She is an "out and proud" lesbian, a British LGBT rights activist who has specialized in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over forty years.

Since 1967, she has been a teacher, tutor and a lecturer on women's studies, drama[2] and homophobia in schools, universities and other organisations, both in London and in Sydney, Australia.

[4] With the help of the Schools Out committee, she and Paul Patrick instituted the UK's first LGBT History Month; this was launched in December 2004 at Tate Modern and then took place the following February.

Sanders has directed many plays in London's fringe theatres and has been involved in the production of radio programmes for ABC in Sydney.

In 2005, Sanders received the Clio's Silver Cup Award from the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network for outstanding achievements in documenting and disseminating information about LGBT history.