Br. Michael C. Oboza has admitted he waged a long internal battle to figure out "how straight or gay" he assumed he had to be.
Instead, he's bisexualand he works daily with others identified by the "B" in the LGBT community.
"I knew I had butterflies for two classmates from kindergarten to seventh-grade at the same time. That's eight years. [Being bisexual is] not a phase. And it took exploring being gay and straight for over 30 years to accept my butterflies; my bisexual birthright is real and exists," he said.
Oboza said the best part of his job is "meeting other out and closeted bisexuals" on a daily basis. The worst part is, "knowing bisexuals who have attempted or committed suicide from biphobia."
Oboza is an Orthodox Catholic Eastern Rite monastic. He has received accolades from The Love Foundation, Inc., and the Southern Poverty Law Center for his dedication to confronting biphobia while organizing bisexual programming at the Center on Halsted in Lakeview. He also was a key member of the community working to organize and host "Celebrate Bisexuality Day" at the Center in 2010 and 2011.
Oboza secured the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on LGBT Issues' endorsement of San Francisco's "Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations" report, receiving 2011 the Michael Page Award from the Marin Foundation for his efforts.
He founded the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago (BQAC) in 2010, and has been integral confronting homophobia in churches regarding same-sex blessings, and was the first open bisexual selection and host committee for the Legacy Project Chicago.
He also is the senior editor for Our Fence, a Chicago-based bisexual newsletter.
"I have a pure heart. The most difficult part is feeling of not doing enough for the bisexual community," Oboza said. "Being bi is all about my work. That's the awesome part. I am bisexual and don't have to closet myself regarding my life's work with Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago."
THE STATS