Bialogue = Bisexual/Pansexual + Dialogue

[LGBT Youth]: Just Not Quite Gay Enough

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:28:24 GMT

an Essay by Tony Meyer Jr. Harvard 2011
1 December 2009 in Campus Pride Blog X-Posted with permission

In the eighth grade, I “came out” as gay when I professed my love for Billy H. in an invitation to be my date to our homecoming dance. My girl friends celebrated their new gay friend, excited by the prospect of adding a fashionista to their clique; despite owning a closet of jeans and ratty t-shirts, being “gay” evidently meant a lot more than kissing boys.

In the tenth grade, I discovered (or rather, finally admitted to myself) that I was also into the female form, breasts no longer simply fun pillows at girls’ night sleepovers. I waited until senior year to come out (again), this time as bisexual.

As a wrestler at 6’4’’, 230 pounds, I don’t conform to mainstream conceptions of the gay/queer/non-straight male. Bisexuals are stereotyped as fence-sitters, straddling the divide between queer and straight culture; instead of trying to pass between the two, I too often clash them together (I love blasting Lady Gaga while practicing my shot with a .222 in the Arizona desert).

Please CLICK THIS LINK to read the full story

Campus Pride is an American national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2001 which serves LGBT and Ally Student Leaders and/or Campus Organizations in the areas of leadership development, support programs and services to create safer, more inclusive LGBT-friendly colleges and universities.

The organization is a volunteer-driven network "for" and "by" student leaders. Campus Pride envisions campuses and a society free of LGBT prejudice, bigotry and hate. It works to develop student leaders, campus networks and future actions to create such positive change.

Here are just some of the projects Campus Pride is involved in:

o LGBT-Friendly College Fair Program and Campus Climate Index
o Voice & Action National Leadership Award
o Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp
o Lambda 10 Project a National Clearinghouse for LGBT Fraternity & Sorority Issues

[Boston MA USA]: New Phelps-A-Thon

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:38:21 GMT

Fred Phelps' clan is coming to Boston to spread their Anti-Gay {& Lesbian, Bisexual/Pansexual, Transgender/Genderqueer and Queer-identified}, Anti-Semitic message at Schools and Temples across the city.

You can help turn their awful message into positive change!

The "God Hates Fags" Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is planning at least four pickets on Tuesday, December 1st 2009. They will protest the World AIDS Day conference at the University of Massachusetts, then taunt the students at Brookline High School, next they will head over to the Hillel House at Boston University, and then to Temple Israel to attack openly-gay, Jewish, Congressman Barney Frank.

However, when the Phelps group comes to Boston to protest LGBT equality and spread their anti-Semitic message, they will actually be raising money to promote LGBT equality, raise AIDS awareness, and fund Jewish community centers.

Please CLICK THIS LINK to get the full story and what you can do to help - Thanks

Yes, Please DO X-Post widely

[USA]: Bisexual Voices Speak Out on National Equality March!

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:48:11 GMT

X-Posted from an article by 'Mizz M' published in Bi Social News an online magazine "For Today's Bisexual"

We've come to it at last—what so many have been talking about, wondering about, and even fighting about for the past several months. The National Equality March—which is on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

I'm happy to say there will be a fair amount of bisexual and pansexual inclusion for once (thanks to the hard work of BiNet USA). The National Equality March (NEM) has four (4)! bisexual speakers: Penelope Williams, Chloe Noble, Michael Huffington, and the famous Lady Gaga herself.

We also have events that everyone should go to and network with the bisexual and pansexual community!

Please CLICK THIS LINK to read the full story

[National Equality March]: Where To Meet At The March

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:17:22 GMT

For everyone who is planning to march with the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual & Queer-identified Contingent at the National Equality March here is the info on where we are all assembling prior to lining up to march:

When: Sunday October 11th 2009 at 10:30 AM -- we will leave from there for the march at 11:00 AM
Where: Caribou Coffee -- 1101 17th Street NW, Washington DC USA 20036 202.223.6828
Nearest Metro: Farragut North on the Red Line

Please CLICK HERE to get more information

BRING YOUR LOCAL GROUP'S BANNERS
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN DC!!!

