Celebrating the original Lesbian Visibility Week, held July 8th-15th, 1990

Linda Riley and Diva Magazine claim they created Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW) in 2020 for “all LGBTQ+ women,” but they weren’t the first to celebrate it. The week was first recognised in 1990. It was originally held from July 8-15, organised by The City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian & Gay Advisory Council and Lesbian Visibility Committee, in partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Centre. For lesbians only. If you need a reminder, lesbian means female homosexual.

The Advisory Council didn’t expect lesbians to be so inclusive of everybody around them that they sacrificed making themselves visible. Lesbianism does not only describe women loving women; it includes *not* experiencing sexual attraction to males. Ever. Lesbians who come out later in life might have forced themselves to be intimate with men against their own will, due to heterocoercion, but they never desired to sleep with men. Late bloomers are lesbians; they are not your “what about them?” access card. I don’t care if feminist bisexual women’s sexual attraction to men makes them feel uneasy and they want to be lesbians. I care about facts.

Heteropatriarchal society often tolerates attraction between women. Even homophobes have threesomes. Some female friends are so close it’s questionable. Heteropatriarchal society disbelieves the lesbian’s *lack* of attraction to men. Non-lesbian “LGBTQ+ women” don’t believe us either, or else they’d recognise our difference from them. That is why our “Visibility” Week has devolved into a celebration of women interested in men, too, which ironically furthers lesbian invisibility. The lesbian shoe simply does not fit the bisexual foot. It’s not deep. Or intentionally exclusionary.

The original Lesbian Visibility Week poster didn’t include non-lesbians. Gay men served brunch to lesbians, thanking them for fighting AIDS alongside them; they didn’t expect to take a seat and be celebrated as honorary lesbians themselves. Lesbian Visibility Week’s focus only on lesbians makes sense to anybody who hasn’t fried their brain cells on the dumpster fire of queer theory. It makes sense to anyone who wants lesbians to be more visible.

LVW ’90 Events:

• Art Show Opening: “The show will feature West Hollywood Lesbian artists. Refreshments will be served. No admission.”
• Staged Theatrical Reading: “Featuring new lesbian playwrights with Denise McCanies of Celebration Theatre at Fiesta Hall … $3 donation.”
• Small Business Training for Lesbians: “Learn how to start and manage your own business. This workshop will cover: marketing your business, networking for free advertising, finances, and many other topics … Free [but donation encouraged].”
• Lesbian Video Festival: “Featuring works by local producers/directors at EZTV … Videos include: Last Call at Mauds (a video work in progress) by Paris Poirier”
• ‘We Are Everywhere’ Party at the Palms: “No cover. Dress in black and white and celebrate Lesbian Visibility.”
• Local lesbian comedians, musicians and singers: “Will perform at the Rose Tattoo … $5 cover.”
• Multi-cultural reading: “At the June L. Mazer Lesbian Collection with an accompanying tour of the collection … Donation.”
• Lesbian History/Art Display: “Featuring the holdings of the June L. Mazer Collection.”
• A Day at the Park: “Bring your own lunch! Various lesbian organisations will have informational tables set up at the park.”
• Softball: “Bring your own bats, balls, and mitts.”
• Country Western Dancing: “Ever want to learn how to two-step, clog, or square dance? Now’s your opportunity to learn and dance to the music you love from k.d. lang to Hank Williams, Jr.”
• Dykes and Their Dogs Pet Show: “Do you have the cutest pooch or a personable mutt? Do your friends comment on the striking resemblance between you and your doggie? Bring your pooch to the show and win some terrific prizes. $3 to enter.”
• Lesbian Swim Party: “Bring a swimsuit and towel and join in the fun.”
• ‘Thank you for Being a Friend’ Brunch/Awards: “To honor lesbians who have contributed their time and energy to fighting AIDS. A fabulous brunch will be prepared by the Rose Tattoo.”