Editing Bisexual Community

The bisexual community consists mainly of people who are [[bisexual]], [[pansexual]] or [[queer-identified]] and their allies. Alternate terms include ''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]]. '''[http://www.bbwsites.org/ bbw dating sites]'''

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 [[Heterosexual|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.<ref name="Real Bisexual">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/04/ever_meet_a_rea.php |title= Ever Meet a Real Bisexual?</ref><ref name="lesbianlife">{{cite web |url=http://lesbianlife.about.com/b/2009/04/01/bisexuality-101.htm |title=Lesbian Life About Bisexuality }}</ref><ref name="AfterEllen">{{cite web |url=http://www.afterellen.com/blog/we-have-some-bones-to-pick-about-the-end-of-angela-and-roxie|title= We Have Some Bones to Pick About the end of Angela and Roxie |archiveurl=http://archive.is/Im6Fn|archivedate=2013-01-16}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Queers United">{{cite web |url=http://queersunited.blogspot.com/ |title=Queers United }}</ref><ref name="the task force">{{cite web |url=http://www.thetaskforce.org/issues/bisexuality |title=Task Force Report On Bisexuality }}</ref><ref name="HRC">{{cite web |url=http://www.hrc.org/issues/coming_out/bisexual/bisexual_articles.asp?listpage=2 |title=HRC article on bisexuality}}</ref><ref name="GLAAD">{{cite web |url=http://glaadbackup.com/2009/documents/GLAADNRI2009.pdf|title=GLAAD TV Report }}</ref><ref name="How Far Have We Come">Maria, September 24, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/how-far-have-we-come|title= How Far Have We Come?], ''BiSocial News''</ref><ref name="Thirteen">{{cite web |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/10/27/greys-anatomy-s-3/][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_(House) |title=Thirteen On House }}</ref>


==Defining the community==

The [[social network]]s 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 [[Social movement|movement]] to have a separate bisexual community.<ref>Peter Ruggerio, July 1, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/where-the-community-is|title= Where the Community Is], ''BiSocial News''</ref><ref>Maria, May 20, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/a-space-to-call-pur-own|title= A Space to Call Our Own], ''BiSocial News'' </ref><ref>Adrienne Williams, May 26, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/bisexual-bars "Got Bisexual Bars?"], ''BiSocial News''</ref>



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.<ref name="How Far Have We Come"/><ref>Adrienne Williams, September 23, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/bsn-celebrates-bisexual-day-move-into-activism |BSN Celebrates Bisexual Day: Moves into Activism], ''BiSocial News''</ref><ref name="BiSocial News Events">{{cite web |url=http://bisocialnews.com/bi-social-events|title= Bi Social Events}}</ref> There has also been a [[Political movement|movement]] to combat biphobia and myths about bisexuals.<ref name="biphobia">{{cite web |url=http://binetusa.blogspot.com/search/label/biphobia |title= BinetUSA writes about biphobia }}</ref><ref>Maria, May 7, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/bisexuls-hetero-privilege-myth|title= Bisexuals, the Hetero-Privilege Myth], ''BiSocial News''</ref>



