Bi Visibility Day, September 23, has been observed internationally since 1999. This day is a call for the bisexual community, their friends, and supporters to recognize and celebrate bisexuality, bisexual history, bisexual community and culture, and all the bisexual people in their lives.
“Bi people are among the most invisible people in the LGBT community,” said Marge Charmoli, member of the ReconcilingWorks Board of Directors. “Bi Visibility Day is an important step to increasing visibility and dispelling harmful myths.”
This year, ReconcilingWorks has expanded Bi Visibility Day into an entire week! As we all learn as allies and grow as advocates, we often encounter harmful stereotypes of bisexual people. These hurtful stereotypes can come from a lack of understanding, so it is our responsibility as allied people of faith to speak up when we hear stereotypes being spoken. To raise awareness and visibility, we encourage you to comment on and share the resources and stories posted here and on ReconcilingWorks’ Facebook page this week with your faith community, friends, and other social media outlets as you work to extend a greater welcome to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
To get you started, here is a sampling of what we are sharing this week:
“What is bi phobia, bi erasure, and bi visibility?”
This post from an ELCA member on the Queer Grace blog gives us some bisexuality basics to start your conversations. http://queergrace.com/what-is-bi-phobia-bi-erasure-and-bi-visibility/
“What it means to be bisexual in the world and in the church (and what LGBTQ equality means to me),” by the Rev. Elizabeth Rawlings, pastor with Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Washington. https://feetinarmsout.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/what-it-means-to-be-bisexual-in-the-world-and-in-the-church-and-what-lgbtq-equality-means-to-me/
“A Gay Episcopal Bishop’s Open Letter to the Pope,” by Bishop Gene Robinson http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/19/a-gay-episcopal-bishop-s-open-letter-to-the-pope.html
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