On April 27, 2025, eleven days after the A16 UK Supreme Court ruled that women are adult human females, Thistle sat down with Jenny Watson, the founder of L Community, to hear about her activism and what the ruling might mean for lesbians.
In her own words, Jenny describes what the L Community is below.
“L Community wasn’t planned — it was survival. We were pushed out of everything. Cancelled, sidelined, our events disrupted by men who intimidated women just for meeting together — to chat, make friends, even just play board games. Now, even new venues won’t take our bookings — they’re scared activists will show up. So we started building outside the system. We needed something they couldn’t take away. That’s what L Community is. It’s ours now.
Our community is open to all lesbian and bi women — no gatekeeping, no cliques. Every lesbian and bi woman is welcome. Whether you’re 18 or in your 80s, brand new or have been around forever, you’re part of it. We’re not about labels, status, politics, or history — just come as you are. We’re building real connection, real spaces, and a community where you can show up exactly as you are. We’ve got a female-only app (with dating and soon-to-be-integrated community section — timeline, service directory [therapists, tutors, even a plumber!], just a way to have a little ‘closed circuit loop’ lesbian economy).
We run real-life events in the UK and also Canada, with plans for the US soon too. We also run virtual events, especially our Sunday Virtual Meet & Mingle at 7pm UK / 2pm New York time. It’s a casual space for lesbian and bi women of all ages around the world to come together, chat, and connect. It’s a mix of new and longtime members, and we just talk about whatever’s on our minds. Right now I’m leading a campaign to secure a permanent female-only lesbian venue in London. It will be legally protected under safeguarding, following the UK Supreme Court’s A16 ruling. It’ll be the first of its kind. We’re using the Equality Act 2010 and specifically the public sector equality duty (PSED), which means councils like Southwark have a legal obligation to actively advance equality for women like us. We’re escalating the case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission now. This venue — once secured — will be the first female-only lesbian space in the world with formal legal safeguarding under UK equality and safeguarding law.
We now have the legal grounds for it, and we’re not stopping until we get it (hopefully very soon). The space we’ve applied for is basic — but that’s intentional. We want to go back to basics, away from the hyper-stimulated way the world is going. A railway arch with Oktoberfest-style tables and benches, fairy lights, a simple space where we can connect without constant noise, pressure, or distraction like in traditional LGBT+ venues.
One night a week we’ll do “Off-Grid Night” where everyone puts their phone in the middle of the table with their name tapped onto it, and we just talk. No distractions. That kind of vibe. Every other night, we’ll hang signs that say “No WiFi.” and “Look up. Talk. Laugh. Let’s talk like it’s 1995 again.” Website: www.thelcommunity.com #LCommunity #JennyWatson #ThistlePettersen #WLRN