Best Lesbians+ and Queer Women 2026

Even in an age of disinformation, truth still finds defenders. Women like Nobel Prize Winner Maria Ressa remind us that journalism is not just about reporting—it is about courage.

Aleksandra Skochilenko is a courageous lesbian artist and musician from Russia who was imprisoned for over two years for replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war messages after the invasion of Ukraine.

“It’s harder to be a girl now than when I was growing up,” she told a packed crowd at Northwestern University, her voice sharp as ever. “It’s not perfect. It’s not even good. It’s all misogyny — and a lot of it is about being anti-woke.”

Cover of Poetry in Dangerous Times — a collection of lesbian+ and queer women’s voices using poetry as resistance, survival, and connection in a fractured world.

Going to Santa Fe brings hidden queer history back into the light. Through family stories, archival footage, and voices of artists and activists, the film uncovers how lesbians and gay men found sanctuary in 1960s Santa Fe—and why remembering that past matters so urgently today.

South African court gives life sentences to two men who murdered lesbian activist Refilwe Gift Malope. A step toward justice and LGBTQI+ dignity.

This year’s Albuquerque Pride left many lesbian and queer women feeling erased. Longtime leaders were replaced by two brand-new board members. Community voices were shut out. Beloved events disappeared. Entry cost $20, water was banned, and major sponsors ghosted.

No representation. No roots. No respect.

But we’re still here—creating bold, beautiful alternatives.
We’re not waiting to be invited back in. We’re building our own way forward. 🌈💥