Celebrate bisexuality & combat biphobia: A #BiWeek checklist
An annual resource for bis & allies
Just 10 years ago today, the world celebrated its first official #BiWeek, i.e. Bisexual Awareness Week. This pink, purple, and blue affair was founded (and continues to be led by) the folks at GLAAD, who explained the impetus for the annual event as follows:
Annually, from September 16-23, GLAAD, the Bisexual Resource Center, and Still Bisexual recognize the bisexual+ community for Bisexual Awareness Week, culminating in Bi Visibility Day on September 23.
Bisexual+ Awareness Week seeks to accelerate the acceptance of the bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, no label, queer, etc.) community.
#BiWeek draws attention to the experiences, while also celebrating the resiliency of, the bisexual+ community. Throughout #BiWeek, allies and bi+ people learn about the history, culture, community, and current policy priorities of bi+ communities.
Now, as a loud-and-proud bisexual woman myself, I’m rarely one to turn down an opportunity to advocate for the bi community. But I’ll admit that I once again find myself wondering, as I do every September:
Why should the bisexual community be willing to settle for awareness and visibility? Why not support? Hell, why not celebration?
So this year, I decided it was time to create a resource that empowers the community and its allies—allies both within the LGBTQ+ and outside of it, let’s hope—to take action to combat biphobia and celebrate bisexuality this #BiWeek and beyond.
Your annual Bisexual Awareness Week support checklist
How to use this checklist
I don’t expect anyone reading this to complete every task on the following #BiWeek checklist—that’s not the intention. Instead, I hope you’ll look at it more like a menu and choose the options that seem most approachable and doable to you.
Ask yourself:
Which ones do you have the skill set and/or resources to take on?
Which ones would be the most fulfilling for you in alignment with your values and interests?
Which ones would you be proud for your bisexual loved one(s) to know you took on in support of their community, without their even having to ask?
Annual #BiWeek checklist: For allies
Despite the fact that more than half of LGBTQ+ adults identify as bi, we bisexuals are used to being met with biphobia from both within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. When we go to queer spaces, we prepare ourselves to be met with stereotypes, prejudices, and overall invalidation of our identity. In straight spaces, we mentally steel ourselves for invisibility or outright discrimination.
It should come as no surprise, then, that bi adults experience almost double the rates of depression and anxiety as compared to our heterosexual, gay, and lesbian peers. Bisexuals also report higher rates of substance abuse as well as self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts compared to the straight, gay, and lesbian communities. And these numbers are even higher for bisexual people who also identify as transgender, disabled, or people of color.
Bearing all of that context in mind: You have no idea what it means to a bi person to see literally any non-bisexual person openly supporting and celebrating the bi identity. And I’m not just talking about straight allies—the same applies to any person in the LGBTQ+ community who stands up for bisexuals, too.
So if you’re ready to get in on that action:
Educate yourself (and others)
Learn about bisexuality. Choose your own adventure here! You can start with a basic intro to bisexuality, a guide about how to be an ally to bi folks, statistics about bisexuality as it intersects with physical and mental health, a primer on supporting bi youth as an adult, or wherever else feels right to you.
Share educational resources. As you educate yourself, share whatever resonates most with you on social media, in casual conversations during your day-to-day life, or anywhere else that feels impactful. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, Some questions to ask yourself as you become a better bi+ ally from the team at GLAAD makes for a particularly share-worthy post.
Participate in workshops or trainings. Here’s a free bi visibility training you can easily host yourself, at work or in any other organizations where diversity and inclusion are a priority. Or you could watch this recording about Bi+ Allyship 101 from PLFAG. Or you could find upcoming workshops and trainings in your area to participate in virtually or IRL.
Challenge biphobia
Speak out against discrimination. If you hear someone speaking derogatorily about bisexuality—whether maliciously or as a joke—speak up. Tell them that’s not cool, funny, or inclusive. Mention that you care about someone who identifies as bi and you’d hate to hear anybody talk about them that way. Stand up for us when others put us down.
Promote positive representation. Support media and literature that portray bisexuality in a positive light instead of leaning on the old, stereotypical tropes we’re all so sick of seeing (e.g. bis are unfaithful, promiscuous, indecisive, attention-seeking, etc.)
Report biphobic behavior. Online and otherwise. Digitally, you can report abusive behavior or hate speech directly to whatever platform you see it on. If you see biphobia offline, you can report it—and/or any other forms of homophobia—to Galop, the LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity.
Amplify bisexual voices
Share bi content. Seek out bi creators (like @capricampeau on TikTok, @notdefining on Instagram, or yours truly here on Substack) to follow—then share the content they create with your own network to spread awareness of their work, identity, and message.
Support bi artists and creators Listen to bi artists (my current rotation is heavy on Arlo Parks and Phoebe Bridgers) and buy from bi-owned businesses (you can search for them in your area using Everywhere Is Queer), either for yourself or others, when you’re able. No budget? No problem—subscribing to their newsletters, engaging with the content they share, and leaving reviews are all totally free ways you can show your support, too.
Support bi-specific initiatives
Donate to bi charities. Bi.org and the Bisexual Resource Center are crucial resources within the bi+ community and could always use additional financial support.
Volunteer with bi groups. There are so many different organizations dedicated to supporting and uplifting the bi+ community—find one near you and volunteer your time toward their mission.
Celebrate bi culture
Attend BiWeek activities and celebrations. A quick search on Facebook, Eventbrite, Meetup, or your local media outlets should make it clear what events are happening in your area to celebrate Bisexual Awareness Month. Join ‘em!
Promote bi organizations. Share about them with your network, online and IRL—either those linked above or those you’ve found in your area specifically—to spread awareness about the work they’re doing and how others can get involved.