[USA]: Out Bisexual Amy Andre to Head San Francisco Pride

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:09:03 GMT

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2009

Amy Andre to Head San Francisco Pride
The Pride Committee Announces New Executive Director

San Francisco, CA – 6 October 2009 – The San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee announced today that Amy Andre will be the next person to head the organization as its executive director. The announcement concludes a national search that began in March of this year.

Andre takes the position following the departure of the organization's previous Executive Director Lindsey Jones who stepped down in July. The organization has been under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Joshua Smith who left the board of directors to assist Pride in the transition of its top staff position.

Board President Mikayla Connell stated,

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Amy Andre to the Pride team with her wealth of talent, experience, and history of activism as we continue planning and preparing for the fortieth anniversary San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade in June of 2010. In the capable hands of Amy Andre and our Board of Directors, San Francisco Pride will continue to build on the momentum that this organization has achieved with the dedicated support of our members, volunteers, and community over the past decade."

Interim Executive Director Joshua Smith stated, “Amy brings together a unique mix of skills, which builds upon our past while preparing us for a bright future.”
.
.
A lifelong Bisexual/Pansexual, POC and LGBT activist originally from the East Coast, Andre has lived in San Francisco since 1997. She currently resides in the Castro with her fiancée, filmmaker Kami Chisholm, PhD.

Please CLICK HERE to read the full article

[USA]: National Equality March: Bisexual Inclusion Isn't That Hard

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:24:03 GMT

X-Posted from Queer Subversion a blog by Jackson Scheerer a bisexual and transgender activist living in Wisconsin with his cat and three dogs. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. Jackson is also a feminist, vegetarian, witch and a bunch of other stuff. You can also read more of his musings on life, the universe and everything on his website also called Queer Subversion and follow him on twitter on @queersubversion - cause let's face it, you can never get too much Jackson!

This is a "hint hint" post. As in "hint hint, you're screwing up, hint hint." But I'll not be too specific here, except to say that a couple days ago I clicked on my email box to see that it as flooded with discussion from BiNet USA's mailing list about the National Equality March (NEM) (you know, the one that has a petition against "fractions of equality" on their website) and how until recently its only openly bisexual speaker was . . . drum roll, please . . . Lady Gaga.

I already asserted my belief that Lady Gaga has every right to be considered a real bisexual. I don't care that she's a celebrity, or that her attraction to women is totally based on physical attraction and not love, or that she is kind of an oddball (understatement), I can easily consider her bisexual. The fact remains, though, that for a while it was like the organizers of the National Equality March thought she was an appropriate substitute for all of the bisexual experiences out there, despite the fact she just hasn't been in "our community" for that long outside of being a celebrity who has been openly bi for a little bit.

After all, they put up our posters as a token pro-bi gesture. And considering the organizers were given ample suggestions for bisexual activists to choose as speakers, it's downright appalling.

Actually, I kind of wonder if the reason they picked Lady Gaga wasn't because she is bisexual, but because she has a large gay following. That is, of course, only speculation, but one thing is for certain: My community did not choose her to speak for us. A different community did.

Please CLICK HERE to read the rest of Jackson's Essay

This is not at all to say that people don't want Lady Gaga to speak (and if she wishes, to be able to sing too . . . since after all she IS an artist - one of OUR Community's Artists to be specific!), we are thrilled that she wants to stand up with and for us. Additionally after many discussions with the powers-that-be, we were all really excited to later hear that the fantastic Queer-identified @chloenoble who works with PrideWalk on behalf of homeless LGBT Youth will also be representing our community.

The point that National Equality March kept missing was, as Jackson so eloquently pointed out that they hadn't given us the courtesy to define ourselves and they kept missing that word ALSO.

We also wanted to have some sort of representation of the hard-working activists who actually do the everyday work and keep all the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual & Queer-identified services, groups and events going. And our community also wants to be treated with the same respect and dignity that Gay Men, Lesbian Women and Transgender/Genderqueer people are.

