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Polyamory bisexuals are said to have unlikely allies in religious conservative communities, especially [[Mormon]] and [[Islamic]].<ref name=WP>[http://www.worldpolyamoryassociation.org/News/AMarriageOfMany.html "A marriage of many? Is gay marriage a slippery slope toward legal polygamy, or are conservative warnings a red herring?"], Ryan Lee. World Polyamory Association. January 27, 2006. Accessed September 14, 2010.</ref> Mormons cite [[Lawrence v. Texas]] in support of their argument that consentual relationships between adults cannot be criminalized<ref name=SV /> and Mormons will be testifying in a case in British Columbia in November of 2010 supporting the [[Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association]]'s attempts to overturn anti-bigamy laws.<ref name=VC>[http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Polyamorists+want+court+declare+group+love+legal/3499029/story.html "Polyamorists want court to declare group love legal"], Daphne Bramham. Vancouver Sun. September 9, 2010. Accessed September 14, 2010.</ref> The CPAA is supportive of polyamory bisexuals, part of the estimated 2 million strong polyamory community in Canada, mostly young adults,<ref name=VC /> while Mormons were lead supporters of [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8]] in California, banning gay marriage. Mormon attorney [[Brian Barnard]] believes polygamous marriage should come before gay marriage because it resembles traditional marriage more.<ref name=WP />
Polyamory bisexuals are said to have unlikely allies in religious conservative communities, especially [[Mormon]] and [[Islamic]].<ref name=WP>[http://www.worldpolyamoryassociation.org/News/AMarriageOfMany.html "A marriage of many? Is gay marriage a slippery slope toward legal polygamy, or are conservative warnings a red herring?"], Ryan Lee. World Polyamory Association. January 27, 2006. Accessed September 14, 2010.</ref> Mormons cite [[Lawrence v. Texas]] in support of their argument that consentual relationships between adults cannot be criminalized<ref name=SV /> and Mormons will be testifying in a case in British Columbia in November of 2010 supporting the [[Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association]]'s attempts to overturn anti-bigamy laws.<ref name=VC>[http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Polyamorists+want+court+declare+group+love+legal/3499029/story.html "Polyamorists want court to declare group love legal"], Daphne Bramham. Vancouver Sun. September 9, 2010. Accessed September 14, 2010.</ref> The CPAA is supportive of polyamory bisexuals, part of the estimated 2 million strong polyamory community in Canada, mostly young adults,<ref name=VC /> while Mormons were lead supporters of [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8]] in California, banning gay marriage. Mormon attorney [[Brian Barnard]] believes polygamous marriage should come before gay marriage because it resembles traditional marriage more.<ref name=WP />

In modern history, activists considered polyamory have been the [[Weather Underground]], which had the goal to subvert monogamy with bisexuality and multiple partners during the 1960s and 1970s, along with the [[Sexual Freedom League]] and [[Red Army Faction]].<ref>[https://www.adbusters.org/blogs/blackspot-blog/polyamory-revolutionary.html "Is Polyamory Revolutionary?"], Micah White. Adbusters. July 29, 2010. Accessed September 14, 2010.</ref>


==Bisexual visibility==
==Bisexual visibility==

Revision as of 11:22, 14 September 2010

File:BiFluidPan Pride2009.jpg
Various bisexual community groups celebrating in LGBT pride events such as Bisexual Pride Day

The bisexual community is a term used to describe that portion of the LGBT Community who identify as bisexual, pansexual fluid, omnisexual and queer-identified as well as their allies.[1] Alternate terms can include bi/pan/fluid, bisexual/pansexual community, bi/pan/genderqueer community and queer-identified community.

A common concern among people involved with the bisexual community is discrimination against bisexual people; two specific forms are biphobia and bisexual erasure.

People who identify as bisexual as well some who are genderqueer or pansexual are in the peculiar situation of receiving specifically directed hatred, distrust, stereotyping or denial called biphobia and bisexual erasure from both the straight and gay populations.

