Pink News on bi visibility
27/09/2013byMeg-John Barker
Great piece on bi visibility in Pink News:
Comment: Why bisexual visibility could be one of the defining LGBT rights struggles of our time
by Aaron Day
23 September 2013, 2:15pm
Today marks the 14th annual Bi Visibility Day, an event held to challenge biphobia by promoting the rights and legitimacy of bisexual people alongside the rest of the gay community. In this article, PinkNews writer Aaron Day reflects on his experiences growing up inside two closets, and explains why bisexual visibility could be considered one of the defining LGBT rights struggles of our time.
Bi Visibility Day (Sept 23) is now 14-years-old, which makes it approximately one year younger than the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and a whopping fifty years younger than the first ever recorded gay pride movement.
It was first launched in 1999 by US activists Wendy Curry, Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur. Their intention was to challenge the widespread assumption that people are either born gay or straight – an assumption that has so far led many to believe in the absolute nonexistence of bisexual people.
Curry, Page, and Wilbur are also responsible for the signature bi pride flag we all know today, with its distinctive tri-colour (pink, purple, blue) design. It is this symbol I have since come to identify with as a bisexual man – a symbol that enables me to feel welcomed as part of a open community after spending a great deal of my life feeling both isolated and disconnected from the rest of the gay world.
Today, however, I am also grateful for those I have met in both LGBT groups and societies who are more and more recognising what it means to stand in solidarity with the bisexual community. Support from both friends and family has been overwhelming, and I could not have asked for a more open and accepting environment in which to grow and mature as a person.Read more…
Filed underActivism,Community,MediaTagged withbiphobia,bisexual visibility,invisibility,visibility
Bisexual sports star tops Independent Pink List!
29/11/2012byMeg-John Barker
It was great to see Nicola Adams leap right into the number one spot of theIndependent on Sunday‘s annual Pink List. A fantastic occasion for bi visibility!
Olympian
Nicola Adams punched her way into the history books this year, becoming the first woman ever to win an Olympic medal in boxing. Since the 30-year-old flyweight from Leeds floored China’s Ren Cancan to win the gold she has become an inspiring role model for young people in Britain and around the world. Rarely seen without the smile that is now emblazoned on billboards and buses around the country, Adams is modest, hard-working and friendly. Everything, in short, that you would hope from a sporting hero. Adams, who is bisexual, persevered with the sport for more than a decade when representing her country — let alone getting an Olympic medal — was not an option for girls. This year, her talent and charm have won over many of the chauvinists who queued up before the Games to say that putting a woman in the ring was “unnatural”. “It’s amazing to be on top of a list of such inspiring and influential people,” Adams said. “Thanks to everyone for their continued support.”Read more…
Filed underActivism,CommunityTagged withbisexual visibility
Lack of bisexual community leading to adverse mental health?
31/05/2012byMeg-John Barker
FromThe British Psychological Society:
Lack of bisexual community leading to adverse mental health?
The lack of a bisexual community could be negatively impacting the health of men attracted to both males and females. This is the suggestion ofnew research published in theJournal of Bisexuality, which showed guys believe a lack of such a group – that would enable them to be more involved with likeminded adults – significantly affects their wellbeing.
Brian Dodge, Associate Professor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and Associate Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, found the stigma bisexual people experience at the hands of both heterosexual and homosexual individuals plays a big part in making them feel isolated.
The investigation revealed this biphobia also contributed to the social stress felt by bisexual males in their everyday lives.
Mr Dodge stated: “Being bisexual, not having a community to be involved with, not having people they could disclose to, homosexual or heterosexual, was tied to their experiences of adverse mental health.
Meg comments: When we put togetherThe Bisexuality Report early this year, we reviewed the evidence from a number of countries and found that bisexual people consistently experienced more mental health problems and distress than heterosexual, and lesbian and gay people. This concurs with Brian Dodge’s recent findings.
Filed underResearchTagged withbiphobia,bisexual visibility,bisexuality,community,mental health
Discussion lists
- Academic BiA great international email list for discussions of theory and research related to bisexuality.
- Bi History GroupInternational facebook group interested in bisexual history.
- Bi Research GroupEmail list for those interested in bisexual research, UK based.
- UK bi activismMailing list for UK bisexual activists.
Events
- BiConThe UK’s national Bisexual Convention
- BiFestA one-day event celebrating bisexuality, for bisexuals and bi-friendly people.
- BiReConBisexual research-related event.
- Critical SexologyAn interdisciplinary seminar series on sexuality research open to all.
- ICBInformation about the international conference on bisexuality.
Organisations
- American Institute of BisexualityUS organisation which supports research and education about bisexuality.
- Bi MediaBisexual news and opinion.
- BiNetUSAOrganisation advocating for bisexual, pansexual, and fluid communities.
- BiUKNational UK organisation for bisexual research and activism.
- Kinsey InstituteOrganisation which works towards advancing sexual health and knowledge worldwide.
- LGB&T Partnership
- Pink TherapyThe place to find LGBTQ friendly therapists and information about therapy with sexual and gender minorities.
- The Bisexual IndexExtremely useful first port of call for all things bisexual in the UK.
Publications
- BCNBritain’s biggest selling bisexual magazine.
- Bi MagazineAIB online magazine about bisexuality.
- Journal of BisexualityThe main academic journal on bisexuality.
- Psychology & Sexuality.Journal advancing research and global perspectives on sexualities.
- SexualitiesInterdisciplinary journal on sexualities.
Recommended blogs
- Bi bloggersMembers of the UK bi community
- Bisexuality & beyondSue George’s blog
- Either/andJen Yockney’s blog
- Meg-John's blogMeg-John Barker’s blog
- Radical biRadical bisexual blog.
- This is MarcusMarcus Morgan’s blog
- YemmynistingBlog of bisexual activist Yemisi Ilesanmi
Resources
- bi.orgA web portal for the bisexual community.
- Bisexual Resource CenterUS based centre for bisexual resources.
Paperblog
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