Many people from the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual and Queer-identified Community(s) will be going to Washington DC for the March or participating in related events closer to home. BiNet USA and and many other organizations that support the "B" in LGBT (including Bialogue) have endorsed the very laudable goals. As many members of the Community have repeatedly reminded the good folks who we have been talking to at the National Equality March, we wouldn't be fighting so hard to participate if we also didn't care so passionately about these issues!

For people who are going to DC, the local Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC Bisexual/Pansexual Groups will be acting as the local hosts. And the Bisexual Men's Alliance DC (BIMA DC) has kindly taken on the job of acting the communications conduit for those who are going to be there.

If you have any further questions, about our contingent at march itself please direct them to NationalEqualityMarch@binetusa.org and/or bima.dc@gmail.com

Pansexual Pride Icons for the Bisexual/Fluid/Pansexual Community: free to good homes

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:08:47 GMT

[5] variations on the Pansexual Pride Logo by and for the Bi/Fluid/Pan & Queer-identified Community

01	02	03	04	05

♥ Credit is nice - to nyabn (New York Area Bisexual Network) please
♥ Comments are always welcome - such as what did you take? why did you like that one?
♥ Please don't hotlink - we are poor non-profits *smile*
♥ You can use them as bases if you wish (but not sure it will work with these)

[USA]: Micah Kellner: New York State’s Openly Bisexual Assemblyman

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:13:26 GMT

When I first ran for office, a group of my friends, mostly gay men, decided to sit down with me to determine “what Micah was going to be”, because he couldn't be bi.

They felt no one would ever accept a bisexual, so some said “say you're straight”, and others said “say you're gay”. Someone suggested that I should state to the Stonewall Democratic club that while I've had sex with men in the past, I just don't identify as a member of the GLBT community, which I took to mean that I was openly on the “down low”, which made no sense.

We finally decided honesty was the best policy

Read Full and Fascinating Article here:
[Bi Social News] Micah Kellner: New York’s Openly Bisexual Assemblyman

this article originally published in the Bi Social News by staff reporter Mizz M on August 11, 2009

[Chicago USA] Bi Health Summit -- just over a week away!

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:19:49 GMT

The Bisexual Health Summit has almost arrived! Please join us at the Chicago Hilton Towers on Friday, August 14th for an all-day, can't-miss conference on the critical issues and most up to date information on bisexual health.

Be sure to start the Summit right at our kick-off event on the night of August 13th at MiniBar Ultra Lounge and Cafe at 339-41 N. Halsted Street in Chigago's famed and fun "Boystown" Gayborhood. And then stick around for the rest of the LGBTI Health Summit, which runs from August 14th thru the 18th 2009.

Register for the Bi Health Summit now and avoid hassles at the door!

Take a look at the incredible line-up of presenters on a variety of bi health topics.

And if you can't attend the Summit this year, for only $15 you can buy a Bisexual Health t-shirt to commemorate the event and proudly display your support for bi/fluid/pan health issues & for your community.

We are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the Bi Health Summit in Chicago.

Sincerely,
Julie Ebin, Jen Bonardi, Stewart Landers, Ed Negron, and Luigi Ferrer
Bi Health Summit Committee

Bisexual/Fluid/Pansexual & Queer-identified people. Looking for community in the Chicago area? Join up and go hang out with all the people at the Chicago Bisexual/Queer Community Meetup and makes some Myspace "net-friends" at Bisexual Chicago VisiaBIlity, Chicago's Bisexual Social Advocacy Group or shoot them an email at Bisexual.Chicago (at) gmail (dot) com.

[USA]: Their Families Count But Shouldn't Ours Count Too?

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:09:07 GMT

Today with great fanfare HRC just rolled-out an announcement of a new campaign called Our Families Count.

It is described as a joint Census Education Campaign that they along with other major players of "Gay. Inc." will be conducting to encourage LGBT people to participate in the 2010 US Census in such as way that those in same-sex partnerships, marriages and LGBT Families will accurately be reflected.