There are some elements of general anti-LGBT feelings along with misunderstandings against bisexuals; however, the unique discrimination faced by bisexuals include those who say bisexuals, genderqueers and pansexuals are unsure of their true feelings, that they are experimenting or going through a "phase" and that they eventually will or should "decide" or "discover" which sex they are attracted to.[2][3][4] While other non-heterosexual orientations may face similar situations these instances are more commonly directed to the bisexual community.

However there is also increasing support, inclusion and visibility in both communities, especially in the LGBT community.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Defining the community

An American political activism Bisexual pride flag

The social networks of some bisexuals, sometimes called gay- or lesbian-identified bisexuals, are heavily concentrated inside the LGBT communities. But others, sometimes called straight-identified bisexuals, may rarely participate in LGBT culture. And still others choose to maintain their primary social contacts mainly with other bisexual/fluid/pansexual and queer-identified people.

There has been talk of and more of a movement to have a separate bisexual community.[11][12][13]

A series of communities and groups have been working together and focusing on issues that are important to the bisexual community such as biphobia, dating, coming out, bisexuals in the news and entertainment and bisexual erasure, among several other issues. These are queer-identified and closely allied with the gay, lesbian and transgender communities, but their main focus is the bisexual community.[9][14][15] There has also been a movement to combat biphobia and myths about bisexuals.[16][17]

The bisexual community tend to have many of their own events and conferences,[18][19][20] publications,[21][22] websites and organizations,[23][24] magazines,[21][22][25][26][27][28] writer's groups,[29] media,[30] leaders and politicians,[31][32] and even mental health associations.[33]

These communities come together with the gay, lesbian and transgender communities for bigger LGBT events such as LGBT pride parades, civil rights marches and advocacy, conferences and other nationwide causes where the interests of the communities intersect, such as the National Equality March. There are bisexual groups in several cities.[34][35]

Many conferences now have separate seminars on bisexual and transgender topics and several LGBT pride parades in many cities now include a bisexual section of the parade as well.[36][37]

Heterosexual and homosexual people can often be included in the bisexual community and are typically termed as allies, "straight-but-not-narrow", bi-friendly or bi-inclusive as they often support political rights and social dignity for bisexual, pansexual and genderqueer people. Other communities also tend to be welcoming of wide range of different orientations.

September 23 is known as bisexual pride day.

Polyamory bisexuals

Polyamory bisexuals are a section of the community which engages in an open monogamous relationships with both sexes. Polyamory bisexuals are usually married to the opposite sex and have natural children.[38][39][40] They tend to engage in orgies[41] more frequently, dating back to Roman times.[42][43] Some have attested that Bohemian and polyamory culture are related.[44]

Polyamory Bisexual flag common in Europe

Notable polyamory bisexuals throughout history have been Alexander Argead, Sappho, Socrates, Hypatia, Julius Caesar, James Stuart, Marie Antoinette de Habsburg, Carl Jung, Otto von Wätjen, Pablo Picasso, Marie Laurencin, Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, Frida Kahlo de Rivera, Adeline Virginia Woolf, Wystan Hugh Auden, and Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.[45][46][47][48]

Bolivian President Evo Morales, speaking at the World People's Conference on Climate Change in 2010, said the gay phenomenon is a result of pollutants.

Politics

Politically, all bisexuals are in a protected class in the United States, prohibiting discrimination. They can differ from the gay establishment entrenched in the Democrat Party,[49] such as supporting gun ownership rights.[50]

Polyamory bisexuals and the gay community have always been in conflict with one another,[45] as bisexuality having historical precedent[45] while the gay community has been considered mythical until recent times has led to a a constant identity crisis for the gays.[45] The mythical allegations are supported scientifically through explanations of the modern gay phenomenon, as the feminizing steroid estrogen, [51] which contaminates the food, water, and air of many countries through pesticides, detergents, petroleum by-products, food preservatives, and plastic softeners, for example.[51] These pollutants are potent and alter developing young people.[52] Dr. Charles Roselli, labeled a sexual eugenicist and target of the LGBT community,[53] conducted studies into the matter and concluded estrogen causes a sexual orientation morphology.[54] Bolivian President Evo Morales at the World People's Conference on Climate Change in 2010 accused genetically-modified crops of being a culprit for the gay phenomenon.[55]

