Lesbian Visibility Week is celebrated annually from April 24th to April 30th, and its purpose is to recognize all women and non-binary people of the LGBTQ community. Although its exact origin is largely unknown, the original idea for Lesbian Visibility Week can be traced back to New Zealand and surrounding territories in the early 1980s. It then rose to popularity (although celebrated unofficially) in California around 1990. It has now grown to be celebrated in the rest of the United States, England, and other countries all over the world. Its first observances can be traced back to Western Hollywood from the years 1990 to 1992, where it was coordinated by members of the West Hollywood Lesbian Visibility Committee as well as the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Its very first observance was dedicated to addressing and raising awareness to issues surrounding the LGBTQ community. This was done through organized workshops that addressed current and future needs, social events, and celebrity awards ceremonies.

     Although it has been developed since the late 20th century, Lesbian Visibility Week has come to be known as an official event only in more recent years. Lesbian Visibility Day became well-known as an annual celebration throughout all US states around 2008, but Lesbian Visibility Week took much longer to be considered an official event. Linda Riley, a British journalist and LGBTQ rights advocate, founded Lesbian Visibility Week in 2020. Her goal, she has stated on multiple occasions, is to educate people on the need for LGBTQ rights and to advocate for progress that has not yet been made. “With so much more visibility than we have had in the past, it is easy to assume that the legal rights of marginalized groups are on a permanently upward, positive path. But the sad truth is that equality and human rights can vanish at the stroke of a pen,” Linda Riley expressed to the Advocate magazine in 2022. Lesbian Visibility week not only stands for the celebration of the women and non-binary people of the LGBTQ community, but also to raise awareness for issues surrounding them.

      Throughout the last few years, there have been many parades and other celebratory events that occur annually to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week. Countries throughout the world celebrate the week through private events such as Lesbian Visibility Week kickoff parties, which take place at the London Stock Exchanges in New York and London throughout the week. Although these events can only be attended by select public figures, they are live streamed on platforms such as Facebook and Youtube so as to include people from all backgrounds. There are many ways to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week that are open to anyone in the general public. It is recognized online through social media hashtags and the official accounts for the organizations dedicated to acknowledging the week. As for the students and faculty of the Oakton High School community, Lesbian Visibility Week can currently be acknowledged through the Gender-Sexuality Alliance, or the GSA.