This is a very good and very important goal and we totally support it. Here are the nine other organizations, all of whom we must hasten to add are fine and upstanding groups:

1.) Equality Federation
2.) Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
3.) HONOR PAC
4.) National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
5.) National Center for Transgender Equality
6.) National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
7.) National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
8.) Unid@s
9.) The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law

While there is absolutely no quarrel with the laudable goals, the question is, where are the groups representing the "B" in LGBT?? We ask the question, aren't we worth counting too?

Shouldn't OUR community(s) be getting the same information so that we can fill out the Census Information is a way that will benefit not only those who identify as Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual or otherwise Queer/not Straight but by counting us in too assist the entire LGBT Community?

If you agree that we should be counted too please drop these nice, well-meaning people a line at: info(at)ourfamiliescount(dot)org and point out that they themselves have once again not "Counted" the "B" in LGBT. And if you have a personal connection with any of these other nine groups in this LGBT Community Consortium, we ask you to please write them too and ask them to always remember to "Count Us In" Too.

Point out that we do actually have three long-standing groups of national stature in the USA:

1.) BiNet USA
2.) American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB)
3.) Bisexual Resources Center (BRC)

as well as all theses many regional and local groups and meetings that can easily be found here: BiNet USA - Bisexual Groups

We are worth more than a throw-away initial in a speach or a press-release. We count too.

[BiNet USA]: Happy Fourth of July!!!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:10:22 GMT

On this Fourth of July, 2009, we bisexual, fluid and pansexual citizens and residents of the United States of America as well as our friends, families and allies can be proud that we are ably represented at several levels of government by out Bi-identified LGBT politicians.

There is Kate Brown, Oregon's Secretary of State, currently the highest ranking openly bisexual elected politician in the United States. She also attended the June 29 2009 Reception for LGBT people at the White House in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, where she met up with BiNet USA's own Robyn Ochs. Robyn reports "Kate and I were very excited to see each other and hugged and exclaimed happily!".
We also have Newark, Delaware City Councilman Ezra Temko and New York State Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner. Assemblyman Kellner has sent this Fourth of July message to the Bisexual Community:

"On this our day of independence, we must always remember that we had to fight for our rights and freedom. They were not handed to us. The 4th of July should be a reminder to all those in the Bisexual Community that we must continue to fight for full acceptance with in the greater LGBT community. Bisexuals must be an equal partner in the loud and proud fight for LGBT civil rights."

Micah Z. Kellner
Member of the New York State Assembly

Please click here to read full article

[USA]: we have Two pieces of Good News for the LGBT Community to Celebrate on today!!!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:43:37 GMT

DOJ Declines to Appeal Veteran’s Victory in Transgender Discrimination Case

A statement from National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Legal Director Shannon Minter

07.01.09 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has declined to appeal a federal court ruling awarding transgender veteran Diane Schroer the maximum compensation for the discrimination she suffered by being refused a job with the Library of Congress because of her transgender status. Yesterday, June 30, was the deadline for the government to seek an appeal in Schroer v. Library of Congress, in which Ms. Schroer has been ably represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The Bush Administration had defended this case vigorously, arguing that transgender Americans are not protected by any existing federal laws, but the district court rejected that argument.

Please click here for full article

Victory in North Carolina! Governor Signs Bills on School Bullying, Sex Ed

7/1/2009 - Last night around 5:30, Governor Beverly Perdue signed both the School Violence Prevention Act and the Healthy Youth Act. Now these two bills to protect the safety and health of young people in our state (ed. note North Carolina) are the law of the land.

Equality NC has been working for over three years to pass the School Violence Prevention Act. This is a huge victory for us and for North Carolina. Now, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people and other vulnerable students will have a powerful tool to help protect them from bullying and harassment.

Please click here for full article

Yay!! Score another TWO Victories for the side of good!!

[Bronx NYC] Teen Lesbian Couple Voted Best Couple by Their HS Peers

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:38:42 GMT

While the adults in Albany, NY still can't get it together to vote on the gay marriage bill in the NY Senate, the students of Mott Haven Village Preparatory (Public) High School in the Bronx have already cast their vote – and made history.

