What’s Happening in the UK for Bi Visibility Day
Here’s Biscuit’s guide to the events celebrating Bisexual Visibility Day throughout the UK. Looking for a bi event near you? look no further!
Warm up for Bisexual Visibility Day on 14th September at INCITE!@Phoenix, where LGBT Poet Laureate Trudy Howson hosts professional and amateur poets and chats to poets Genevieve L Walsh and Sven Stears. Of course, the theme of this INCITE! is bisexuality.
On 20th September ParliOUT hosts Purple Prose editor Kate Harrad and bi activist and poet Jacq Applebee for a Lunch and Learn for LGBT parliamentary staff in Westminster.
In Bolton, you’ll find a display packed with information at Bolton Library. The display will remain in place until 26th September so pop down for a look!
In Southampton on 22nd September Bi Wessex hosts an informal networking event at Cafe Momento.
Also on 22nd in Central London, OUTstanding hosts… Continue reading
Pan on Campus: Biscuit Interviews Pansexuality Advocate Elle Long
Pansexuality may be as old as the hills, but the pansexual movement is still young, and that means that it’s still a little mysterious to outsiders. We’re natural allies, and we’re nosy, too, so we caught up with advocate Elle Long to get the skinny on what’s happening in pan activism right now.
Hi Elle! First of all, tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do. How long have you been involved in pansexual activism and advocacy? What sort of things do you get up to as an advocate?
I am a junior at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, majoring in Political Science and Law, minoring in Ethnic Studies. I’m involved with the Speech and Debate team for the school but that’s about as sporty as I get!
My main focus in advocacy for pansexuality has been education and it started when I came… Continue reading
The Biscuit Purple List 2015
Your nominations have been collected, heated discussions have been had and disagreements have been thwarted, and now we are proud to be able to present the first ever Biscuit Purple List.
The Purple List was conceived as a reaction to the bi-erasure of similar honours lists, which neither recognise the work done that specifically benefits the bisexual community, nor the importance using the word ‘bisexual’ to describe the non-monosexual people who do appear in them.
We think that it’s important to make a really big deal about the awesome people who give their time, energy, cash and resources to make life a little bit better for bisexual people. As a group we have lower rates of well being than gay and lesbian identified people. We’re more likely to commit suicide and to self harm. We are more likely to misuse drugs. Our teens have … Continue reading
You Didn't Hear it from Us 4/7/15
Here’s a round-up of some of the news, blogs posts and comment we missed this week.
- In the wake of marriage equality in the US, the conversation moved from what the ruling means for us, to next challenges for the bisexual and wider LGBT communities.
- Pride season kicked off around the world. It was not always well received. Buzzfeed reported on a Christian Group trying to shut down Pride in Korea, and rubber bullets deployed against marchers in Istanbul.
- Other Pride events were happier, with hundreds of celebrations worldwide.
- Reports found that bisexual people are more likely to be poor, and have worse mental health than gay and lesbian people.
- Roots profiled 9 Transgender Men of Colour we should know about.
- Ralph Fiennes is planning a biopic about bi dancer Rudolph Nureyev.
- LGBTPerspectives wrote about situational bisexuality in Saudi Arabia.
Did… Continue reading
LGBT* in UKIP Gatecrashes Pride
Pride in London is courting controversy once again, by allowing UKIP to march in the Parade that was held in the West End on Saturday.
UKIP, a far-right political party whose members have been outspoken in their racism and homophobia, had their application to march in the parade controversially turned down by the Pride in London committee following an outcry by the LGBT community. The committee insisted the decision was not made on political grounds but in the name of safety.
In December, Kerry Smith, standing for UKIP South Basildon and East Thurrock resigned from his candidacy after calling gay people ‘fucking disgusting old poofters’. In February the group UKIP Christian Soldiers, authorised by UKIP HQ circulated leaflets that claimed educating school children on LGBT issues was ‘sexual grooming’.
Approximately 15 LGBT* in UKIP activists – who had not paid the fee required to take part in the parade,… Continue reading
You Didn't Hear it from Us 27/06/15
Here’s a round-up of some of the news, blogs posts and comment we missed this week.
- Attitude and DIVA both said enough is enough when it comes to biphobia in lesbian and gay communities.
- Vogue got slammed for calling Cara Delevigne’s bisexuality a ‘phase’.
- Gwendolyn Fougy Henry posted a brilliant tumblr post on the reasons bi people of colour may not participate in spaces created for them.
- The Stonewall Inn was given ‘landmark’ status.
- A report by Public Health England told us that rates of gonorrhoea and syphilis are going up in gay and bi men.
- There’s a “God loves Gays” sign and a homophobic banner rotating on the same billboard.
- Femmeviolet talked about femme as a queer identity.
- HuffPo delved into the world of bisexual OKCupid.
- A lesbian-identified bi woman described her battle with heterosexual privilege.
Did we miss any other must-see stories?… Continue reading
US Supreme Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Legal Across Every State
The Supreme Court of the United Stated today ruled that same-sex marriage is legal across the USA.
Attempts by anti-LGBT states to ban same-sex marriage have been declared unconstitutional.
The historic ruling came after a decades long battle for LGBT activists. The decision was made as part of a case known as Obergefell v Hodges. Five of the nine Supreme Court Justices determined that marriage equality was a right under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, who cast the deciding vote, said,“The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful realm, to define and express their identity.
“The petitioners in these cases seek to find that liberty by marrying someone of the same sex and having their marriages deemed lawful on the same terms and conditions as… Continue reading
10 bi-fabulous things to do instead of going to Pride
With pride season well and truly upon us, Biscuit regular Valarie Clark-Neff talks us through some ways to honour your badass bi* self without putting up with the crowds…
I don’t know about you, but every year during Pride month I struggle with the thought of participating in our local parade. I love the people, the dazzle of rainbow colors, the dykes on bikes, the in-your-face queerness, and the sense of feeling comfortable with people who share my struggles.
What I don’t like are the crowds, noise, and heat. It’s all a little too much for this socially anxious person. I’m certain many of us struggle with similar issues whether it is anxiety, depression, disability, or any number of factors that keep us from participating. Pride is fantastic, but it’s not the only thing we can do to show pride in our community. So in the spirit of reaching… Continue reading
No Fight Left In The Purple Corner: Are You Suffering From Bi Activist Fatigue?
Stigma, invisibility, lack of funding. It’s no surprise that in bisexual activist circles, burnout is an all-too-common phenomenon. Biscuit ed Lottie discusses Biscuit’s ongoing struggles – and talks to two prominent bi activists who are feeling just as wiped as she is.