BiBloggers

Below is my letter to School’s Out over the lack of bisexual inclusion in their official program:

I read through your magazine that accompanies LGBT history month.  Apart from the pictures of David Bowie, I couldn’t find anything that was specifically bisexual.  

I was invited to take part in the LGBT History Month event in Bristol on 20th February, after being told by someone else involved, that there wasn’t a single bisexual session in it.  They realised at the last minute that they needed a bisexual speaker to be there.

I was contacted by someone who attended the launch of LGBT History Month  last weekend in London.  They told me there wasn’t any bisexual content or speakers at the event.

These are just 3 examples of the lack of bisexuality in LGBT History Month.  I realise that we bisexuals have to put ourselves forward, but if we are never asked to participate, then how can we?  I have been very disappointed with all of this, because it happens year after year.  I’ve been told that bisexuality is covered within LGBT talks and sessions, but that isn’t a good enough way to include us.  If I don’t see that something is specifically bisexual, I and many others will assume we aren’t wanted there, and won’t be addressed either.  This assumption has formed because of the countless times bisexuals are promised inclusion, but nothing has appeared.

So I have 2 questions for you:
How can you have a LGBT event with no B present?
What are you going to do to ensure this doesn’t happen again next year?

…. taking your  Parent-with-dementia out and helping them choose a Valentine’s Card for your other Parent, keeping it somewhere safe (because someone with dementia will forget where their safe place is and you either end up with multiple copies of things or none!) then getting it out the night before Valentines and prompting them to […]

bisofcolour:

SAVE THE DATE!

Sunday 14th of February may be Valentines Day, but it’s also the Bi’s of Colour Celebration for LGBT History Month!

Where: Peckham Library (5th floor) - 122 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JR.  Nearest train station is Peckham Rye (has lots of stairs) or Peckham Queens Road (has a lift). The library is very accessible, with decent loos inside and ramps to enter.

When: 1pm - 3pm

Why: LGBT History Month is traditionally not a great time for either People of Colour or Bisexuals.  We tend to get erased, and our history is ignored.  Jacq Applebee will be talking about our history project, and there will be refreshments too!  

If you need any more info, email us at bis.of.colour@gmail.com

bisofcolour:

February is #LGBT History Month in the U.K.  There are a few events with content from bisexual AND Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people.  For more information on LGBT History Month events across the country, see http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/

February 4th Expansions  - 6:30pm onwards - https://t.co/lIitRwIwDE -
Idea Store Watney Market, 260 Commercial road E1 2FB

February 14th Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street London SE15 5JR
1-3 Bi’s of Colour Event, with food, socialising, stories and talks. Wheelchair accessible.

February 20th Bristol National LGBT Festival - History and Stories from J. Applebee – the only bisexual content in the entire festival! http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/event/national-history-day-bristol/?instance_id=2882

February 27th Manchester – 5pm - LGBT Foundation – 5 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3HF –
Past, present and future of Bisexuals of Colour from J. Applebee

Here's the BiPhoria Bulletin for the end of January: with outreach stalls, bi meetups, Tom Robinson, LGBT History Month, and more.http://eepurl.com/bNIWJH

Fear In The Lives Of Bisexuals Of Colour:

bisofcolour:

The abstract for this poster:

Fear is an emotion that was raised throughout the first-ever report on Bisexuals who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.  Fear mixed with corresponding negative experiences, which many bisexual People of Colour report, may lead to or worsen adverse mental health, including depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide idelation.  Bisexual People of Colour have spoken of their experiences of racism, biphobia, sexism, abelism and fetishization both within and outside of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans communities.  These intersecting oppressions leads to an ongoing fear of being “out” in daily life. Fear was also raised in connection with family rejection, risks of violence including sexual violence and honour-based violence, which leads the bisexual person of colour to exist in a near-constant state of heightened awareness and dread.  All of these experiences, both lived and potential, places a great mental strain on bisexual people of colour.
There is currently very little information on bisexual people in the United Kingdom, and even less on People of Colour who identify as bisexual; this leads to mental health treatments being unsatisfatory or inappropriate for this group.
The Bisexuals of Colour Report can be read in full at: https://bisexualresearch.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/bis-of-colour-survey-report.pdf