The return of Donald Trump has sent a shockwave through many sectors of the country, not least among the LGBTQ+ community. Just days before the election, he warned us: “Whether the women like it or not, I’m going to protect them.” This bombastic clown casts himself as our “protector” in rhetoric straight from The Handmaid’s Tale. His anti-trans rhetoric has been equally alarming, with his administration and supporters relentlessly targeting trans healthcare to stoke fear and division. This strategy extended to their attacks on Kamala Harris, attempting to weaponize trans rights as a wedge issue to undermine her campaign. When Trump takes office in January, he’ll have a mandate to act on that rhetoric.
Chilling, right? But against this backdrop of rising conservatism and regressive policy, another force is taking shape—one that’s challenging the very narratives that seek to silence it. Across pop culture, politics, and public spaces, America is witnessing the most significant sapphic cultural moment in decades. Lesbians are stepping boldly into the spotlight, leading movements, opening new spaces, and claiming visibility with a resilience and joy that stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric coming from the new administration. Can you imagine a group that would anger the president-elect more by their very existence? It’s shaping up to be an ideological battle of the ages, with one side determined to restrict freedoms and the other determined to defy those restrictions by simply existing, joyfully and powerfully.
Today’s wave of lesbian visibility isn’t just symbolic either—it’s a radical, lived experience. When Billie Eilish came out as queer in Variety last November, she brushed off the idea of “coming out,” suggesting her queerness was always there, part of her public persona. Stars including Chappell Roan, Jodie Foster, and Renee Rapp have openly staked their claims in recent months, paving the way for a culture that doesn’t just tolerate lesbians but celebrates them. Their confidence and openness signal a shift—a reclaiming of identity as both an act of joy and a statement against conservative voices trying to control women’s bodies, choices, and lives.
Last week’s election served as a gut check and a reminder that Trump, with JD Vance at his side, has more support than we might have reckoned with, despite explicit misogynist language and an agenda to strip away women’s rights and autonomy whether they “like it or not.” Well, we lesbians don’t like it, and we’re ready to lead the charge because this is not just a moment of visibility for us but of solidarity and action.
This is a moment not only of visibility but of rising solidarity and action. With restrictive policies targeting women, transgender people, and LGBTQ+ communities, it’s no wonder that women’s and queer rights have merged into a single, powerful front. For years, lesbians have been on the front lines of feminist movements, challenging the laws and stereotypes that aim to control who they are. As Ria Tabacco Mar, Director of the Women’s Rights Project, explains, “Limiting freedom for trans people worsens conditions for all women by re-entrenching the very gender stereotypes that have underpinned centuries of women’s oppression.” In 2024, being openly lesbian or queer is as much a stance against oppression as it is an assertion of identity. This wave of visibility is a declaration of resilience and a form of collective power.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Lesbian bars—spaces that were rapidly disappearing before the pandemic—are surging back, with the number of venues nearly doubling across the U.S. since 2021. These aren’t just bars; they’re community centers, safe spaces, and rallying points for a new generation of queer women.
Lesbian athletes, too, have taken their place on the front lines. Icons like Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and other queer athletes are pushing for equity in sports, fighting for wage parity, visibility, and representation. These athletes are refusing to be sidelined, showing that being queer and being competitive aren’t mutually exclusive but are deeply intertwined. The current legislative climate only intensifies this fight, as conservative lawmakers continue to pass bills that target trans athletes and restrict women’s sports, using gender stereotypes to divide and control.
The rise in lesbian visibility isn’t a coincidence; it’s a response to an environment that demands courage and unity. For women and queer people across the country, there’s a sense that more is on the line than ever before. Identity, love, community—these aren’t just personal matters; they’re political stances. With Trump in office, visibility becomes a radical act of defiance, a public declaration that lesbians and queer people will not back down or stop existing. This new wave of lesbian and queer women, whether they’re stepping onto red carpets, rallying on the sports field, or building community spaces, is channeling visibility into change, creating networks of resistance and resilience.
And so, we return to Chappell Roan, who recently made headlines for snapping back at a photographer on the red carpet who barked at her to pose a certain way. “When people are yelling at me, I yell back,” she said. That’s the mood of 2024: lesbians, feminists, and allies aren’t just yelling back—they’re taking up space, fighting for a future where all can live freely, and building the networks of resistance that will get us through the next four years. This isn’t just a “moment” for lesbians; it’s a movement, a renaissance, and a revolution. It’s a sound that can’t be ignored—a chorus of voices demanding not just to be seen but to change the world.
