We are a group of lesbians committed to fighting against oppression, erasure and silencing of lesbians. We believe in the rights of lesbians to define ourselves and our boundaries, and to organize politically in pursuit of women’s liberation from patriarchy.

Lesbians have long faced intolerance similar to that faced by gay men and bisexual people. As women and lesbians we also experience sexist name calling, street harassment, and physical and sexual assault designed to punish us for our lesbianism. In some respects, society is more tolerant today than in the past. However today’s new, so-called progressive, LGBT politics sometimes treat the word lesbian as if it’s a dirty word, because it refers exclusively to females who are sexually attracted to other females. According to the new queer movement, such exclusivity makes lesbians "bigoted" because we don't participate in the current "diversity" of sexual and gender choice. What this means in practice is that lesbians are pressured to let go of our boundaries in order to validate the womanhood of transitioning males, or to give up our womanhood if we don't fit into femininity. The Vancouver Lesbian Collective rejects these demands.

Lesbianism is the only form of human sexuality in which women do not relate sexually to men.  That is why we are under attack. And it is also why we won't give in. When lesbians are visible and proud, we and all other girls and women have more power to determine our political, sexual, and bodily boundaries. Join us in celebrating lesbian pride!

Thank you to our supporters!

Two hundred people attended our March 2024 event in person, and many donated to ensure we could cover the costs to hear from Cherry Smiley, Kathleen Stock and Kathleen Piovesan, all accomplished feminists. Thank you.

Read the Vancouver Lesbian Collective’s perspective on the harms of gender identity to women in BC.