Recognize and publicize bi achievements. If someone bisexual in your life does something awesome, share about it! If they’re out, specifically mention their bisexuality (in a casual-not-creepy way, ideally) in your congratulatory message about their accomplishment. Normalize the idea of bi joy and excellence, and celebrate it!
Annual #BiWeek checklist: For the bisexual community
While there isn’t much we can do to convince others to support bisexuality as a valid, lived identity or to celebrate the bi community, there are certainly actions we can take to support ourselves during #BiWeek each year—especially when it comes to rejecting and overcoming the biphobic rhetoric we’ve unintentionally absorbed from those around us over the years.
Internalized biphobia is like a monster wreaking havoc in our minds. It attacks our self-worth, tears down our confidence, and sets fire to our sense of belonging.
But we have the power to slay that monster.
And thankfully, our swords swing more than just one way ;)
Start with self-care
Find a queer-friendly therapist. Check out Inclusive Therapists to find a counselor who aligns with your needs and understands your identity. Or consider a bi-inclusive online therapy platform if that seems less intimidating.
Seek out self-help resources. The Bi Pan Library is a great place to begin.
Join bi support groups. Check out your local amBi chapters, the virtual Give It To Me Bi community, or any of these bi-specific groups around the world and see what feels right for you.
Educate and empower yourself
Consume bi-centric media. There are more bisexual characters in TV and film now than ever before, so let’s prove that we want to see that bi representation on screen by watching the hell out of those programs! Ditto bi characters in books—if you’re not following @bisexualbookshelf yet, you’re missing out.
Find inspirational role models in the bi community. As a bi writer myself, I’ve long admired iconic bisexual authors Haley Jakobson and Jen Winston—but there are plenty of other inspiring bicons out there to choose from based on what you’re passionate about.
Practice self-affirmation and celebrate your identity. I don’t even mean that you need to do these things aloud, necessarily—your bisexuality is valid whether you’re out to others or not! But as I wrote in the first article I ever published about my sexual identity, 9 Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Bisexual Woman in a Relationship with a Man, “My fellow bi folks, consider writing this in big bold letters and taping it to your bathroom mirror: Bisexuality is a legitimate, lived identity.” Once you’ve found the affirmation that works for wherever you are in your bisexual journey, start repeating it to yourself regularly like a mantra. See how true it starts to feel over time.
Participate in bi-specific events
Attend #BiWeek events, virtually or IRL. Find them on amBi, Facebook, Eventbrite, Meetup, or a flyer in your local queer community center. Can’t find one happening nearby? Join one online!
Volunteer. To take your involvement a step further, don’t just attend a #BiWeek event, but volunteer your time to make one happen. Organizers are almost always looking for extra help!
Support bi-specific initiatives
Donate. To Bi.org, Bisexual Resource Center, or whatever other bi-centric organizations you find that could use your financial support.
Promote. If you can’t donate (or if you want to do more after you’ve donated!), share about those same organizations online instead. Spread the word about the work they’re doing, leave positive reviews for them online, and engage with the content they put out. The more people who see what they’re up to, the more of an impact they’re able to make!
Engage with bis and allies
Create content. In any format, on any platform! Make it informative or entertaining, personal or practical, serious or silly—create something related to bisexuality or the bi community in whatever way feels true and real and good for you. You can share it or keep it private, that part’s not important! It’s the act of creating that matters here.
Share resources. Either those you’ve created yourself or those you’ve found from others. Use your own voice, network, and influence to spread the word. Getting those resources in front of even just a couple more people can make more of a difference than you’d think.
Connect and celebrate. Find and interact with other bi folks online and in person! Thank any allies you come across for their support and encourage them to keep doing what they’re doing! Make authentic connections and celebrate bi culture with those who appreciate it in all its splendor.
Supporting and celebrating beyond Bi Visibility Day and Bisexual Awareness Week
Because that’s the point of all of these visibility and awareness days and weeks, right? They’re meant to remind you to see and be aware of the bisexual identity and the bi community all year long.
But if you’re ready to take it a step further to support and celebrate us year-round instead…
Keep learning. New research on bisexuality and the bi community doesn’t happen exclusively during #BiWeek. Bi experiences aren’t restricted to being shared during that one week in September each year. So be sure to continue to seek out and consume resources about bisexuality throughout the year, too.
Stay connected. If you’ve followed bi accounts and creators, make an effort to continue to explore and engage with their content year-round.
Support inclusive policies. Meaning take a political stand and vote in the interests of the bi communities, yes—but also encourage the adoption of bi inclusive policies in workplaces and in other shared spaces where bisexual rights aren’t necessarily a given.
Advocate year-round. Don’t just stand up to biphobia during this one week each year when the microscope is on bisexual acceptance. Speak up about biphobic rhetoric always, and share resources to educate those who don’t understand why you’d bother.
Highlight bi contributions. Keep sharing stories of bi joy and excellence. Normalize the idea that bisexual artists, athletes, academics, and more deserve accolades and consistent representation.
Foster inclusion. It’s really that simple.
Thanks for reading (& next steps)!
If you’re an ally, hi! Clearly, you care a lot about somebody in the bi community, and taking time to engage with this post demonstrates that. If you have any questions about what you see here, don’t hesitate to reach out. Or if you’re ready to start your bi allyship journey now, you can click the button above to share this post with your network now!
If you’re bi, hi! I’m glad you exist and I’m so happy you found your way here. Obviously, I don’t speak for the entire community, so: What other forms of support and celebration would you like to see from allies during #BiWeek and beyond? Let’s start a community wish list in the comments below because damn it, we deserve it.