Many in the LGBT community have deemed polyamory bisexuals as a threat to their activism attempts to mainstream their culture, barring them from speaking at their events,[56] a form of homosexual supremacism, who betray their political activism.[57] Dr. Amit Kulkarni was taught to believe bisexuals are incorrigibly polygamous and a threat to social orders as much as heterosexuals, while some accuse bisexuals of putting the gay movement in jeopardy.[58]

The polyamory bisexuals' opponents in the gay community have been compared to Rick Warren, and many question the commitment of the LGBT community to their interests.[59]

Supporters

A supporter of the polyamory bisexual community is queer Tristan Taormino, who has condemned attempts by the queer community to marginalize polyamory bisexuals and sending them into the right-wing of politics.[60]

Polyamory bisexuals are said to have unlikely allies in religious conservative communities, especially Mormon and Islamic.[61] Mormons cite Lawrence v. Texas in support of their argument that consentual relationships between adults cannot be criminalized[62] and Mormons will be testifying in a case in British Columbia in November of 2010 supporting the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association's attempts to overturn anti-bigamy laws.[63] The CPAA is supportive of polyamory bisexuals, part of the estimated 2 million strong polyamory community in Canada, mostly young adults,[63] while Mormons were lead supporters of Proposition 8 in California, banning gay marriage. Mormon attorney Brian Barnard believes polygamous marriage should come before gay marriage because it resembles traditional marriage more.[61]

In modern history, activists considered polyamory have been the Weather Underground, which had the goal to subvert monogamy with bisexuality and multiple partners during the 1960s and 1970s, along with the Sexual Freedom League and Red Army Faction.[64]

Bisexual visibility

some Bisexual, fluid, Pansexual & Queer-identified Contingents display their Banners at the 2009 National Equality March

Web TV

Beginning in 2009 a web TV series Rose by Any Other Name...[65] produced by FenceSitter Films.[66] began showing on YouTube. The story follows the main characters Rose a comfortably out woman who identifies as lesbian and Anthony a straight man who serendipitously meet and then unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other. Rose has to navigate the reaction of her friends (they aren't thrilled) and her family (they are) while Anthony too has to deal with his friends who are equally nonplussed.[67]

MTV's The Real World

On December 30, 2009, MTV premiered their 23rd season of the show The Real World.[68] The series took place in Washington DC, and features two bisexual characters,[69][70] Emily Schromm,[71] and Mike Manning.[72] Manning's sexuality appears to have generated some controversy, with both bloggers and many comments on blogs saying that he is really gay,[73][74] although he himself identifies as bisexual and has dated both sexes.[72]

Equality issues and campaigns

The National Equality March was a national political rally that occurred October 11, 2009 in Washington, D.C.. It called for equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all states and districts. The march was called for by LGBT activist Cleve Jones and organized by Equality Across America and the Courage Campaign. Kip Williams and Robin McGehee served as co-directors. This was the first national march in Washington, D.C. for LGBT rights since the 2000 Millennium March.

There was a specific bisexual, pansexual and queer-identified contingent that was organized to be a part of the march.[75] Several bisexual, genderqueer, pansexual and queer-identified groups came together and marched, including BiNet USA, New York Area Bisexual Network, DC Bi Women and BiMA DC. The organizations marched together show bisexual, genderqueer, pansexual and queer solidarity as a valuable part of the greater LGBT community.[76] There were four out bisexual speakers at the National Equality March rally: Michael Huffington, Lady GaGa, Chloe Noble, and Penelope Williams.

In October 2009, LGBT activist Amy Andre [77], who is bisexual, was appointed as executive director of the San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee, further aiding in the long-term goal of bisexual visibility.[78]

