From Necessity to Action: Advocating for Lesbian Spaces

What in the L?!: All Things Lesbian was born out of a compelling need we discovered in 2018 during the Creating Change Conference, the largest LGBT conference in the United States. It became evident that there were no dedicated spaces for the lesbian community to deeply explore and discuss issues specifically affecting us. Our initial attempt to fill this void started modestly with a 45-minute session that quickly overflowed with participants eager for more time. The overwhelming response year after year showed a clear demand: our community needed more than just snippets of time at large events. We needed a dedicated, ongoing space where we could have in-depth discussions about the unique challenges and intersections affecting our lives.
Responding to this need, we created What in the L?! as a sanctuary for these important conversations. Each year, our allocated time at the conference grew—from one hour to three hours—yet it was still not enough. This persistent demand led us to develop a platform that operates beyond the confines of a single event. Today, What in the L?! stands as a vibrant, empowering community force, committed to discussing, sharing, and highlighting the contributions and challenges of lesbians. Through workshops, panel discussions, social networking, and community-focused programming, we strive to educate, empower, and ensure that the voices of the lesbian community are heard loud and clear, preventing the erasure of the 'L' in LGBTQ+.