21 incredible lesbians who’re loud, proud and making the world a better place
WNBA star Candace Parker (left), comedian Lea DeLaria (centre) and US ambassador Chantale Wong (right). (Getty/ Stacy Revere, Getty/ Michael Loccisano and Facebook/ Chantale Wong)
Lesbian Visibility Week (25 April – 1 May) was created by DIVA publisher Linda Riley “both to celebrate lesbians and show solidarity with all LGBT+ women and non-binary people in our community”.
So, what better way to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week than by honouring incredible lesbians who are proud, visible and making the world a better place for our whole community?
Whether you’re a lesbian or not, take note of these incredible women-loving women.
Billie Jean King. Seventy-seven-year-old former world-class tennis player who has used her platform to speak up for the rights of trans athletes.
Candace Parker. WNBA star making strides for representation in sport with her Russian professional basketball player wife Anya Petrakova and their new baby son.
Chantale Wong. The first openly lesbian ambassador to be confirmed by the Senate in US history.
Jamie Margolin. (WireImage/ Kevin Mazur)
Jamie Margolin. US climate justice activist and co-executive director of Zero Hour at just 19-years-old.
Jayne Ozanne. Lesbian evangelical Christian, activist and conversion therapy survivor, fighting for a comprehensive UK ban on the barbaric practice.
Jessica Kellgren-Fozard. Lesbian YouTube star and disability advocate, who is raising awareness of the experiences of disabled queer parents while expecting her first baby with wife Claudia.
Judith Butler. Philosopher and feminist icon working hard to show that true feminism must be intersectional, and that “gender critical” feminists are part of a “fringe movement”.
Karine Jean-Pierre. (Gary Gershoff/Getty)
Karine Jean-Pierre. Deputy White House press secretary who became the first Black woman to host a press briefing in 30 years, and the first queer Black woman ever to do so.
Kehlani. Music artist who came out as a lesbian last year, and delighted fans by providing visibility for lesbians “on the non-binary scale”.
Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah. Co-founder of UK Black Pride, which will return in 2022 with the theme “power”.
Lea DeLaria. Butch icon who has been blazing a trail since the 1980s, and is still using stand-up as activism.
Lena Waithe. (Getty/ Alberto E Rodriguez)
Lena Waithe. Screenwriter, producer and actor, working to recruit more people of colour and queer artists in the film and television industries.
Lily Tomlin. Comedian, actor and Grace & Frankie star who previously donated $100,000 to help people left unemployed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Linda Riley. Publisher of DIVA magazine, and architect of Lesbian Visibility Week.
Liz Carr. Actor, comedian and disability rights activist.
Mary Trump. Donald Trump’s lesbian niece, who campaigned tirelessly to get her uncle out of office.
Megan Rapinoe. US soccer star who has become a figurehead in the fight for equal pay, including speaking on the issue before Congress, and is an outspoken trans ally.
Raven-Symoné. Iconic Disney star who pressured her own employer to condemn Florida’s hateful ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
Rosie Jones. British lesbian comedian and actor with cerebral palsy, fighting for greater disability representation in the world of comedy.
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Sarah Paulson. Ratched actor who has spoken out for police reform in the US, is proving that age is just a number with partner Holland Taylor, and iconically once told JK Rowling to “shut up”.
Wanda Sykes. Actor, comedian and writer using her platform to fight for LGBT+ equality for all queer people, not “just white gay men”.