See also

References

  1. ^ Estraven We are all somewhere between straight and gay . . . . April 20, 2009 BiNet USA News and Opinions
  2. ^ Michael Musto, April 7, 2009. Ever Meet a Real Bisexual?, The Village Voice.
  3. ^ "Lesbian Life About Bisexuality".
  4. ^ "We Have Some Bones to Pick About the end of Angela and Roxie".
  5. ^ "Queers United".
  6. ^ "Task Force Report On Bisexuality".
  7. ^ "HRC article on bisexuality".
  8. ^ "GLAAD TV Report" (PDF).
  9. ^ a b Maria, September 24, 2009. "How Far Have We Come?", Bi Social Network
  10. ^ "[[Thirteen (House)|Thirteen On House]]". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  11. ^ Peter Ruggerio, July 1, 2009. "Where the Community Is", Bi Social Network
  12. ^ Maria, May 20, 2009. "A Bisexual Space to Call Our Own", Bi Social Network
  13. ^ Adrienne Williams, May 26, 2009. "Got Bisexual Bars?", Bi Social Network
  14. ^ Adrienne Williams, September 23, 2009. Bi Social "Network Celebrates Bisexual Day: Moves into Activism", Bi Social Network
  15. ^ "Bi Social Calendar".
  16. ^ "BinetUSA writes about biphobia".
  17. ^ Maria, May 7, 2009. Bisexuals, the Hetero-Privilege Myth, Bi Social Network
  18. ^ "BiCon UK".
  19. ^ "Because Conference".
  20. ^ "Bi Camp USA".
  21. ^ a b "The Fence". Cite error: The named reference "The Fence" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  22. ^ a b "Bi Women Boston". Cite error: The named reference "Bi Women Boston" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  23. ^ "Binet USA".
  24. ^ "Bi Resource Center".
  25. ^ "Bi Magazine".
  26. ^ "Bi Social Network".
  27. ^ "Bi Community News UK".
  28. ^ "Bi Community Netherlands".
  29. ^ "Bi Writers Association".
  30. ^ "Bi Media".
  31. ^ "Robyn Ochs".
  32. ^ Maria, August 11, 2009.Micah Kellner, New York's Openly Bisexual Assemblyman,BiSocial News.
  33. ^ "Bi Mental Health Group".
  34. ^ "BinetUSA Group link".
  35. ^ "BinetUSA Media".
  36. ^ "Bipride LA".
  37. ^ "Bipride NYC".
  38. ^ "Married Women Who Love Women", Carren Strock. CRC Press, 2008. ISBN 1560237910, 9781560237914. p. 159.
  39. ^ "Women and bisexuality: a global perspective", Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio. Psychology Press, 2003. ISBN 1560232714, 9781560232711. p. 55
  40. ^ "World Voice: Invisible Lines," Joseph Santiago. Lulu.com, 2008. ISBN 0615204988, 9780615204987.
  41. ^ "What Does Polyamory Look Like?: Polydiverse Patterns of Loving and Living in Modern Polyamorous Relationships", MIM Chapman Phd. iUniverse, 2010. ISBN 1450220088, 9781450220088. p. 43.
  42. ^ "The Heretic", Andrew Feder. AuthorHouse, 2007. ISBN 1434330540, 9781434330543. p. 125.
  43. ^ "Conversations about psychology and sexual orientation", Janis S. Bohan, Glenda Marie Russell. NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0814713254, 9780814713259. p. 136.
  44. ^ "Cybill In Between", Catherine Hiller. ISBN 1607770121, 9781607770121. p. 87.
  45. ^ a b c d "Bisexuality and transgenderism: interSEXions of the others", Jonathan Alexander, Karen Yescavage. ISBN 1560232870, 9781560232872. p. 34
  46. ^ "A life of Picasso, Volume 1", John Richardson, Marilyn McCully. ISBN 037571149X, 9780375711497. p. 53.
  47. ^ ["Polyamory the new love without limits: secrets of sustainable intimate relationships," Deborah M. Anapol. IntiNet Resource Center, 1997. ISBN 1880789086, 9781880789087. p. 96.
  48. ^ "The sexual spectrum: exploring human diversity", Olive Skene Johnson. Raincoast Books, 2007. p. 121.
  49. ^ [http://books.google.com/books?id=zsmkP46V_AUC&dq "Gay rights on trial: a reference handbook." Lee Walzer. ABC-CLIO, 2002. ISBN 1576072541, 9781576072547. p. 13
