We are, in fact. Partly because you really can't tell by looking who is a lesbian. And partly because, until very recently, almost all lesbians were very careful to hide the fact that they loved women. Lesbians have been rejected by families and friends, fired from their jobs, locked up in mental hospitals, lost their children, been beaten up - when someone else 'found out'. With that kind of punishment waiting, most lesbians lived their lives pretending to be heterosexual.
Lesbians are no longer willing to lie and hide and live in fear.
Lesbians are working together to educate people about lesbianism, to dispel the ignorance and lies. We have set up drop-ins and support groups. We are producing positive material that celebrates loving women. But there's such a long way to go. There is still so much fear and prejudice.