Lesbians Are The Loneliest of All on LGBTQ+
Loneliness is an epidemic and it’s one that affects lesbians the most among our community. Find out the details in our article featuring latest studies.
An independent study by Just Like Us, which is a non-profit for LGBT+ young people, recently found that…
Of all the identities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, lesbians are the most likely to report feeling lonely.
We’re Not Represented Accurately
Lesbians cite low visibility and misrepresentation as the key reasons why they report feelings of loneliness and mood disorders. Just a quick look into mainstream media representations are enough to show that.
Many Lesbians Are Looking For Safe Spaces
Yet it’s so hard to find one. It takes time to feel safe in a space. It takes resilience and courage to come out. Finally it takes a lot of compassion and strength to show your support to all those.
A researcher wrote at The Conversation about LGBTQ+ nightlife in London, and found out that the number of venues fell by 58% from 121 to 51 between 2006 and 2017.
Another issue is regarding the demographics of LGBTQ+ venues.
Although many LGBTQ+ spaces have a mixed clientele, they have largely been operated and used by white, gay, cisgender men.
As the inequalities hit women, people of colour, trans people harder, they are also less likely to have the access to the financial capital to start up and operate venues, there have always been far fewer venues run by and for the more marginalized.
Luckily there have been newly numerous campaigns to reopen LGBTQ+ venues.
During pandemic times have been strange. Thousands have come together for queer online parties as well as more intimate digital gatherings for people who live under multiple identities (such as LGBTQ+ people who are Muslim).
Misery Party, for example, is a mental health collective and sober QTIBPOC club night which run online since the pandemic began, and is oriented toward recovery, healing and joy with a supportive environment.
In the movie “Blue Is The Warmest Colour”, the love of two female teenagers, between Adele Exarchopoulos and an older art student she met at a lesbian bar. The New York Times article question the representation of female body in this Cannes-winning movie. Ms. Maroh goes further to say the sex scenes and another scene in which characters talk about what she called “the myth of the feminine orgasm” as “mystic and far superior to the masculine one.” She added: “But here we go, to sacralize once more womanhood in such ways. I find it dangerous.” She was raising a red flag about an essentialist view of female sexuality, in which women, with their holy orgasms, are thought to embody an innate and eternal mystery.
On the other hand, you have the typical lesbian representation most are. A “dyke” must hide her feelings, act like a man if she is interested in women.
Let’s take Call My Agent for example. It’s a French Netflix hit which revolves around a talent agency.
Andrea Martel in the Netflix hit “Call My Agent!” is your typical bossy lesbian female who has learned that it’s a man’s world and in order to succeed, you have to hide your emotions and embrace male dress code in the workplace. She takes pride in living like a man, going like a man but one day she becomes a mother and she suddenly changes.
That’s not only a lesbian cliche but a typical female cliche.
How about Maxine from the show “Ginny & Georgia”? Maxine is ultra-hyperactive, almost extra, talks faster and more than anyone and jumps around always putting forward that she is a lesbian. I hardly know any lesbians who pretend. Most of us are actually pretty shy about coming forward and don’t want to be the center of attention. Especially, we don’t like our sexual orientation to receive unwanted attention.
Living with your family or any people with whom you don’t feel comfortable fully living your lesbian identity around can be really heavy on you. Not feeling like you can live your life during quarantine or get some action can drag your mood down even more.
You’re Not Alone
You can find a supportive community of LGBTQ+ online or offline.
We are lucky today to have designated safe spaces and communities for each.
We can go beyond these representations and share our unique individuality with each other in our safe spaces. Safe spaces which feel okay to speak in and let out.
WeBelong is a digital safe space where you can meet and connect with other LGBTQ+ friends. Not for dating, not for hookups, no weirdness.
Just for showing our care, sharing our experiences, tips and advice and making friends.
Hopefully one day until we can organize offline events.
See you then!
weBelong is a digital safe space for meeting with likeminded individuals. You can tap your interests, create your community or join other communities. Our community is especially supportive of BIPOC and LGBTQ+.
Download for free: https://webelong.page.link/1
