A very warm welcome to the 251st issue of DIVA. This is my first issue as a sole publisher and I hope the first of many! I had the pleasure of meeting many of our readers at last month’s 250th issue celebrations in London, and something which really stood out for me was how much love there is for the DIVA brand from readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Many of you at the awards told me that reading DIVA helped you come to terms with your sexual orientation, while some of you who grew up in less enlightened times spoke of our magazine as a “lifeline”. And while life has certainly got better for young gay and bi women, I know that there will still be some of you reading this who are experiencing feelings of isolation and even despair. Please remember: you are not alone, and DIVA is on your side.
One indicator of progress is the increasing prominence of lesbians and bisexual women in politics. The UK and devolved Parliaments boast several out and proud lesbian and bi MPs, and I was delighted to meet the SNP’s Mhairi Black MP and talk to her about her life in and out of politics. You can read the interview on p34. Women in politics have come a long way since we were first granted the vote – lest we forget – less than a century ago, but there remain huge battles to be fought to achieve genuine parity. Check out Carrie Lyell’s piece on p48 for some fascinating insights.