For the first time at their school (and perhaps in all of the Bronx), a same sex couple, Victoria Cruz & her girlfriend Deoine Scott, were voted “Best Couple” by an overwhelming majority of students.

http://sisterstalk.net/blog/2009/06/teen-lesbian-couple-voted-best-couple-by-their-high-school-peers/

Yay!! - Throws Confetti - Happy Pride Y'all

becasue being an activist is NOT all bad news and grim work

Wed, 20 May 2009 23:06:49 GMT

to lift your spirits and make you laugh come theses two "Quick Hits" courtesy of the BiNet USA News Blog: Abby Is A Dear and Accurate Too & Out Of The Mouths Of Babes and Students

You can add BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community to your friends-list here binetusa

[USA]: Note From the New BiNet USA Prez by Gary North

Wed, 20 May 2009 03:18:33 GMT

X-Posted with permission from BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community (on LJ as binetusa)

Belated greetings (board members took their new positions in late April). It’s been a busy month in Lake WoBiGon (sorry, Garrison), so that’s why I’m only now getting to write this (and with a special thanks to our never-ever-sleeps webmaster, who has inserted all sorts of links in this essay):

• Biphobia has been running rampant lately (why right now is a mystery to me, but I’ll blame the economy, global warming, bad hair days . . . ), so BiNet USA's supporters and Rapid Responders have been countering the attacks immediately, consistently and repeatedly (donate now so we can continue the fight!).

• At the same time (not so coincidentally?), same-sex marriage has been approved by courts or legislatures in several states, and there’s a move afoot to try to repeal Prop. 8 in California), so we have yet another fight on our hands.

• And I’ve been so swamped with work after two more rounds of layoffs that I haven’t had time to say hello. So: Hello!

Allow me to introduce myself: You know Methuselah? Well, I haven’t been around the bi movement THAT long — but nearly. Actually, I’m the political/theoretical-construct love-child of Robyn, Lani, Loraine, Alan, Barry, Alexei, Luigi . . . hey, it takes a community to nurture a community, yuh know — and to comprehend what BiNet USA and the bi movement are all about.

. . . What’s that? You say didn’t even KNOW there’s a bi movement? And you don’t know who those people are whose first names I just rattled off? Well, stick around and pull up a chair(person) . . . Or in this case, a prexy.

CLICK HERE For The Complete Article

You can add BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community to your friends-list here binetusa

Quick Hits: this is what Biphobia looks like gay.com style

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:55:05 GMT

X-Posted with permission from BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community (on LJ as binetusa)

Obviously quite a few people are really taking the concept of being an "April Fool" to heart this year. Now gay.com one of THE Most Popular online men's personals, chat and social networking sites in the United States decided to post an "Op-Ed" piece in their 'Hot Topics' section entitled "Can Guys Actually Be Bisexual?" And you'll NEVER Guess what they concluded . . . they can't!

Here area couple of gems from the piece:

So what do we make of these guys who define themselves as bi? Are they really fooling themselves as they screw their way down the path to gayhood . . . where men are concerned, if you're having sex with a guy, chances are there's a part of you that's in denial and only time will tell when you'll finally come around to that realization

and then there is this

Women on the other hand are more emotionally driven than men and can, I believe, be bisexual . . . There's something more casual about a woman playing both sides of the field

But you might be saying, after all it's gay.com, men don't actually go to the site for INTELLECTUAL stimulation, so why should we care what they say?

becasue the author is not just some random dude spouting off, he is Ari Bendersky, a reasonably well credentialed journalist and should know better

becasue a LOT of men log on, including some who are just stating to explore their sexual identity show up and poke around. And this is a place where they form their ideas about the different kinds of people who make up the LGBT Community and, more importantly, how they should treat them

and becasue it's the right thing to do

-- so do it.

Here's where to voice your opinions:

submit an Incident Report to GLAAD and ask them to please live up to their mission to defend the LGBT Community against all hate-mongering
post your own Comments about the article, many people repudiating the silly biphobic and sexist remarks can help mitigate their bad example
and if you're feeling especially moved send a complaint to abuse@gay.com and "cc" it to their parent company abuse@planetout.com -- yes sad but true PlanetOut!

and again many thanks to the good people at Queers United for noticing the article and doing something about it.