The bisexual community tend to have many of their own events and conferences,<ref name="BiCon">{{cite web |url=http://bicon.org.uk |title= BiCon UK }}</ref><ref name="Because">{{cite web |url=http://www.becauseconference.org |title= Because Conference }}</ref><ref name="Bi Camp">{{cite web |url=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bicamp|title= Bi Camp USA }}</ref> publications,<ref name="The Fence">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefence.ca|title= The Fence }}</ref><ref name="Bi Women Boston">{{cite web |url=http://biwomenboston.org/newsletter|title= Bi Women Boston }}</ref> websites and organizations,<ref name="Binet USA">{{cite web |url=http://www.binetusa.org|title= Binet USA }}</ref><ref name="Bi Resource Center">{{cite web |url=http://www.biresource.net |title= Bi Resource Center}}</ref> magazines,<ref name="The Fence">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefence.ca|title= The Fence}}</ref><ref name="Bi Women Boston">{{cite web |url=http://biwomenboston.org|title= Bi Women Boston}}</ref><ref name="Bi Magazine">{{cite web |url=http://www.bimagazine.org |title= Bi Magazine}}</ref><ref name="BiSocial News">{{cite web |url=http://www.bisocialnews.com |title= BiSocial News}}</ref><ref name="Bi Community UK">{{cite web |url=http://www.bicommunitynews.co.uk/ |title= Bi Community UK}}</ref><ref name="Bi Community Netherlands">{{cite web |url=http://community.livejournal.com/lnbi_berichten|title= Bi Community Netherlands}}</ref> writer's groups,<ref name="Bi Writers">{{cite web |url=http://www.biwriters.org/indexN1.html|title= Bi Writers Association}}</ref> media,<ref name="Bi Media">{{cite web |url=http://www.binetusa.org/Pages/BiLinks.html|title= Bi Media}}</ref> leaders and politicians,<ref name="Robyn Ochs">{{cite web |url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn_Ochs|title= Robyn Ochs}}</ref><ref>Maria, August 11, 2009.[http://bisocialnews.com/my-interview-with-new-yorks-openly-bisexual-assemblyman-micah-kellner Micah Kellner, New York's Openly Bisexual Assemblyman],''BiSocial News''.</ref> and even mental health associations.<ref name="Bi Mental Health Group">{{cite web |url=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiMHP/| title= Bi Mental Health Group}}</ref>



These communities come together with the gay, lesbian and transgender communities for bigger LGBT events such as LGBT [[pride parade]]s, 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.<ref name="Binet USA Groups">{{cite web |url=http://www.binetusa.org/Pages/network.html| title= BinetUSA Group link}}</ref><ref name="Binet USA Media">{{cite web |url=http://www.binetusa.org/Pages/BiLinks.html| title= BinetUSA Media}}</ref>



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.<ref name="Bipride LA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ambilosangeles.com/AMBI%20at%20Pride%202008.html| title= Bipride LA}}</ref><ref name="Bipride NYC">{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20015&id=7375679582| title= Bipride NYC}}</ref>
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 [[Sexual orientation|orientations]].



September 23rd is known as [[Celebrate Bisexuality Day|bisexual pride day]]


==Bisexual visibility==

'''Web TV'''

Beginning in 2009 a [[Web television|web TV]] series [[Rose by Any Other Name...]]<ref name="Rose">{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKZoCaVZu3c|title=Rose By Any Other Name }}</ref> produced by [[FenceSitter Films]].<ref name="Fencesitter">{{cite web |url=http://www.fencesitterfilms.com|title=Fencesitter Films}}</ref> began showing on [[YouTube]]. The story follows the main characters Rose a comfortably out woman who identifies as [[lesbian]] and Anthony a [[Heterosexuality|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.<ref name="BiNet Kyle">{{cite web |url=http://binetusa.blogspot.com/2009/10/from-out-bi-director-kyle-schickner.html|title=From Out Bi Director Kyle Schickner}}</ref>

'''MTV's ''The Real World'' '''

