Bringing bisexual voices together
Fatness, Race, Class and Gender.
Content note: Swearing. And when I start swearing, you know shit’s bad.
So which one comes first? Are you black or fat first? Are you LGBT+ or fat first? These are questions that need to piss off and die immediately. I cannot seperate myself into palatable components for your digestion. I could draw a Venn diagram of how they all overlap, but sadly the people who ask these sort of things don’t want to learn - they want you prove yourself. Spoiler alert: you will never be worthy to them.
If you discuss fatphobia, but never mention how race affects how you are treated, then what the everlasting fuck are you doing? Fat liberation is blindingly white, cisgender and heterosexual. These are the voices who get heard, whose articles appear in popular media. These are the people who can afford to attend Fat/Body positivity conferences and know they will receive a warm welcome. They will never be the only one of their ethnicity in a group of fat folks.
If you discuss fatphobia, but never mention how fat LGBT+ people (with a few Bear-shaped exceptions) are subject to punishing drives of fat hate; how poverty affects fat LGBT+ people of colour differently than their white counterparts, then take the first exit out of here, you useless cumstain.
I am thoroughly sick of the white, able-bodied cisfemale gaze being the only thing I see in fat liberation. I am tired of their voices as the only ones amplified. And I could happily live the rest of my life without reading another piece on fatphobia that only concentrates of American white women who are at the smaller end of the fatness scale.
I want to read about experiences of disabled fats, LGBT+ fats who are black or brown, fat folks who are elderly and/or poor. Because we are the ones who face multiple oppressions, who can’t afford to shop the latest fat celebrity lines (I’m looking at you, Beth Ditto) to look incredible. We are the ones who get written out of conversations time and again, even though we have been speaking out for decades.
So all you gusset-tickling, wankers can just shut your mouths for one shit-stained minute. The rest of us would like a chance to be heard.
LGBT History Month so far…
I’ve attended 2 events so far for LGBT History Month. Both events were clear that they were inclusive of bisexuals, unlike most LGBT history month events that are LGGGGGG….t
The launch of Expansions at Watney Street Library was fab! Several artists and creators presented their work on the walls. There was also an eclectic mix of readings and coming out stories, where I learned a new phrase for cunilingus - ice-poling!
The Bi’s of Colour celebration was held at Peckham Library. I gave a talk on history of bisexual people of colour - from Gilgamesh to Grace Jones. There was also a lot of excited chatting about the future of the group.
I’ve been generally disappointed by the exclusion of bisexual people in LGBT History Month (as I am every single year). My email to the organisers was completely ignored, as white cisgender people dominate the entire month. Saying “bisexuals are covered within LGBT content” is meaningless when we are erased nine times out of ten.
Tomorrow i’ll be off to Bristol to deliver my bisexual history talk again at the national festival event. I was only contacted to do this because someone on the organising team realised they didn’t have ANY bisexual content. This is beyond poor. But this is what often seems to happen.
Lesbian and gay folks, you all need to do so much better!
I will be speaking about my experiences as an out bisexual writer, and how the UK publishing industry is whiter than a snowstorm!
I’ll have some of my zines for sale, including my latest title, Get Lost! a guide to running away for adults.
For the complete strip, see http://empathizethis.com/stories/prejudice-pride/
I was interviewed by Empathize This ( http://empathizethis.com) a great website that creates comic strips based on social justice. I contacted them with an idea, and they encouraged me to tell of my experiences attending LGBT pride. They are very open to people sharing their stories, and were helpful through the whole process.
I wish biphobia at LGBT events didn’t happen, but they do at almost every single one I’ve been to. I felt so sad when I saw the image of myself crying at Brighton pride, after I was spat on; it’s one of the most horrible things to happen in a supposedly LGBT space. I remember how alone I felt when it happened. I also remember how that incident still makes me nervous at times. However, the final image of me hugging a bisexual heart makes me smile. I am happy to be bi. I’m happy that I can love others. I just wish lesbian and gay folks would be happy to leave me alone too.