Today is Bi-visibility day. I actually first wrote, nay googled, bi-invisibility day. Probably because every day is bi-invisibility day. Liv has written about how bisexuality is often overlooked or not taken seriously. Squeamish Louise wrote about her experience at Bi-Con and biphobia. I don't know a single bisexual person who has claimed not to have experienced some form of biphobia, which the day seeks to highlight the extent of. The day is also known as International Celebrate Bisexuality Day - it's just not used...internationally and it has been going since 1999. So, y'know, take your pick, I like the first one.
I have written about being single. I have written about being mistaken for a gay woman. I have never written about the amount of women who have asked me if I have considered women. I am not insulted by this, there's nothing to be insulted about. They've kissed a girl and they liked it, therefore maybe I would. But the implication - unintended - is that bisexuality is an option.
I can't find a guy, so perhaps I should just settle for a lady. We're the altruistic sex right? Some kindly woman should embrace me against her friendly bosom. Until I meet Mr Right. Yeah you know how it is lady. See ya.
I know plenty of people who skip from relationship to relationship. I don't doubt their sincerity with each relationship (which is not to say I give them my blessing. Not that my blessing is much sought after). I know lots of people who are promiscuous. Some are straight, some are gay, some are bisexual. They all get equally lucky. And I think they are all greedy.
I can't find a guy, so perhaps I should just settle for a lady. We're the altruistic sex right? Some kindly woman should embrace me against her friendly bosom. Until I meet Mr Right. Yeah you know how it is lady. See ya.
I know plenty of people who skip from relationship to relationship. I don't doubt their sincerity with each relationship (which is not to say I give them my blessing. Not that my blessing is much sought after). I know lots of people who are promiscuous. Some are straight, some are gay, some are bisexual. They all get equally lucky. And I think they are all greedy.
| The 2012 the first Bisexuality report was put together in the UK. Meg Barker who ran the research commented: "Government policy and equalities agendas generally consider lesbian, gay and bisexual issues together. | This is not some little Pride left over day. This is a day to highlight the biphobia out there and the acute dangers of it. |
"However, bisexual people often face prejudice from within lesbian and gay groups as well as heterosexual communities. They are invisible - not represented in mainstream media, policy, and legislation or within lesbian and gay communities.
"Government and communities need to single out bisexual people as a separate group in order to address this equality gap."
I can think of only one openly bisexual politician in the UK, Simon Hughes deputy leader of the Lib Dems, who after repeated questions over his sexuality came out after The Sun newspaper said they had proof he had used the gay chat room Man Talk (which sounds like a slightly ill-conceived girls board game, consisting of some profile cards and a chunky pink phone)
I know of some celebrities who identify as bisexual. Though on occasion I cannot help but suspect it is for titillation. Which fuels the casual biphobia we see and hear every day. Or am I being biphobic doubting their sincerity? I am after all dismissing certain celebrity sexuality as 'just a phase'. And how frustrating must that be?
Let's look at the research again: "A report on mental health issues in the Brighton and Hove area of the UK confirmed that those who identified as bisexual, queer or ‘other’ in terms of sexualities were more likely than lesbian and gay identified people to have mental health difficulties and were more likely to have attempted suicide." The study found that this meant they were more likely to experience homelessness, abuse and violence.
This is not some little Pride left over day. This is a day to highlight the biphobia out there and the acute dangers of it. Because for some people who are bisexual out there, it's not Girls or Boys, it's life or death.
Squeamish Kate
"Government and communities need to single out bisexual people as a separate group in order to address this equality gap."
I can think of only one openly bisexual politician in the UK, Simon Hughes deputy leader of the Lib Dems, who after repeated questions over his sexuality came out after The Sun newspaper said they had proof he had used the gay chat room Man Talk (which sounds like a slightly ill-conceived girls board game, consisting of some profile cards and a chunky pink phone)
I know of some celebrities who identify as bisexual. Though on occasion I cannot help but suspect it is for titillation. Which fuels the casual biphobia we see and hear every day. Or am I being biphobic doubting their sincerity? I am after all dismissing certain celebrity sexuality as 'just a phase'. And how frustrating must that be?
Let's look at the research again: "A report on mental health issues in the Brighton and Hove area of the UK confirmed that those who identified as bisexual, queer or ‘other’ in terms of sexualities were more likely than lesbian and gay identified people to have mental health difficulties and were more likely to have attempted suicide." The study found that this meant they were more likely to experience homelessness, abuse and violence.
This is not some little Pride left over day. This is a day to highlight the biphobia out there and the acute dangers of it. Because for some people who are bisexual out there, it's not Girls or Boys, it's life or death.
Squeamish Kate
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