"Truthfully, it took me some time to feel comfortable with the label “lesbian” - I just didn’t fit the image I had in my mind and so I found it difficult to embrace the identity for myself. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by lesbians who show me how complex and multifaceted lesbian identity is and who connect me to our community’s history. The label itself has evolved to encompass a wide range of identities across cis, non-binary, and trans lesbians which helps our community to express themselves fully. Finally accepting the label has helped me to express queerness in my daily life; little affirmations that come in burnt yellow converse or wearing dungarees make me comfortably visible to a world which has tried to block out difference.
"So, this International Lesbian Day, I’m celebrating my community who accept that I’m queer enough as I am.
"Visibility is an important factor in accepting your identity so here are some of my favourite books with lesbian characters:
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes
- Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
- The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
- The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins"