Backbench Business

Lesbian Visibility Week was founded in 2019 by Linda Riley, to celebrate and uplift lesbians from all backgrounds. The number of women identifying as lesbian has increased by 64% since 2014. However, challenges remain, including hate crime, social media abuse, and financial barriers for same-sex couples seeking IVF. MPs must use their platforms to highlight intersectionality issues faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Agrees with the importance of highlighting hate crime against LGBTQIA+ individuals and draws a parallel between current homophobia and past racism her parents experienced.

Reflects on the progress made since the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, questioning whether lesbian daughters would have equal quality of life compared to heterosexual daughters.

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow on securing this debate and on her excellent speech. At first I thought, “What am I going to say in this debate?”, because I am not a lesbian, but I have stood in this Chamber and spoken on many issues. The thing is, you do not have to be a lesbian to speak in this debate; what you have to be is a good person. You have to be a person who believes in equality and fairness—that is what is important. As my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow said, Lesbian Visibility Week was created by a bestie of ours, Linda Riley, who is in the Gallery today. She has fought all her life to be heard and to be her authentic self, and what she wants more than anything is for everybody else to have that same privilege... Nobody wants to erase lesbians—honestly, I would feel sorry for anyone who tried—and this debate highlights that.

It is a real privilege to speak in this debate. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow on securing it and on her excellent opening speech... Of course, we created civil partnerships and awarded statutory rights to fertility treatment for lesbians on the NHS but, as my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow said, there is a long way to go on equal and fair access.

Cherry declares her support for LGB Alliance and criticises the marginalisation of lesbians in society, highlighting cases where lesbians have been persecuted or faced legal challenges due to their stance against gender identity ideology. She mentions specific examples such as Lucy Masoud, Professor Kathleen Stock, Julie Bindel, Professor Jo Phoenix, Dr Shereen Benjamin, and others who face hostility from those promoting gender identity theory.

Congratulated the hon. Friend for securing the debate and praised her inclusion in the DIVA power list; highlighted the importance of being authentic, celebrated diversity within the lesbian community, acknowledged Maureen Colquhoun as a trailblazer, and criticised the Conservative Government's handling of LGBT+ rights.

Praised the hon. Member for Jarrow for securing the debate; expressed pride in being an openly LGBT MP, acknowledged the progress made in LGBT rights, and emphasised the importance of Lesbian Visibility Week to ensure future generations see no issue with being a lesbian.

Expressed gratitude for those who contributed to the debate; criticised the SNP Front-Bench spokesperson for using problematic language in a celebratory context, expressing disappointment and concern about hate and toxicity in Parliament.