Do you know the Coop-Femmes, this lesbian community center founded in 1977? Did you know that militant lesbians had organized a vigil in front of the Polytechnique in 1989? Have you ever leafed through the magazine Lez Spread The Word Or listen to the radio show Lesbo-sounds ? Have you heard of the play Scissors in 2022? It’s a safe bet not.
Erased
Coming from “Lesbos”, the island on which the Greek poetess Sappho was born around 630 BC, it was not until the 20e century that the term “lesbian” appeared to specifically designate female homosexuality! Not having a word to name a reality is already a sign that it is not discussed, or even simply admitted. It should be noted that the term lesbophobia — which designates fear, contempt, even hatred towards women who love women — has still not made its way into Robert…
Thus, historically, we have often “forgotten” to talk about women of sexual diversity when we have not quite simply systematically made them invisible. However, lesbians are everywhere and have always been. Of the’Illiad from Homer to second-wave feminist political lesbians to the “romantic friendships” between women popular in the 17e century, women who love women have always existed, created, fought and loved.
Their invisibility in the public sphere can be explained in several ways. Homophobia is an obvious reason. Religion and law have also long condemned homosexuality — and still do in many countries. Right here in Canada, it wasn’t until 1969 that it was decriminalized. Moreover, women have long been “understood” or “explained” in relation to men and their ability to give them children, a paradigm that a couple without a man radically upsets.
Located at the intersection of these different oppressions – homophobia and sexism – lesbian people have often kept a low profile for their own safety and have been ignored and made invisible by the media, workplaces, families and civil societies steeped in prejudice and heterosexual norms.
Lesbian Visibility Day
In order to remedy this invisibilization, women who love women all over the world have celebrated Lesbian Visibility Day for more than 40 years. This takes place on April 26 and aims to celebrate lesbian identity, history and culture and to highlight lesbian role models in addition to fighting against erasure.
It was Quebec lesbians who were the first to hold such a day, initially focused on the community, in order to weave ties, build solidarity and break isolation. Today, the Network of Lesbians of Quebec carries this day and organizes on this occasion an award ceremony, an awareness campaign and events.
Despite this long history and an undeniable enthusiasm on the part of the community, it is clear that this day of visibility remains unknown to the general public. Being deprived of visibility — the ability to appear, be seen, and heard — results in an impaired sense of self, a sense of isolation, and a denial of appearance. Revealing and recognition outside the intimate sphere is a guarantee of existence for minority groups, and makes it possible to deconstruct the negative connotations associated with lesbianism.
name to exist
This year, it is under the theme “Name to exist” that the Quebec Lesbian Network is highlighting Visibility Day. To name is to correct the historical discrimination that lesbian, bisexual, and queer women have suffered and to rewrite history from their perspectives. It is also to continue to de-stigmatize and normalize the term lesbian, as well as to validate the non-heterosexual feelings and experiences of women and transfeminine people.
On this occasion, the media, public figures, organizations and individuals are invited to salute the talents, qualities, contribution to society or works of lesbian people they esteem. So, to counter chronic invisibility, let’s bring these luminous people out of the shadows and celebrate their contribution to society.