Study reveals 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ women delay healthcare over discrimination fears
Lady Phyll and Dame Kelly Holmes are among those marking Lesbian Visibility Week as new figures reveal the scale of healthcare avoidance among LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people
By Aaron Sugg
As Lesbian Visibility Week marks the LGBTQ+ calendar (20–26 April), UK Black Pride CEO Lady Phyll and former Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes have spoken out following recent statistics.
Research conducted by Kantar for DIVA Charitable Trust and the Curve Foundation found that more than one in three LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people have delayed or avoided healthcare due to fear of discrimination.
The study surveyed 3,212 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people across the UK, US, India, South Africa and Germany, coinciding with Lesbian Visibility Week 2026.
Only one in four lesbian and non-binary respondents feel safe in public spaces
While 62 per cent feel very safe at home, that number drops significantly once exposed to public spaces. Only around one in four respondents feel very safe in bars, cafes, restaurants or on public transport.
Almost half of respondents said they left a healthcare interaction feeling dismissed, misunderstood or not taken seriously because of their sexuality and/or identity.
Established in the UK in 2020 by Diva publicist Linda Riley, Lesbian Visibility Week expands on Lesbian Visibility Day (26 April), providing a full week of recognition.
“This research tells a deeply human story” – UK Black Pride CEO Lady Phyll on Lesbian Visibility Month
Lady Phyll, executive director of DIVA Charitable Trust, who helped spearhead the research, called for wider awareness during Lesbian Visibility Week 2026.
“This research tells a deeply human story about what happens when visibility is still conditional,” said Phyll.
“When more than one in three people are delaying healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion – we are talking about people changing life decisions in order to stay safe,” the former Attitude cover star continued.
“LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people are still too often invisible” – Phyll calling for action this Lesbian Visibility Month
“Lesbian Visibility Week exists because LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people are still too often invisible in data, media, leadership and funding. Our role is to shift culture, challenge inequality and create the conditions for our communities not just to be seen, but to thrive.”
Former Attitude Pride Award winner Dame Kelly Holmes echoed Phyll’s comments about Lesbian Visibility Week.
“What stands out most to me from this research is the emotional toll of people still having to constantly assess whether it is safe to be their true selves. When fear of discrimination prevents individuals from accessing something as fundamental as healthcare, it highlights just how vital visibility remains in everyday life,” she said.
Holmes came out publicly as gay in June 2022, coinciding with Pride Month. The Loose Women panellist spoke to Attitude last year about bringing representation to the UK media after lacking an LGBTQ+ role model herself while growing up, as an Attitude Pride Awards winner.
“I am proud to support DIVA Charitable Trust and Lesbian Visibility Week” – Dame Kelly Holmes raising awareness
Marking Lesbian Visibility Week 2026, she said: “It shines a light on lived experiences that are too often overlooked and helps drive meaningful change.”
Holmes added: “I am proud to support DIVA Charitable Trust and Lesbian Visibility Week in their work to create a society where LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people can live openly, with safety, dignity and a genuine sense of belonging.”
Lesbian Visibility Week is described as an international awareness week, celebrated in countries such as the UK, Canada and the US, as well as in various other European countries.
For more information on how you can take part in Lesbian Visibility Week 2026, visit the DIVA Charitable Trust official website.