Happy Bi Visibility Day, everyone!
Why do we have Bi Visibility Day?
Bi Visibility Day exists primarily to increase recognition that bi people exist and have a right to exist.
Bi people suffer higher levels of discrimination even than homosexuals, with 55% of bi people concealing their sexual identity at work, compared to only 8% of gay men and 6% of lesbians. Bisexuality is often confused with polyamory and promiscuity, being the sexual orientation most associated with loose living, at least in the US, to the point that organisations exist to promote the concept that ethical and monogamous bisexuals exist.
A minority within a minority
Bi people experience several unique challenges within the LGBTQ+ community. They are often misidentified as either heterosexual or homosexual, based on the presenting gender of their current partner. Many bi people accept this misidentification in order to ‘fit in’ and avoid conflict, which ultimately fails to satisfy their need to be recognised. Bisexuality is also frequently conflated with polyamory, non-monogamy, and promiscuity, which has become such a problem in America that organisations have been set up to promote the concept that both ethical and monogamous bisexuals exist. Slurs that bi people are ‘confused’ or somehow ‘greedy’ for being attracted to more than one gender presentation are sadly all too common.
Bi people also find their voices drowned out and the unique challenges they face lost among the discussions on LGBTQ+ forums, the evidence suggesting that bi people only really benefit from social networks where they can connect easily with other bi people and share experiences without interference. More widely, bi people often still feel largely excluded from within the LGBTQIA+ movement. There is strong evidence that bi people benefit far more from social networks where they can connect easily with other bi people and share their unique experiences without interference.
An opportunity to include everyone
Bi Visibility Day is an opportunity for everyone - straight, gay, and ace to step up, speak up and be an active bystander, creating an inclusive community for everyone and calling out biphobia wherever it is found.
