The 22nd of April marks the start of Lesbian Visibility Week, a time for raising awareness, showing solidarity, and celebrating excellence in the Lesbian community. Originally celebrated for the first time back in 1990, Lesbian Visibility Week took on a new iteration in 2020 (the version that’s currently observed) when Linda Riley, publisher of DIVA Magazine, noticed that the L in LGBTQIA+ was becoming increasingly marginalised.
Skip forward to 2024, and the values, vision, and lessons encapsulated by Lesbian Visibility Week remain as impactful as ever. We find ourselves living in a time of heightened discrimination and violence towards the LGBTQIA+ community, a time when solidarity, recognition, advocacy and allyship can help change the future for the better.
We believe in fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Diversity is the bridge to a brighter future, and for all of us at Trinnovo Group and Pride in Tech, Lesbian Visibility Week is a time to reflect on what we can do to support the L in LGBTQIA+ all year round.
If you’re hoping to make a positive impact of your own, we’ve put together some pointers – check them out below.
Advocacy and Allyship
Allies and advocates can give a voice and a platform to marginalised groups. Moving beyond tokenistic or performative allyship means actively supporting the community, but it needs to start with a little (or a lot) of learning. Remember, this is a journey that shouldn’t ever end. What makes a good ally?
· Self-Awareness – Reflection and introspection are aspects of what it takes to recognise privilege, the building blocks of empathy and understanding.
· A Desire to Learn – It can be difficult to support someone without having any kind of reference point regarding their experience. A willingness to learn more and good listening skills are vital.
· Speak Out – Challenging homophobia and speaking out against microaggressions is an essential part of actively championing LGBTQIA+ rights, and it takes many different forms. Whether that’s reporting a grievance at work on someone else’s behalf or speaking up at the time – remember to speak up safely.
· Turn Up for People – Know someone who’s struggling? Give them your time. It’s simple, effective, and often makes a world of difference.
· Believe People – Don’t downplay people’s struggles or question their identity. Leading with empathy is the best place to start.
Taking Action
Even the actions that seem the smallest can have a wide-reaching impact. For example, we introduced pronouns to our email signatures – a seemingly small change that not only showcases support for the LGBTQIA+ community, but also encourages inclusivity both in and out of the workplace.
Here are some actions you might want to take to support lesbians on Lesbian Visibility Day:
· Host an event catered by lesbian-owned businesses.
· Write an article!
· Share the stories of lesbians around the world – inclusion and support should transcend borders.
If you’re hoping to join an inclusive, supportive, fast-growing community of LGBTQIA+ professionals, Pride in Tech has you covered. Find out more about our community here: Pride in Tech.
