21 April 2023

Lesbian Visibility Week which is held annually from 26 April to 2 May. It’s an important event in the LGBT+ community, to recognise the contributions and accomplishments of lesbians, and to raise awareness about the challenges they face. 

It was first celebrated in mid-July in 1990.

It's a chance to celebrate the progress that has been made in achieving greater acceptance of lesbians, and to raise awareness of the struggles that they still face. It is a day to recognise the strength and resilience of lesbians, and to support and empower them. This day is also an opportunity to recognise the unique contributions that lesbians have made to culture, politics, and science. 

In this piece (opens link), Sofia Venuti, CNWL’s PRIDE@CNWL LGBT+ Staff Network Committee member and former Co-Chair explains what it was like for her coming out as a Lesbian and why she supports the network and wears the rainbow progress lanyard at CNWL.

CNWL has lots of role models in the network that help encourage other staff to bring their whole selves to work. View our role models booklet (opens pdf) to find out more about other Lesbians and LGBT+ staff at CNWL and how they feel they can make a difference by being ‘out’ in the workplace.

Last year Stonewall asked seven lesbians what it’s like to be them and what message they'd like to share with other lesbians. You can read the article here (opens link)

If any CNWL staff would like to join the network or become an ally contact us on lgbt.cnwl@nhs.net