To celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week 2024 (happening from 22-28 April), two of our Proud Changemakers - Paige Hughes (she/her) and Lucy Straker (she/they) are bringing to you an episode all about lesbians.
So that’s the word lesbian, how it came to be (looking at lesbian history from Sappho, to Anne Lister through to Ellen DeGeneres and beyond), what being gay/a lesbian means to us and what we've learnt and experienced along the way.
We aim to be educational, spicy and humorous - plus throw in a few mic drop moments too. We do discuss our personal experiences, different types of lesbian pop culture and the tensions within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Please note that Proud Changemakers is a trans inclusive organisation and always will be.
Trigger warning - there are a couple of references to a gender based attack but no details are shared.
"Lesbian identity is strong and activist orientated. At it's heart it’s inclusive, radical and anti-patriarchy. I think it’s pretty beautiful." Paige Hughes (she/her)
Paige is a strategist and consultant for charities, placemakers and small businesses. She has 10+ years of experience in business development, marketing and communications. Paige has a degree in Politics from the University of Leeds, and an MSc in Place Management and Leadership, delivered by the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University,
Until recently, Paige was the Head of Business Development and Engagement for national membership organisation, CharityComms and now works freelance with charities, place-makers and small business owners, balancing strategic consultancy, creative coaching and hands-on delivery. See her website here.
Paige has had multiple volunteering roles, including a Trustee for a charity that supports people with Autism, mentorship and coaching for young professionals, a group lead at an LGBTQ charity, and has been a national EDI lead.
"I have negative connotations with the word lesbian as it has regularly been used in a derogatory way towards me. So I have always had a stronger connection to the word gay so that’s the one I use to describe myself." Lucy Straker (she/they)
Lucy is the Campaigns Manager for Brake, the road safety charity. Here Lucy leads on the charity’s national campaigns which can include calling for new legislation to support all road users, raising public awareness of road dangers or advocating for road crash victims.
Lucy is also a public speaker and trainer on creating inclusive workplaces specifically regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Lucy has co-founded and led a number of inclusion networks and activism groups across the voluntary sector during their 17 years of communications and campaigning work in the sector.
What are your thoughts around the word lesbian, its culture, identity etc? Reach out, get in touch - and you could be on our next lesbian pod! https://linktr.ee/proudchangemakers
Music was by Vitaliy Levkin from Pixabay
