Our origins
Lesbians Incorporated represents continuous collective action by Lesbians in Australia over many decades. Our struggle is for recognition, equality and space was inspired by Lesbians who were formidable in the broad scale movements for social change in Australia in the 1970’s and 80s, including the women’s liberation, anti-nuclear, and gay rights movements.
Lesbians Incorporated (LInc) is a community-led, not-for-profit organisation that funds projects benefiting LGBTQIA+ people across Australia. LInc’s mission is to empower queer communities through connection, visibility, and support. The organisation provides grants to individuals and groups whose work promotes social inclusion, wellbeing, and equality.
Lesbian Inc was born out of the Lesbian Space Collective, which was formed in Sydney Australia in 1986. The title Lesbian Inc is used in recognition of the legacy of ongoing community activism by advocates for lesbians. Worldwide, many lesbians struggle for basic human rights experiencing discrimination and violence based on their sexuality. It is part of Lesbian Inc mission to support the fight to change this.
The Lesbian Space Project
In 1993, a year-long fundraising campaign across Australia, the Lesbian Space Project, set a target of raising $250,000. The money raised during this campaign forms the basis of the funds that now provide community grants. With time, the emphasis has shifted from owning a single building in one city, to creating multiple spaces and places for lesbians across Australia through a grants program.
Maintaining our funds
A core activity of LInc is to preserve and maintain the ‘nest egg’ built up by fundraising activities over many years. LInc funds are held in a range of assets, and income generated from these mixed investments is used to grow the fund and provide community grants.
Respecting our diversity
LInc is an inclusive organisation that recognises and values the diversity of Lesbians. Our list of funded grants is evidence of our support for a wide range of individuals, groups, projects and organisations.
Lesbians Inc supports those who identify as women, wom*n, trans-femme and femme identifying’, or non-binary and all are welcome. Lesbians Inc is inclusive of lesbians, dykes, gays, bisexual, queer, asexual and acknowledges that we may move between these.
LInc operates according to the principle of respect for human rights.
All members of LInc commit their time voluntarily to the organisation.
– Logo pack for grant recipients–(2mb-zip right click and save as..)
2022 Update from Lesbians Incorporated
