Lesbian Visibility Day 2026

Em Long, PCS Proud member.

This post originally appeared on the PCS website and is republished here with permission of the author.

For Lesbian Visibility Day on 26 April, Em writes about their relationship with their sexuality and how lesbian role models can make the future brighter for queer youth.

It’s always been difficult for me to put my relationship with my sexuality into words. Having grown up in a tiny Welsh village where there were no other queer people, I bottled up my feelings until I felt like I was going to burst. When I realised that I’m a lesbian, I was overcome with feelings of shame – why did I have to feel this way? Why couldn’t I just like boys? Looking back now, it’s heartbreaking to think about how alone and unsupported I felt when I was going through this. 

Figuring out I was nonbinary was an added obstacle as I didn’t know if I could still even identify as a lesbian. While I now had a loving community and more queer friends than ever, I felt completely lost and unable to navigate my increasingly complicated queer identity. At the time, I was at university and had a module on gender and sexuality. Reading iconic queer literature like Stone Butch Blues and Gender Trouble opened my mind to the intricacies and intersections of gender and sexuality, and I found myself becoming more and more comfortable with the fact that I am both a lesbian and nonbinary. 

These days, I see my gender and sexuality very simply – I am a nonbinary lesbian. I identify heavily with feminine experiences, although I very rarely see myself as a woman. If I could talk to my 15-year-old self, I would tell them that things do get better, and that, while figuring out who you are is scary, it should also be exciting. I’m proud to live my life as a lesbian, and I will continue to do so visibly, vocally and unapologetically. 

Lesbian Visibility Day is hugely important to bring attention to our community, as well as understanding of the issues we face. While we can show gratitude for our predecessors who have helped paved the way to where we are today, we can also look forward to the future and continue improving life for ourselves and future generations of lesbians. Celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day by organising some grassroots action, as lesbians historically have: hold a stall or listening circle, or even join your local LGBTQ+ committee. The more lesbian role models we have, the brighter the future will be for queer youth.

For more information about PCS Proud, including how to join, please email proud@pcs.org.uk