standing up today to be counted, we are everywhere.”
Lesbian visibility is vital, not least because in the words of Marian Wright Edelman “You can’t be what you can’t see.” And despite the ubiquity of Pride marches and rainbows, there is much work to be done. Analysis of US programming shows ‘LGBT’ people comprise around 8.8% of those in dramas, and that 42% of those are of gay men, 29% bisexual and 25% are lesbian. In today’s misogynist culture, the first time many people read the word ‘lesbian’ is likely to be as a category of pornography.
It seems if one wants to take part, acceptance of the mainstream line on trans inclusion must now be performed, even if not believed.
To be fair, there are some interesting and worthwhile LVW events planned, though it is a shame all have been couched in the language of ‘queer’ ideology. It seems if one wants to take part, acceptance of the mainstream line on trans inclusion must now be performed, even if not believed. It is telling that LVW has been embraced by the corporate world at the very time that it has become meaningless.
Today there are ever increasing numbers of girls and women conceptualising their feelings of same-sex attraction, and their unease with sexist stereotypes, as evidence that they are male. In the past, they would have understood themselves to be lesbian and if lucky, have had role models to look to. This is why LVW is needed more than ever; we need to show that there is no one way of being female, and that lesbians exist and thrive outside of narrow stereotypes. Next year here’s hoping that grassroots lesbian campaigns will be able to offer an alternative to the rainbow-clad misogyny of DIVA and Stonewall.
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