You can add BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community to your friends-list here binetusa

[USA] three new thought-provoking articles on current ideas of gender, sexuality and identity

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:31:33 GMT

Young Adults 'Don't Want to be Defined by Gender, Orientation'
by Sharon Jayson in USA Today 19 April 2009

Sexual orientation and sexual labels. Gender crossing and gender bending. These aren't X-rated or adults-only topics but rather subjects that young people talk about as they figure out where they fit in, said a panel of experts at a weekend conference of the Council on Contemporary Families here . . . He says the terms created in the early days, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, are giving way to other descriptions, such as polygender or multisex . . . "Today, girls are free to do sports and be competitive. No one thought they had to play dumb to get a boyfriend. The women's movement has done great things for middle school girls," she says. "It's another story with boys. I feel like we're in a time warp. We have not dealt with men and masculinity in a serious enough way," she says. "Boys police each other. There's no room not to do anything not traditionally masculine."

Please click here to read the full story.

[BiNet USA] We are all somewhere between straight and gay . . . .
by Estraven in BiNet USA News and Opinions (binetusa) 20 April 2009

We have been told we do not exist, we have been told we must fit ourselves into either the “straight” or “gay/lesbian” boxes, during those bewildering moments when the culture suddenly decides to find us "chic" we are then told that our life-long sexual orientation is something we are doing to be cool . . . We are all somewhere between straight and gay. If the pansexuals judge the bisexuals, and the stable people judge the fluid people, and/or vice versa, our community will fall apart before it even has a chance to come together . . .

Please click here to read the full story.

How Male Bisexuality Got Cool
by Rachel Kramer Bussel in The Daily Beast 21 April 2009

. . . . whereas bisexual women had their fling with pop culture in the 1990s —when everyone from Drew Barrymore to Madonna messed around with women, not to mention the famous Vanity Fair cover showing Cindy Crawford shaving k.d. lang—“bromances” are now the driving force behind Hollywood comedies and Style section features, as men find more ways to play for both teams, or at least act like they do . . . . The celebrities who engage in it take pains to make it clear they’re straight—half-ironically goofing around, often as a blatant grab for attention. But the fact that they’re even taking it that far is something new . . . Five years ago, few male celebrities went there, and the ones who did were often already branded as outsiders, like Michael Stipe. Now, the most mainstream of leading men clamor to act bi for the camera . . . It’s not just about being seduced into a same-sex encounter, but about men claiming bisexuality or bicuriosity on their own terms.

Please click here to read the full story.

Icons for the Bisexual, Fluid & Pansexual Communities : free to good homes

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:08:00 GMT

[20] Bisexual, Fluid & Pansexual Icons

02	14	19

01	02	03	04	05

06	07	08	09	10

11	12	13	14	15

16	17	18	19	20

[USA] people who were looking for Bi/Pan/Fluid Queer Community in the Sacramento area

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:26:03 GMT

Please see these two groups:

Sacramento Area Bisexual Network (SacAreaBiNet) e-mail announcements and discussions

Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center's Bisexual, Bicurious and Questioning group (at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center)

A Myspace Group for the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center's Bisexual, Bicurious and Questioning group

and please see here for some other California Groups

please feel freee to X-Post this

(USA) PLEASE NOTE: Fwd: [SWIRL]: Sex Worker Murdered in Boston

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:57:37 GMT

Yesterday a sex worker from NYC was brutally murdered here in Boston. Police are saying they think its the second attack by the same guy (first was not killed).

He makes appointments with people on Craig's List to come to Boston and meet him in nice hotels. There are surveillance photos of the guy being posted now, at this link:

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO110496/

PLEASE spread the word to anyone you think needs to know about this.

Feel free to post on list servers. I'm thinking that people outside of Boston may not know this is happening -- and those are the people he's preying on.

Judy
SWIRL

PLEASE READ AND REPOST - HELP SAVE A LIFE -- THANK YOU

this is what Biphobia looks like: columnist Michael Musto asks 'Are Bisexuals Real?'

