The Rights of Lesbians: 30.06.25

As the Supreme Court Ruling found, the rights of lesbians to meet and socialise in their own groups has been sadly challenged over the last years. The All-Party Parliamentary Group discussed this issue at its meeting on 30^th June 2025.

The group heard from Diana Stoniav a researcher at The Lesbian Project. Diana’s research looks at the specific challenges faced by lesbians, particularly when they need the support and advice from those who truly understand the difficulties faced by lesbians. For example, maternity and childcare services may assume parents are heterosexual. Professionals may benefit from consultation with he lesbian community. Other examples of this need for a more accessible approach were given, for example in Women’s Refuges or in the provision of social spaces for young people. The APPG acknowledged how important lesbian spaces were, to promote the dignity and safety of same-sex attracted women.

The second speaker we heard from was Kate Barker, CEO of LGB Alliance. Kate reiterated and gave examples illustrating the points made by Diana’s research. As the only single sex charity in the UK, the LGBA has had considerable push-back from others, often from charities claiming to protect Lesbians and Gay Men. In the light of the Supreme Court Ruling, Kate acknowledged the difficulties for the LQBTQIA+ community, for so long led to believe that they had the right to women’s spaces. Despite this, Kate was clear; in a world where up to 20% of those on Lesbian dating apps were male, it is more vital than ever to protect lesbian spaces.

Annaig Birdy, Co-founder of the Irish organisation, Not All Gays spoke at length on the dangers and threats to young lesbians in Ireland. In Ireland young people are offered an easy route to self-ID, at a charge of just £10. The process has no qualifying criteria or clear definition of either sex or gender. Many young women, she explained, were pressured to see themselves as non-binary or trans identified. This is particularly chilling at a time in their lives where they may be exploring their own sexuality. A culture of guilt and fear, of saying the wrong thing, or being associated with he wrong group, is detrimental to young women.

The discussion in the group was supportive of the need for lesbian rights and spaces.