Lesbian Visibility Week 2025

Liz, Bath Mind’s Equality and Diversity Lead, shares the significance of Lesbian Visibility Week—why we celebrate it and why it matters.

What is Lesbian Visibility Week?

A week observed at the end of April to highlight and celebrate lesbians, Lesbian Visibility Week is an important time to focus on unifying and uplifting lesbians from a range of different backgrounds.

Lesbian Visibility Day is celebrated annually on the 26th April and the week that it falls in is Lesbian Visibility Week. In 2025, this awareness week runs from 21st to 27th April.

Why is it this awareness week important?

Whilst there are other LGBT History Month or Pride activities, or women’s networks and celebrations of International Women’s Day, these are often ’umbrella’ events that, whilst important, encapsulate a wide range of identities, often leaving lesbians falling through the gaps.

Lesbians exist between a unique intersection of misogyny and homophobia. This is why it is important to have specific day to foreground the nuances of being a lesbian.

What is the History of Lesbian Visibility Week?

Lesbian Visibility Week originally began in Los Angeles in 1990 and was celebrated until 1992. However, after 1992, the week lost traction until International Lesbian Visibility Day came to be in 2008. It wasn’t until 2020 that a whole week was observed.

Linda Riley, the publisher of DIVA Magazine – a major LGBTQ media brand in Europe – believed that only 24 hours to celebrate lesbians was “simply insufficient” and she looked to change this, founding Lesbian Visibility Week with the support of several UK and international organisations such as GLAAD, Stonewall, Kaleidoscope Trust, UK Black Pride, Mermaids, and more.

The Lesbian Flag

The lesbian pride flags is a powerful symbol of solidarity, celebrating the diverse and vibrant lesbian community.

Designed by lesbian activist and artist, Monica Helms, the flag features a range of colours, each representing different aspects of lesbian identity and experiences. The colours and their meaning are:

Dark orange highlights the unique identity and experiences of lesbians, as well as the strength and resilience of the lesbian community.
Light orange signifying healing and harmony. It represents the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance that many lesbians go through.
White represents non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals within the lesbian community. It serves as a reminder that lesbian identity is not limited to a specific gender expression and includes a diverse range of experiences.
Light pink celebrates femininity, strength, beauty, and resilience of lesbians. It serves as a reminder that femininity comes in many forms and should be embraced and celebrated.
Dark pink represents community, unity, and love. It serves as a reminder that lesbians are part of a larger community and that they are not alone in their experiences.

The LGBTQ+ community and mental health

What affects your mental health is personal to you. But certain experiences are more likely to lead to poor mental health. It is important to note that being LGBTQ+ doesn’t cause mental ill health, but some things you may go through as an LGBTQ+ person can make you more likely to experience mental ill health.

LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have mental health problems, like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders. And to experience things like low self-esteem, stress and suicidal feelings.

Due to the unique experiences of lesbians, including experiencing misogyny and homo and queerphobia, they may be disproportionally impacted, leading to 70% of lesbian women experiencing mental health problems.

Intersectionality and LGBTQ+

As well as sex, gender and sexual orientation, a variety of other characteristics such as socio-economic background, disability, race and ethnicity (amongst others) can intersect and impact our mental health.

Being LGBTQ+ can interact with other parts of who we are – such as our age, race or religion. You might identify with several of these experiences and identities. This may mean you face unique, overlapping challenges.

These interactions can shape our experiences – including negative things, like discrimination and social exclusion. The interaction between these experiences and parts of our identity is sometimes called ‘intersectionality’.

How can you mark Lesbian Visibility Week?

Allyship is important all year round, and not just during awareness campaigns. Some great places to start are learning about terminology, supporting with advocacy initiatives, and making donations to organisations that support Lesbians.

Resources for Allies

Stonewall glossary of definitions of gender and sexual expression
Becoming an active LGBTQ+ ally by Stonewall
Video: Intersectionality Explained by the National Association of Independent Schools
Pride and Joy, 10 Ways to be an Active Ally BBC Sounds Episode
How to support someone who has come out to you
Using Gender Pronouns – “For most, their singular and visible gender identity is a privilege. Not everybody has this privilege; those that are referred to with the wrong pronoun can feel disrespected, invalidated, and alienated.”
Mindline Trans+ also support family members and friends and provide signposting to other services and resources.
Mind’s supporting someone who is LGBTQ+
Stonewalls ‘Becoming an Active Ally‘ article with tips on how to be a good ally – ‘To be an LGBT ally is easy. If you agree in equality and fair treatment in society of people who identify as LGBT, then already you are an ally.’

Resources for LGBTQ+ People

Mind’s information page on support for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+
Mindline Trans+, a national confidential, emotional and mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary or figuring out gender identity
Black Trans Foundation is a non-profit organisation working for the social advancement of Black* trans* people in the UK.
Black Pride is a black gay pride event in London that has taken place since 2005
Consortium’s directory of LGBTQ+ specific resources and support
Pinktherapy directory on LGBTQ+ specific counselling and therapy (please note that this is private sector, not accessible to everyone), also have training for people working with LGBTQ+ people
Switchboard, a LGBTQ+ specific helpline and online chat (all phone volunteers identify as LGBTQ+)
Imaan is a charity that supports LGBTQ+ Muslims, providing an online forum where people can share experiences and ask for help.
Transcaf is a safe space for people aged 18+ who are trans, non-binary, agender, intersex and gender diverse.

Local LGBTQ+ Support for Young People

Just Like Us is a video sharing young people’s experiences.
Off The Record B&NES a mental health and wellbeing charity supporting young people aged 10-25 across Bath and Northeast Somerset.
The Proud Trust is an online support for LGBT+ young people.
Gendered Intelligence share resources by and for trans young people and gender questioning young people in the UK.
Mind Line Trans is a confidential mental health support helpline and signposting service for LGBTQ+ people.
Switchboard LGBT+ is a helpline and instant messenger service for LGBTQ+ people.
Scarletten offer inclusive relationship and sexual health information for teenagers and young adults.
SARI provides free and confidential support for anyone who is a victim of hate crime across Avon and Somerset.
Safe Banes offer sexual health advice for people living in B&NES.
GALOP support LGBTQ+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of abuse.
AKT supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile or abusive environment.
Oasis Bath is an inclusive, progressive church and community charity in Bath.