This Lesbian Visibility Week, I want to talk about joy. Not the kind of joy that ignores pain, but the kind that grows because of it.  

I am a lesbian living in Ethiopia. For years, I hated myself. Society taught me that my love was wrong. I hid my heart, even from myself. But slowly, I found my queer family—people who showed me that my love is not a mistake. They helped me say, for the first time: I am a lesbian, and I am proud.  

Being “visible” does not mean shouting my truth to everyone in Ethiopia. For me, visibility is about being free inside. It is saying “I am lesbian” to myself in the mirror. It is sharing my story with one trusted friend. It is dancing and laughing loudly with queer sisters who understand my journey. 

These small acts are my rebellion and pride.  

To my queer Ethiopian family: I know how hard it is to exist here. Homophobia surrounds us. But listen—our joy matters. When we gather in secret, when we call each other,  when we refuse to let shame win, we create a world where we belong. We may not be safe to show our pride publicly, but in our hearts and private spaces, we are visible.  

This week, I chose to focus on two things:

1. Our lives are not easy.  

2. Our joy is still possible.  

I find joy in the way queer Ethiopians care for one another. How we share stories under closed doors. How we have a secret language to say “you are not alone.” How we turn pain into art.  

You do not have to be out to everyone to be valid. Your visibility begins with you—the courage to say your own name in your heart. To the queer person reading this: Your pride is yours to claim, in whatever way is safe. You are part of a community that loves you, even when the world does not.

We are here. We are lesbian, queer, and unstoppable. And our joy will light the way forward.