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Seven of Our Favorite Moments for Bisexual Visibility in 2018
Post submitted by Helen Parshall, HRC Digital Media Manager, and Madeleine Roberts, HRC Communications Coordinator
In honor of Bisexual Visibility Day, which we celebrate annually on Sept. 23, here are a few of our favorite standout moments for bisexual, queer, pansexual and fluid visibility in 2018.
1. West Hollywood hosts a bisexual pride parade:
The celebration, thought to be the country’s first ever city-sponsored bisexual themed pride, will be hosted by the City of West Hollywood, HRC’s Los Angeles Steering Committee and amBi. “Since being involved with HRC, I wanted to make it possible for bisexuals, especially bisexual people of color to feel equality and to feel part of the community and celebrated,” said HRC Los Angeles volunteer Ashlei Shyne in an interview with the Los Angeles Blade.
HRC Los Angeles is Proud to be a Co-Host for this historic event on Saturday! Catch up on the event here: t.co/85DQKvTMFZ
And be sure to join us this weekend! pic.twitter.com/0XAmv8cLfP
— HRC Los Angeles (@HRCLosAngeles) September 21, 2018
2. Sara Ramirez’s character comes out as bisexual on “Madam Secretary”:
Actor Sara Ramirez brings visibility to both the screen and the frontlines of the movement for equality. In March, Ramirez’s character Kat Sandoval came out in a powerful “Madam Secretary” storyline about supporting LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers facing violence.
.@SaraRamirez’s character Kat Sandoval coming out on @MadamSecretary was a powerful moment for #bisexual visibility — both on screen and in the workplace. Check out this @HRC resource to learn more about coming out as bi into the workplace: t.co/j3BS69QyPx
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 19, 2018
3. #BisexualMenSpeak makes its way across Twitter:
A recent Australian survey found that bisexual men are the least likely LGBTQ people to come out, followed closely by bi women. The hashtag #BisexualMenSpeak became a safe haven this summer for bi, queer, pan and fluid men to talk about their experiences and struggles with being seen as their true, authentic selves.
#BisexualMenSpeak is one of the most compelling, educational and healing hashtags we’ve ever seen. Thank you for opening our eyes, we hear you, we see you, and your heartfelt stories absolutely matter. Let’s support these men in being their true selves ������
— BiNation (@BiNationNews) July 25, 2018
4. HRC’s 22nd annual National Dinner:
Rachael Gresson and Sherie Hughes are the first duo of HRC National Dinner co-chairs to identify as bisexual. In their opening remarks, they touched on both the challenges our community faces and the importance of bisexual visibility: “We have to continue to speak up and turn out for those who can’t,” Gresson said. “For those who might fear for their safety, or don’t benefit from the privilege many of us have by being able to be visible and outspoken.”
5. Janelle Monáe came out, and the internet exploded with searches:
When Janelle Monáe came out as “a queer Black woman in America,” it was a moment of visibility that resonated with many — evidenced by the number of definition searches for pan identities. HRC’s Allison Turner celebrated the moment in a piece for USA Today: “My hope is that… we can take a cue from Monáe and say to pansexual, queer and bisexual people — and especially young people — ‘We see you.’”
.@JanelleMonae just came out as “a queer black woman,” and hopes that her music helps #LGBTQ youth “be proud.” ��️�� ������ �� t.co/i9SngM6ULI pic.twitter.com/CzwZaiDuBR
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 26, 2018
6. A bisexual scientist starts #BiInSci to celebrate representation in STEM fields:
In April, bisexual virologist Isabel Ott started the #BiInSci hashtag to increase the visibility of bisexual people working in STEM fields, which have historically struggled to include people with marginalized identities. Hundreds began sharing photos of themselves in the workplace and messages of support.
We love seeing the incredible voices behind #BiInSci this week. Visibility is so important — especially in fields like #STEM where too many of our communities are underrepresented. ��������⚗️t.co/pbaSbl2LId
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 25, 2018
7. HRC staffers push back against harmful, biphobic rhetoric in the news:
HRC’s Allison Turner and Madeleine Roberts spoke out in USA Today about the importance of bi visibility and the real health disparities that bisexual people face. They co-authored a letter to the editor pushing back against a harmful and biphobic column: “With views like [James] Bovard’s still so casually expressed… it’s no wonder that bisexual people are less likely to live openly. And that makes it more difficult to address the very real and sometimes life-threatening barriers faced by bisexuals. We are not a punchline, Mr. Bovard.”
.@HRC‘s Allison Turner (@amturner1993) and Madeleine Roberts (@mjroberts93) remind us that a cheap swipe at the #bisexual community “double[s] down on harmful stereotypes and disparages an already at-risk population.” ������ t.co/yZmaAQJgie
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 16, 2018
Check out hrc.org/bisexual for more information about issues unique to the bisexual, queer, pansexual and fluid community.
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