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Writer's pictureManushya Foundation
Apr 26, 2023

Today is #LesbianVisibilityDay šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ


Amazing art by IG @zorageraldus šŸŽØ


The L in LGBTIQ+ is for you!


āœŠThe fight for equal rights for all people is ongoing. Weā€™re taking today as an opportunity to acknowledge the resilience, strength, and accomplishments of lesbians all around the world.


Lesbian women continue to face serious obstacles in achieving equality in our society.

šŸ“41 countries currently criminalize any kind of consensual sexual activity between women under ā€œlesbianism,ā€ ā€œsexual relations with a person of the same sex,ā€ and ā€œgross indecency.ā€


āŒ Lesbians still face the pressure to perform heterosexuality. Forced marriage continues to be used as a conversion practice in several countries around the world, with lesbian women facing abuse from their male partners due to their sexual orientation.


ā—LGBTIQ+ communities are far more affected by certain issues due to stigma around their sexual orientation and a lack of proper healthcare. For example, substance abuse among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals is much higher than among cisgender and heterosexual persons.


šŸš« In Malaysia, consensual same-sex relationships are still criminalized under the Penal Code and punishable by 20 years in prison and mandatory whipping.

Yet lesbian people have always existed and done great things!


šŸ“š Audre Lorde was always vocal in her writings about her identity as a Black lesbian woman and later in life, as a mother and person affected by cancer. She will always be known as a challenger of the status quo, fighting against racism, sexism, and homophobia.


šŸš€ Sally Ride was the first US woman in space. After retiring, she created NASAā€™s EarthKAM project which encouraged women and girls to become more involved in science and mathematics.


šŸƒā€ā™€ļø Dutee Chand is the first openly gay Indian sprinter. She has been fighting discrimination in sports due to her naturally higher levels of testosterone.


šŸ„‡ Sharice Davids, a lesbian Native American, is the first openly gay LGBTIQ+ Kansas to be elected to the Congress, and one of the only two Native American women currently in the Congress.


All lesbian women must be recognized, celebrated for breaking barriers set by patriarchy, and be given platforms so their voices can be heard.


āœŠšŸ» As an intersectional feminist organization, Manushya stands in solidarity with everyone identifying as a lesbian: cis, trans, non-binary, regardless of race, ethnicity, minority, or economic status. Not just today, but every day! We will continue fighting for Human Rights, Equality, and Justice for the LGBTQIAN+ community and everyone.


#WeAreManushyan ā™¾ Equal Human Beings


šŸ‘‰ While youā€™re here, have a look at our previous work supporting social justice and equal rights:

References:

Human Dignity Trust, Map of Countries that Criminalise LGBT People, available at: https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/


UNDP, Situation Analysis of Substance Use Among LGBT Communities in Thailand, (9 August 2021), available at: https://www.undp.org/thailand/publications/situation-analysis-substance-use-among-lgbt-communities-thailand


Human Rights Watch, ā€œThis Is Why We Became Activistsā€ Violence Against Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women and Non-Binary People, (14 February 2023), available at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/02/14/why-we-became-activists/violence-against-lesbian-bisexual-and-queer-women-and-non#_ftn35


Human Rights Watch, ā€œI Donā€™t Want to Change Myselfā€. Anti-LGBT Conversion Parctices, Discrimination, and Violence in Malaysia, (10 August 2022), available at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/08/10/i-dont-want-change-myself/anti-lgbt-conversion-practices-discrimination-and


National Womenā€™s History Museum, Audre Lorde, available at: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/audre-lorde


Reuters, After death, Sally Ride reveals she was gay, (25 July 2012), available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sallyride-idUSBRE86M1C320120725



Olympics, Dutee Chand, available at: https://olympics.com/en/athletes/dutee-chand

NBC News, Sharice Davids, a lesbian Native American, makes political history in Kansas, (7 November 2018), available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/sharice-davids-lesbian-native-american-makes-political-history-kansas-n933211


Center for American Women and Politics, Women Officeholders by Race and Ethnicity, (2023), available at: https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/women-officeholders-race-and-ethnicity#native



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