A petition is nearing its target 2,500 signatures challenging Google’s decision to block ‘bisexual’ from its predictive search.
When users type words like ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ into the Google search page, it suggests what they might be looking for – gay dating, gay pride, gay marriage, gay support… but for ‘bisexual’, it offers no suggestions until you hit ‘enter’.
This is a function Google implemented to prevent what might be offensive searches appearing dynamically while users are typing another word. Not only is this suggesting that bisexuality is offensive in a way homosexuality or heterosexuality are not, the first page of suggestions for ‘bisexual’ simply aren’t that rude – they’re things like advice page Bisexual Index and web hub Bi.Org!
Google said it would remove bisexual from the list of blocked terms over a year ago but has still not done so.
It makes it that little bit harder for bis seeking advice and support to find what they’re looking for online – and to find out about groups like Manchester BiPhoria, Bisexual Underground or Brighton BothWays, events like BiCon and BiFest or publications like Bi Community News and the Bisexuality Report.
The campaign to change Google’s attitude also has a Facebook page and Twitter account to help raise its profile.
You can sign the petition calling on Google to stop its predictive search blocking ‘bisexual’ here.
