I swear there’s a themed-day for everything, and it feels like every day on the American calendar is dedicated to something or someone. Today, for example, is International Lesbian Day. It’s supposed to be a day, “for lesbians the world over to come together to celebrate lesbian history, diversity, and culture.” Sounds great, right?
But here’s the thing—while we’re (or rather, some of y’all) are posting your couple and throuple photos, basking in the joy of lesbianism, let’s pause for a second to remember that this freedom is not universal. In 2024, in far too many African and Caribbean countries, Black lesbians are still facing death, persecution, violence, and systemic oppression—just for existing.
Imagine that: loving who you love, being who you are, and paying for it with your life. The freedom we often take for granted here remains an unimaginable dream for so many of our sisters abroad. In these places, love is criminalized. Being out can mean being targeted, ostracized, or worse—killed.
This isn’t just an international issue, it’s personal. It binds those of us who are Black lesbians by the simple and undeniable fact that we are Black. We might live in different countries, but the struggle for Black liberation—and in this case, Black lesbian liberation—is a fight that knows no borders.
If you never took the time to listen to my Ring the Alarm podcast series–why not today? I traveled to Jamaica and interviewed queer Jamaicans about life in one of the most homophobic countries in the world. I let them tell their stories in their way and in their voice.
For me, if on days like this, we’re not talking about the women whose voices are being silenced, what are we really talking about?
Visibility is a privilege many Black lesbians around the world can’t afford. Until every Black woman, everywhere, can live and love freely, none of us are truly free.
That is what it means to belong to a global community.
You can find my podcast series on Amazon Music, Apple, Spotify, and online.
