Let's all celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day

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      Nowadays, there are few people in the streets and no large public events where we can gather to learn more about what makes each other unique.

      For many of us, there's only TV, the computer, maybe a bike ride or a walk, playing a musical instrument, and the occasional trip to the grocery store.

      The pandemic has certainly put a damper on Lesbian Visibility Day, which falls on April 26 every year.

      But COVID-19 hasn't entirely silenced lesbians' voices, of course.

      Self-described pothead dyke and author Lauren Duca, for example, sent out this message.

      Then there's Ellen DeGeneres, who was honoured with the Carol Burnett Award earlier this year at the Golden Globes.

      Who can forget the introductory speech by SNL's Kate McKinnon, which was so poignant and funny?

      If you missed it, DeGeneres replayed it on her talk show a couple of days later.

      Video: Ellen Degeneres reflects on her big night at the Golden Globes.

      Lesbians visible in Vancouver for decades

      Vancouver has long been a centre of lesbian activism and lesbian culture.

      For many years, it was centred on Commercial Drive—the site of the annual Vancouver Dyke March and where lesbians used to defiantly kiss at a cafe over the objections of the owner.

      Vancouver has also been home to many distinguished lesbian writers, some of whom have been published by Arsenal Pulp Press over the years.

      One of the pioneers was Jane Rule, who died in 2007.

      Vancouver's Out on Screen festival, which is headed by Stephanie Goodwin, turned 31 last year; Rainbow Refugee Society, founded by Chris Morrissey, is more than 20 years old.

      In addition, Vancouver-based lesbian academics have left a major mark on the country in a variety of areas, including law, medical research, creative writing, and education.

      To cite two examples, the future president and current vice president of Simon Fraser University, Joy Johnson, has a female partner, Pam Ratner, who's UBC's vice-provost and associate vice-president-president, enrolment and academic facilities.

      Check out the trailer for Angela Cantada's short 2012 documentary, "Powerful Out Women (POW): On the Campaign Trail", about three Vancouver politicians: Libby Davies, Mabel Elmore, and Ellen Woodsworth.

      The first out lesbian ever elected in Vancouver was Sue Harris. Running with the Coalition of Progressive Electors, she received enough votes to join the Vancouver park board in 1984.

      Vancouver is also home to the first female openly LGBT MP, Libby Davies, who came out in 2001 while representing the NDP in Vancouver East.

      The first female LGBT politician to be elected to council was COPE's Ellen Woodworth in 2002.

      New Democrat Jen McGinn was the first out lesbian to be elected to the B.C. legislature when she won the Vancouver-Fairview by-election in 2008.

      That was the same year that Lesbian Visibility Day was launched.

      Below, you can see how it's being celebrated today over social media.

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