On December 30, 2009, [[MTV]] premiered their 23rd season of the show ''[[The Real World]]''.<ref name="Real World DC">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/Washingtondc/series.jhtml |title=Real World DC}}</ref> The series took place in [[Washington DC]], and features two [[bisexual]] characters,<ref name="Real World Bisexuals">{{cite web |url=http://www.queerty.com/forget-the-token-gay-tonights-real-world-dc-premiere-has-2-bisexuals-20091230/ |title=Real World Bisexuals}}</ref><ref name="Show me your bisexuals">{{cite web |url=http://www.autostraddle.com/real-world-washington-dc-recap-26581 |title=Show me your bisexuals}}</ref> Emily Schromm,<ref name="Emily Schromm talks">{{cite web |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/12/28/real_world_d_c_star_emily_schromm_talks_ |title=Emily Schromm talks}}</ref> and Mike Manning.<ref name="Mike Manning Metro Weekly">{{cite web |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=4765 |title=Mike Manning Metro Weekly}}</ref> Manning's sexuality appears to have generated some controversy, with both bloggers and many comments on blogs saying that he is really [[gay]],<ref name="Mike Manning Bi history and controversy">{{cite web |url=http://www.queerty.com/the-entire-bi-sexual-history-of-real-world-d-c-s-mike-manning-20091231/ |title=Mike Manning Bi history and controversy}}</ref><ref name="Bi Now, Gay Later">{{cite web |url=http://artwingny.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/bi-now-gay-later-real-world-d-c-s-mike-manning/ |title=Bi Now, Gay Later}}</ref> although he himself identifies as bisexual and has dated both sexes.<ref name="Mike Manning Metro Weekly">{{cite web |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=4765 |title=Mike Manning Metro Weekly}}</ref>

===Equality issues and campaigns===
The [[National Equality March]] was a national political [[Demonstration (people)|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.<ref name="Bi Contingent">{{cite web |url=http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4413172 |title=Bi/Pan March Contingent }}</ref> Several bisexual, genderqueer, pansexual and queer-identified groups came together and marched, including [[BiNet USA]], [[New York Area Bisexual Network]], [http://www.dcbiwomen.org DC Bi Women] and [https://www.bigtent.com/groups/bima BiMA DC]. The organizations marched together show bisexual, genderqueer, pansexual and queer solidarity as a valuable part of the greater LGBT community.<ref>Maria, October 15, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/my-experience-at-the-national-equality-march "My Experience at the National Equality March"], ''BiSocial News''</ref> There were four out bisexual speakers at the National Equality March rally: [[Michael Huffington]], [[Lady GaGa]], [http://binetusa.blogspot.com/2009/10/national-equality-march-young-bisexual.html Chloe Noble], and [http://bisocialnews.com/tag/penelope-williams Penelope Williams].

In October 2009, LGBT [[Activism|activist]] [http://www.amyandre.com Amy Andre] <ref name="Amy Andre Binet">{{cite web |url=http://binetusa.blogspot.com/2009/10/out-bisexual-amy-andre-to-head-san.html|title=Amy Andre to head San Francisco Pride}}</ref>, 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.<ref>Adrienne Williams, October 19, 2009. [http://bisocialnews.com/amy-andre-sf-pride/|title= Interview with Amy Andre: New Bisexual Executive Director of SF Pride], ''BiSocial News''.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Bisexuality topics}}
{{LGBT|state=collapsed|culture=yes}}

== Further reading ==
===General===
{{refbegin}}
*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===
*[http://www.bimagazine.org Bi Magazine] (USA)
*[http://www.bicommunitynews.co.uk Bi Community News] (UK)
*[http://www.bisocialnews.com Bi Social News] (USA)
*[http://community.livejournal.com/lnbi_berichten Bi News Magazine] (Netherlands)
*[http://www.thefence.ca The Fence] (Canada)
*[http://biwomenboston.org Bi Women Boston] (USA)

== Additional resources ==
===Civil rights organizations===
*[http://www.binetusa.org BinetUSA] (USA)
*[http://www.bialogue.org Political Activist Group] (USA)
*[http://www.meetbiwomen.com Bisexual Dating Sites] (USA)
===Groups===
[http://www.binetusa.org/Pages/network.html List of USA Bisexual Groups] 
[http://www.bisexualindex.org.uk UK Bisexual Groups]
[http://www.lnbi.nl/joomla/index.php Netherlands Bisexual Groups]
[http://www.binetcanada.ca Binet Canada]
[http://www.torontobinet.org Toronto Bisexual Network]
[http://www.opcionbi.com Mexico Bisexual Network]
[http://bisexuality.wikia.com/wiki/Bisexuality_Wiki Bisexuality Wiki]

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[[cy:Cymuned ddeurywiol]]
[[pt:Comunidade Bissexual]]
[[Category:Bisexual community]]
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