  50. ^ [Newsweek, Volume 136, Issues 10-18. Newsweek, inc., 2000.
  51. ^ a b "Lauralee Sherwood", Fundamentals of physiology: a human perspective. Cengage Learning, 2006. ISBN 0534466974, 9780534466978. p. 600.
  52. ^ "Is this your child's world?: how you can fix the schools and homes that are making your children sick", Doris J. Rapp. Bantam Books, 1996. ISBN 0553105132, 9780553105131. p. 499.
  53. ^ "Of Gay Sheep, Modern Science and Bad Publicity", JOHN SCHWARTZ. New York Times. 25 jan 2007. Retrieved 12 sept 2010.
  54. ^ "Brain Aromatase: Dyed-in-the-Wool Homosexuality", John A. Morris, Kyle L. Gobrogge, Cynthia L. Jordan and S. Marc Breedlove. Endocrinology Vol. 145, No. 2 475-477/ 2004. Retrieved 12 sept 2010.
  55. ^ "Gay and bald? Evo Morales thinks you ate too much chicken", Adam Gabbatt. The Guardian. 22 apr 2010. Retrieved 12 sept 2010.
  56. ^ "Plural loves: designs for bi and poly living", Fritz Klein, Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio. Psychology Press, 2005. ISBN 1560232935, 9781560232933. p. 72
  57. ^ "Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People", Charles Zastrow. Cengage Learning, 2009. ISBN 0495809527, 9780495809524. p. 238.
  58. ^ "The Sudden Reveal", Sheela Raval, Anshul Avijit. India Today. May 22, 2000. Accessed September 14, 2010.
  59. ^ "Why Are Gay Marriage Advocates Not Defending Polyamory?", Lee Stranahan. Huffington Post. 6 jan 2009. Retrieved 10 sept 2010.
  60. ^ "Poly Pride Keynote Speech", Tristan Taormino. Americans For Truth. October 4, 2008. Accessed September 14, 2010.
  61. ^ a b "A marriage of many? Is gay marriage a slippery slope toward legal polygamy, or are conservative warnings a red herring?", Ryan Lee. World Polyamory Association. January 27, 2006. Accessed September 14, 2010.
  62. ^ Cite error: The named reference SV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  63. ^ a b "Polyamorists want court to declare group love legal", Daphne Bramham. Vancouver Sun. September 9, 2010. Accessed September 14, 2010.
  64. ^ "Is Polyamory Revolutionary?", Micah White. Adbusters. July 29, 2010. Accessed September 14, 2010.
  65. ^ "Rose By Any Other Name".
  66. ^ "Fencesitter Films".
  67. ^ "From Out Bi Director Kyle Schickner".
  68. ^ "Real World DC".
  69. ^ "Real World Bisexuals".
  70. ^ "Show me your bisexuals".
  71. ^ "Emily Schromm talks".
  72. ^ a b "Mike Manning Metro Weekly".
  73. ^ "Mike Manning Bi history and controversy".
  74. ^ "Bi Now, Gay Later".
  75. ^ "Bi/Pan March Contingent".
  76. ^ Maria, October 15, 2009. "My Experience at the National Equality March", BiSocial News
  77. ^ "Amy Andre to head San Francisco Pride".
  78. ^ Adrienne Williams, October 19, 2009. Interview with Amy Andre: New Bisexual Executive Director of SF Pride, BiSocial News.

Further reading

General

  • Bi Any Other Name : Bisexual People Speak Out by Loraine Hutchins, Editor & Lani Ka'ahumanu, Editor ISBN 1-55583-174-5
  • Getting Bi : Voices of Bisexuals Around the World by Robyn Ochs, Editor & Sarah Rowley, Editor ISBN 0-9653881-4-X
  • The Bisexual Option by Fritz Klein, MD ISBN 1-56023-033-9
  • Bi America : Myths, Truths And Struggles Of An Invisible Community by William E. Burleson ISBN 978-1-56023-478-4
  • Bisexuality in the United States : A Social Science Reader by Paula C. Rodriguez Rust, Editor ISBN 0-231-10226-7
  • Bisexuality : The Psychology and Politics of an Invisible Minority by Beth A. Firestein, Editor ISBN 0-8039-7274-1
  • Current Research on Bisexuality by Ronald C. Fox PhD, Editor ISBN 978-1-56023-288-5

Magazines

Additional resources

Civil rights organizations

Groups

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