果冻影院

A foreword from Dr Rebecca Jennings, Associate Professor in the Department of History and听Vice-Dean (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion):

鈥�A few years ago, I listened to an oral history interview in which an older lesbian remembered the London lesbian scene in the 1960s as a 鈥榞reat big shining ball鈥�. Manchester in the 1990s was that for me. Although I had been aware of my sexuality for several years, it was only when I went to university in Manchester in 1995 that I met other people like me. It was an incredible experience which defined the way I have thought about being a lesbian ever since. At that time, Manchester was one of the biggest and liveliest gay scenes in the country. The 鈥榞ay village鈥� on Canal Street was a mix of so many different and interesting people.

Alongside a small number of students, there were people doing all sorts of jobs and others not in paid employment; there were people who had grown up in Manchester and others, like me, who had been drawn to the city; there were drag queens in feather boas, gay men in designer clothes and lesbians with shaved heads and army trousers and every form of gender and sexual expression you could imagine. Trans activist, Stephen Whittle, gave talks across the road from my university and a friend of mine was one of the founders of black and Asian queer club night, Homoerotica. It wasn鈥檛 a utopia and it could be pretty unsafe out on the streets if you looked different, but when we were on the dance floor or standing chatting on Canal Street on a summer鈥檚 evening, I just remember this amazing feeling that no matter what, we were all in it together. That, for me, is what it means to be a lesbian"听

A foreword from Sandra Springer, Assistant, 果冻影院 Science Library:

鈥淚 say the words 鈥淚鈥檓 a Lesbian鈥� frequently because I want to make people aware that for me, this part of my identity is not an abomination, an insult, or a joke 鈥� I鈥檓 proud of it. I know that not every lesbian can do this for a variety of reasons, and as I took over three decades to come out, I鈥檓 not casting judgement.

As a visible lesbian I strive to be honest and vocal about my lived reality. I use my voice as much as I can, not without fear, but despite it. The more I do this, the less fear I feel. The more I do this, the more empowered I feel.

My visibility is not about 鈥榖roadcasting鈥� my business to the world 鈥� it's about honouring myself, the younger self who really needed to see and hear from an openly lesbian woman, as well as my present self who is that woman.

It nourishes my soul to revel in the fullness of who I am. My confidence has increased, and I鈥檝e become more social. I easily connect with other like-minded women, building communities where we respect and support each other.

This nourishment has enabled me to establish a community group specifically for Black Lesbians 鈥� The Black Lesbian Discussion Group. We meet at the iconic Gay鈥檚 The Word bookshop on Marchmont Street, on the second Tuesday of every month. All Black queer women are welcome.

As a visible lesbian I can, as Dr Maya Angelou said, 鈥溾��be a rainbow in somebody鈥檚 cloud.鈥� I鈥檓 out here living my best life, and I love that for me.

Happy Lesbian Visibility week!鈥�

This week, 24鈥�30 April,听is Lesbian Visibility Week, an important opportunity to听celebrate lesbians听and听show solidarity with all LGBTQI woman and non binary people.

Our round-up of听lesbian research and projects 鈥撎齛s well as听profiles and more 鈥撎齜ring听together people, stories and resources听from across 果冻影院. Read on to discover them.

Lesbian research at 果冻影院

• Read up on on lesbian, bi and queer Jewish women鈥檚 experiences:
• An Intersectional History of Lesbian Space in London from the 1970s-1990s: PhD student听is conducting an exciting oral history project to explore the social lives of LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people in London from 1970鈥�2000. If you socialised in London鈥檚 lesbian/dyke/queer communities at any point during this period and wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact Beth. For more information about the project, take a look at the participant information sheet:

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• The (in)visible father: lesbian motherhood and artificial insemination in Britain from the seventies to late eighties: PhD student Samuel Vermote鈥檚 doctoral research project seeks to interrogate the attitudes, practicalities, and paradoxes concerning lesbian artificial insemination in Britain throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He concentrates specifically on the exchanges between lesbian women and sperm donors. To learn more about Samuel鈥檚 research, read this , where he shares fascinating insights into the concepts of family, community, and bodily autonomy.

Visibility, validation, and belonging

• Read Dr Rebecca Jennings鈥� staff journey as she reflects on her career as a specialist in lesbian history and the power of research in validating and empowering marginalised groups. Rebecca鈥檚 new book 鈥撎� 鈥撎齱ill be out this December.

Hear more from lesbian members of the 果冻影院 community

• Read Katy Le Lion, Sandra Springer and Valerie Hazan鈥檚 profiles on the Out@果冻影院 spotlight page.
• Find out more about lesbian alumni from the Queer Tapestry: see here for profiles on听Dora Carrington and Savitri Hensman.
• Read听Mie Jensen's Seven Questions interview.
• Read Sandra Springer's Staff Spotlight.

Events and more

• Find out more about听

Hosting a 果冻影院 event for Lesbian Visibility Week? We'd like to hear from you! Get in touch with us here. 听