Bringing bisexual voices together
I attended the Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/therainbowlist/rainbow-list-2015-1-to-101-a6731391.html ceremony on Monday 16th November 2015, as one of only a handful of bisexual people on the list. It was great to meet some of the other people who were on the list. Sabah Choudhury, Riley Carter Millington, Rose from Black Pride, and CN Lester were all amazing and super friendly. But a chance conversation with an attendee made me realise that he was none other than Tom Robinson, the singer-songwriter-icon! I’ve been a fan of Tom’s work since I was a teenager. The tune, Atmospherics (Listen to the radio) always reminds me of an unrequited love that made me yearn to be close to someone, anyone who would treat me with kindness and affection. Growing up as I did in such an abusive and violent environment made any thoughts of being treated well seem like an impossible dream. Meeting Tom Robinson was so great: he gave me a hug, and it almost made me cry!
The ceremony involved a lot of people drinking gallons of champagne and vodka; I had the choice of orange juice or water… The speech was quite encouraging, there were plenty of photo opportunities, but apart from that, it felt a bit strange. I’m still very happy I attended with Katy from Purple Prose and the Bisexual Index. And meeting Tom Robinson was so special too.
Thanks once again for everyone who nominated me. I am so happy to have been included on the Rainbow List!
From the Co-founder of Bis of Colour
There are very few ways to get me to give a shit about the ‘rainbow’ list/to support lists in general.
In fact, putting Jacq Applebee on the Independent Rainbow list (no.58!!) is pretty much the only way. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/therainbowlist/rainbow-list-2015-1-to-101-a6731391.html
I don’t like these lists, because of the individualist/celebrity focus. And also because they always have the same type of people on them.
BUT they are visible/googleable and so they are important - I just keep thinking that a young bi person of colour might be googling/wondering if they’re the only one - because that’s STILL what most UK scenes (poc or white) , media and representations will tell them at best.
More likely, they’ll be told that as part of a noxious blend of racism/biphobia/homophobia - that they should ‘get off the fence and decide’, that bisexuality doesn’t exist, that 'all this stuff’ is a white invention, that 'black people are more phobic than white people’, that bi poc *really* don’t exist (this from everyone) except as a fetish/disposable exoticised fantasy item (this from white lgbtq AND het people)
And that young person might google and find this which = lifechanging. I know it would have been so for me, in 1999 when I was looking. And the idea that my first exposure to bi community/activism/art would have been a black person is making my 40 year old heart soul and head explode.
So proud of Jacq, so deserved.
Please continue to support bisexual people. We often feel so alone and erased out there. I am honoured to be on the Rainbow List, but wonder how many others on the list receive little to nothing in funding or support. So if you’re able, donate to www.gofundme.com/bochistory and help a bisexual out!
I’ll be talking a bit about relaxation, meditation and mindfulness, and bringing some neat colouring books for grown ups with me!
The BiCast does a great interview with the editor of Purple Prose. It also includes some awesome music in the break!
I spoke at Queer Black Spaces 3 last night; a rare LGBT+ event in Black History Month. During the event I listened to other Artists of Colour as they spoke about erasure of Queer people of colour in recent history, and how important archives are. I was taken with just how much of history there is in the past 40 years, and how quickly people forget that we have even been present in that short space of time.
Ajamu’s (pictured above with the cap) history quiz was fun, but it was obvious from all the wrong answers people gave, that little is known about UK Black LGBT+ History. It particularly reminded me of how vital Bi’s of Colour (www.bisofcolour.tumblr.com) is, and how I really want Stage 3 of the Bi’s of Colour History Project to be fully funded. So if you want to make a donation to this work, please visit www.gofundme.com/bochistory and help ensure that Bisexuals of Colour are never forgotten!
Please support the Purple Prose crowdfunder on https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/purple-prose-bisexuality-in-britain#/