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:51:51 GMT

X-Posted with permission from BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community (on LJ as binetusa)

The totally tired and decidedly un-fabulous Michael Musto a gossip columnist for the Village Voice has come out with a biphobic, anti-scientific column titled "Ever Meet a Real Bisexual"? questioning the legitimacy of bisexuality. In it he says (among other silly things):

"Everyone always says they're bisexual, blabbing on and on about how "sexuality is fluid, and I don't really like labels"--but usually I find these are just gay men who are afraid to come out. I know there are real bisexuals out there--mainly because I've heard that there are--and I do think it's a lovely idea to actually crave sex with people regardless of gender. I'm just wondering how real a phenomenon this is, as opposed to a smoke-and-mirrors coverup designed to keep antsy gays in the closet.

Most of the guys I know who say they're bisexual end up doing Bette Davis impersonations after a few drinks, and when you invite them to an all-girl bar, they get excited, thinking you mean Splash. But do you know anyone who REALLY is equally attracted to both men and women and effortlessly glides between those two dating pools without a second's thought or self-consciousness? If so, do you ever suspect they're full of shit?"

Suggesting bisexuality is a phenomenon, or that bisexual men are closeted liars is offensive and outright wrong!

While some who say these bigoted things may think they are being funny, cute and amusing not to mention raising the hit rate on their columns a notch or two or some well-meaning people may just chalk it up to "sibling rivalry" within the greater LGBT Community -- annoying but not to serious, in reality the biphobic rants of Michael Musto, Dan Savage, et al. are just as toxic as Fred Phelps, James Dobson's Focus on the Family and their ilk are to the greater LGBT Community.

They give legitimacy to troubled souls of the kind we ALL know too well, (such as the recent YouTube incidents) and help to incite hatred and violence against the bisexual/pansexual and fluid community.

Take Action
Contact Michael Musto and tell him biphobia has no place in the Village Voice or anywhere else for that matter.

Contact GLAAD and ask them to please live up to their mission to defend the LGBT Community against hate-mongering in the media

and many thanks to the good people at Queers United for noticing the article, knowing it was wrong and immediately doing something about it. They are a good source of info for the LGBT community and would be a helpful addition to anyone's blogroll.

yes, please DO X-Post this

[USA] Is your bi/pan/fluid Community Group among the missing?

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:42:45 GMT

BiNet USA is looking for ALL bi/pan/fluid groups in the US so that everyone will have a convenient place to find community.

If you moderate or are a member of a group like this, could you please take a minute to check your state's listing to see if you are properly included? If anyone's sees any changes or additions that are needed please RSVP via Comments with the groups name, location, link and contact info.

Thanks

And PS did you know that you can now easily keep up with the News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bi/Pan/Fluid Community(s) right here on LJ? Just add binetusa to your friendslist.

yes, please DO X-Post this

Biphobia Alerts: Two separate incidents to deal with

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:40:11 GMT

X-Posted with permission from BiNet USA News and Opinions: News, Essays and Editorials by & for America's Bisexual Community (on LJ as binetusa) from a post by Estraven a Mod from the Westchester Bisexual Group

First, there is a tragically (mis)named website called "Broadening Our Gay Unity: For A Better Tomorrow" whose Mission Statement talks about "the prospective, tragic threat, duplicity and danger of the "B" in LGBT, exposed." If you join the Guest Book, it is full of hateful messages about bisexuals such as "BI RHYMES WITH LIE AND DIE", and also quoting the discredited Bailey research.

A member of NYC's long running discussion group for bisexual and bi-friendly people BiRequest contacted the website, only to receive this response:

"SHAME ON YOU. Bisexuals are maintaining hetero-privilege and collaborating with the homophobes while simultaneously enjoying the gay lifestyle. Female bisexuals are attention seeking heterosexuals, while male ones are just self-denying homosexuals too afraid to fully acknowledge their true orientation. Bisexuals are actually closeted gay people who wish to appear heterosexual. Bisexuals want to undermine the GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. BI IS A LIE . . . . . BEWARE OF THEIR VILE, HOMOPHOBIC AGENDA!!!!"

