Resources for the Lesbian Community

akt would like to spotlight the lesbian community and highlight the social resources available for lesbian people.

At akt we want to show our support for all lesbians, and LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people. It's so important that as a community we uplift and support queer women from all communities and backgrounds.

The lesbian community refers to women who have a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards other women. Many trans and non-binary people also identify with this term. In 2021, the lesbian community made up 17% of the young people supported by akt.

Lesbianism throughout history:

Throughout history, there have been many times that both the lesbian community and their achievements have been overlooked. This includes:

  • During the late 19th century, when being gay was illegal, lesbians were never explicitly targeted by any legislation regarding homosexual sex. This is because their identity was not seen as valid.
  • The tendency for lesbians and their relationships in history to be ignored, removed, or edited in academia, and other sources. An example of this includes the poems and love letters Emily Dickinson wrote to Susan Gilbert, which are often recognised as being platonic - although many historians and members of the LGBTQ+ community think otherwise.
  • The way lesbian activist Stormé DeLarverie, who’s scuffle with police is recognised by eyewitnesses as sparking the Stonewall riots, is often left unacknowledged in history books.

For this reason, we understand why a sense of community can be especially important for lesbians and other historically marginalised groups. 

Lesbian social groups do exist in the UK and Northern Ireland, and here at akt, we believe they should all strive to be inclusive.

Our Marketing and Communications Manager stresses the importance of lesbian visibility week,

“With increasing polarised public conversations, it’s important that we uplift and support lesbians and queer women from all different cultures and backgrounds. I am proud to call myself an inclusive lesbian, trans women are women and deserve to be treated as such. As lesbians, we face discrimination due to our sexuality and our gender which often means we are forgotten from history and have little representation, but this is rapidly improving!”

We understand that just because we are in Lesbian Visibility Week, that doesn't change the struggles many LGBTQ+ people face with regards to their mental and physical wellbeing. 

Below is a list of websites where you can find more information about inclusive social groups and services for lesbians:

Social Groups:

  • KENRIC is the longest-running social group for lesbians in London and the South East. They offer a variety of social events both online and face to face.
  • The LGBT Foundation offers free monthly workshops for queer women, on the third Saturday of every month. They provide several social activities ranging from screen printing to comedy workshops.
  • Black Lesbian Discussion Group takes place at Gay’s The Word Bookshop in London on every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm. It exists as a safe space for lesbians of colour to socialise and converse.
  • Lesbian Discussion Group similarly takes place at Gay’s the Word Bookshop every Wednesday at 8pm. The group was founded 40 years ago, and acts as a space to ‘discuss current affairs, sexuality, politics, lifestyle, and lesbian-specific topics’.
  • Lesbian Immigration Support Group is in greater Manchester. It consists of several volunteers supporting lesbian refugees from countries including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Somalia. Many of the women who attend this group use it as a safe space to socialise amongst those who have shared similar experiences.
  • Queer Refugees Unite (Women’s Group) runs a confidential space for space for LBT & non-binary asylum seekers and refugees They are currently open for new members. 
  • Norfolk LGBTQI+ Women’s Social Group offers a range of social events and online meet ups.  
  • London Friends has several lesbian social events located in London, including a ‘Women’s Crafternoon’ and ‘Conversational English Classes’ for queer women.
  • LBTQ+ Women’s Social Club is based in Birmingham but takes place online twice a month. It also has a forum.
  • Umbrella Cymru has a long list of Social and Support Groups, Clubs and forums for lesbians and the entire LGBTQ+ community.

Mental health helplines for the lesbian community:

We understand that just because it's International Lesbian Day, that doesn't change the struggles many LGBTQ+ people face with regards to their mental and physical wellbeing. If you are struggling please reach out to the following organisations who are ready to help:

Here are some lesbian activists we think you should know about:

Lesbian Activists

  • Audre Lorde was a poet, essayist, librarian, feminist, and equal rights activist.
  • Barbara Gittings sometimes referred to as ‘the mother of the civil rights movement’, Gittins led initiatives to promote LGBTQ+ literature in libraries and to remove homosexuality's classification as a mental illness.
  • Lady Phyll is a political activist known for her work for racial, gender and LGBTQ+ equality. She is also the co-founder of UK Black Pride.
  • Sue Sanders is a British LGBTQ+ rights activist who has specialised in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over forty years.
  • Jeanne Cordova was founder of the West Coast LGBTQ+ movement.
  • Jackie Forster was an English news reporter, actress and lesbian rights activist. 
  • Lisa Power is a British sexual health and LGBTQ+ rights campaigner. 
  • Christine Burns MBE is a political activist best known for her work with Press for Change and, more recently, as an internationally recognised health advisor.
need support?
donate
news

Published:

Updated:

Author: Dominic McGovern

Share this page
Manage Cookie Preferences