DIVA is a European magazine targeted towards lesbian and bisexual women. The magazine contains features on lifestyle issues affecting young lesbian and bisexual women and allies as well as political developments in the lesbian scene. It also contains articles on travel, music and the latest cinema releases in the sector.[1] The current publisher is Linda Riley.
The monthly magazine was first launched in March 1994 by Millivres Ltd, under the editorship of Frances Williams.[2]
Linda Riley became publisher of the magazine in 2016.[3]
In September 2021 DIVA announced a new editor, Roxy Bourdillon, who has been with the magazine since 2015. Bourdillon has recruited a dynamic and diverse team to help DIVA truly represent the community it reflects.[4] DIVA features articles by and for lesbians and bisexual women on a range of subjects, from celebrity interviews and in-depth news features, travel pieces and arts reviews. Celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres, Keira Knightley, Samira Wiley and Sarah Paulson have appeared on the cover.
In November 2008, DIVA commemorated its 150th issue with "The Souvenir Issue" which included the cover pages of every issue that had been published in the magazine's history.[5]
As well as a monthly print magazine (also available to subscribe in digital format) the DIVA brand now includes PodDIVA, DIVA Community on Facebook, DIVA Community on Clubhouse, the DIVA Awards and the Visible Lesbian 100 published in The Guardian. DIVA has also previously sponsored the Pride in London Women's Stage in Leicester Square.[6]
In 2020, DIVA launched the first ever DIVA Pride, an online event in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The magazine suspended publishing for several months during lockdown, returning to print in November 2020.[7] DIVA is no longer stocked in shops and currently only available via mail order or subscription.
The annual DIVA Awards acknowledge and recognise individuals, charities and brands that support LGBTQI women.[8] The awards celebrate the achievements of LGBTQI women and non-binary people – and their allies – across business, the media, politics and sport.[9] Previous winners include Lauren Jauregui, Sandi Toksvig and Michelle Hardwick, as well as brands such as Disney and Netflix.[8]
In 2020 DIVA introduced the inaugural Lesbian Visibility Week to celebrate and support lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer women across the UK and beyond to be their true selves, at home and socially.[11] Research showed that lesbians are almost twice as unlikely to be out in the workplace as gay male colleagues [12] and found that LGBTQI women feel that they are misunderstood and under supported.[13]
Rainbow Honours were launched to "shine a light on those unsung heroes and sheroes: those who strive to make the workplace a better place for LGBTQ employees and those who give up their spare time to volunteer" [14] The first ceremony took place at Madame Tussauds, and was hosted by drag queen Courtney Act and Duncan James.[15] Winners at the ceremony included: presenter Sue Perkins; Mayor of London Sadiq Khan; and activist Sue Sanders, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement.[16]
^Georgina Turner (September 2008). "The road to the lesbian nation is not an easy one: us and them in Diva magazine". Social Semiotics. 18 (3): 377–388. doi:10.1080/10350330802217147. S2CID143502081.