Though we are all staunch advocates of Free Speech and the 1st Amendment, we also believe the old adage that another person's freedom to swing their arms ends when their fists are in danger of connecting with our nose or in this case the "Bi, Lie, Die" thing et. al.

The website is on a free web server, and the webhosts state that they have a policy against ". . . the defamation of others . . . and offensive activity". Click here for the form for reporting offensive content. If the hosting service gets enough complaints, this offensive site may be shut down or at least forced to amend their public threats.

The same people also seem to have a YouTube page It is not clear whether or not someone can be removed from YouTube, but if he gets enough posts that male bisexuals are NOT confused gay men, and female bisexuals are NOT attention-seeking straight women, eventually he might listen.

Secondly, The Tyra Banks Show (a Warner Bros. Television product) has a Poll about whether or not bisexuals exist (Yes ANOTHER one!). The votes and commentary are running in our favor on this one, at least, but Tyra Banks and her corporate handlers need to hear that the very existence of such a poll is offensive - as one person astutely points out, "it's like asking if biracial people exist."

Please Click Here to Vote and Voice your opinion on "Bisexuality Real or Bogus" and while you are at it you may want to mention to her boss at Warner Bros. Television that your life is NOT subject to the whim of a on-line popularity contest and lastly alert the good folks at GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) so that they can bring appropriate pressure to bear on the show and corporation also.

And as usual, if YOU find an instance of biphobia or bisexual erasure do not keep it to yourself - if you SEE something, SAY Something!

yes, please DO X-Post this

[USA]: Delaware City Councilman Ezra Temko Comes Out as Bi

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:34:26 GMT

THE GOOD NEWS
23-year-old (ed. Newark) Delaware City Councilman Ezra Temko introduced and got support from the City Council for an anti-discrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation and won support to add gender identity to the city's non-discrimination clause in its personnel policy. He also got the Council to agree to research health benefits for the city's domestic partners and the creation of a domestic partner registry.

And, on top of that, he came out of the closet publicly, in an interview with the Newark Post (Councilman Temko opens up about his sexual orientation: A Newark love story).

Said Temko: "I’m bi. I’ve dated girls before, but I’ve been with my boyfriend, Drew, since August and we’re planning to get engaged this summer. During college, I was in a very inclusive environment that embraced everyone, instead of accepting norms as legitimate on face value. I was able, in this environment, to explore who I was and realize that I’m bisexual. I always assumed I would end up with a girl; then I met Drew."

CLICK HERE To read the full article in Towleroad Delaware City Councilman Ezra Temko Comes Out with a Flourish
(yes Towleroad, even if they seem unable to actually figure out how to SPELL the word "bisexual" *rolls-eyes*)

THE BAD NEWS
The biphobic comments this piece engendered.

The guys is here, queer, out of the closet and doing a whole bunch of great things for the entire LGBT Community and all these fools can do is mock him and be petty?

What is wrong with these people?

Peer Support for Group Leaders

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:51:06 GMT

x-posted with permission from BiNet USA News and Updates: Peer Support for Group Leaders

Some inquiries on this subject have come in. So in case you all missed the original announcement about this back when it started, yes there is an online peer support group for ALL people who run groups (both the face to face and the online kinds) for the bisexual, fluid, pansexual, hetro/homo-flexible, omnisexual, et al. community.

The group called Local Bi Group Leaders was started in 2007 by the leader of a local Colorado USA support group who says:

"This is a place for Local Bi Group Leaders to share their advice with each other. Do you have a support group or a social group, or a combination? Do you invite just woman, men, transgender or all? Where and how do you advertise? Do you meet in person or just online? Are you an activist group or just a group to meet other bisexual/pansexual people? Do you have an affiliation with the local gay and lesbian center? These are just some of the questions we have as we try to get more people involved. Whether you're just starting out and want advice, or you have a hoppin' group and you can share advice, sign up here!"

The group is conducted in English but has people from all over the world.

So if you're a professional social-worker running a multi-faceted Community Center, the moderator of an on-line community website or a newbie just setting up a support group at your school or college please come and join up.

yes, please do pass this info along