#LesbianVisibility: Data shows that lesbian equality is still a long way off

As #LesbianVisibilityWeek draws to a close, here’s why lesbian visibility matters every day.

Although lesbians constitute the first letter of the LGBTI acronym, lesbian women remain largely invisibilised in societies across Europe and Central Asia. Although there have been advancements in lesbian rights in some countries since the acronym gained popularity in the 90s, such as marriage equality, access to medically assisted insemination or protection against discrimination — the struggles of lesbian communities and individuals continue in 2021 and are part of cis, trans and intersex women everyday lives. These struggles notably impact the most marginalised lesbian communities at the intersections.

Data is a motor for change. EL*C, the Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Conference, recently submitted a gender analysis to the United Nations, noting that there’s a significant gap in research concerning lesbians as a result of the complex entanglements between misogyny, sexism and homophobia.

Therefore, to mark Lesbian Visibility Week 2021, we have collected some of the most striking facts from the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) LGBTI survey conducted in 2019 and published in 2020, regarding lesbian women in the European Union. Lesbian communities are very diverse. There some common struggles, but some affect more certain communities than others.

Here is some data from the FRA survey on the life experiences of lesbian women in the EU:

51% of lesbian respondents said that they avoid holding hands in public

No matter what country you live in, if you are a lesbian there is great possibility that you have avoided holding hands in public with your same-sex partner or lover, for fear of being assaulted, threatened or harassed. Showing love and connection shouldn’t come with dread.

27% of lesbian women experienced verbal in-person harassment due to being LGBTI in the last 12 months

Imagine living in a place where at least once per year you were insulted, called names and intimidated because of who you are. This is the reality for almost one-in-three lesbian women in the EU, without taking in account online harassment.

19% lesbian women have experienced housing difficulties

One lesbian woman in five is likely to experience housing difficulties in their lifetime. Discrimination permeates all areas of life, including when it comes to basic rights that enable dignity, health and security.

More figures

• 10% of lesbian women have experienced a physical or sexual attack in the last five years due to being LBTI.
• 16% of lesbian women experienced discrimination in the past 12 months when using healthcare or social services.
• 20% of lesbian women experienced discrimination at work in the past 12 months.
• 21% of lesbian women are rarely open about being LBTI.
• 33% of lesbian women who have experienced harassment did not report the last incident to the police because they did not think they would or could do anything.
• 36% of lesbian women were ridiculed, teased, insulted or threatened for being LBTI during their time at school.
• 75% of lesbian women said the perpetrator of their last physical of sexual attack because they were LBTI was male.

These statistics need to change, and at ILGA-Europe we are working every day with and on behalf of our member and partner organisations, advocating at the highest levels with politicians and policy makers, so that one day lesbian women can live their whole lives as themselves, without even having to think about it. The statistics about lesbian lives should not be visible just one day or week a year: #LesbianVisibilityEveryday