San Diego - BiNet USA, the nation's umbrella organization and voice for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer ( bi+ ) people, will launch a new campaign at this week's upcoming Comic-Con, focused on bi+ people and their families and loved ones sharing their stories. The stories will be collected as part of a program aimed at raising awareness of the discrimination bi+ people face, as well as the journeys of those who love and support them.
"It's so important to uplift the voices of bi+ people and empower them to tell their stories," said BiNet USA President Faith Cheltenham. "Too often, the media sensationalizes our identities and experiences, and fails to represent the incredible diversity of our community. Bisexual people and those who know and love them need to see stories that represent their lives and the challenges they face."
The BiNet USA Bi Stories project will launch in conjunction with a Comic-Con panel, "Bisexuality and Beyond: New Frontiers in Popular Culture," sponsored by the BiNet Bi Stories Project and Prism Comics, and featuring Cheltenham, Bob Schreck ( Legendary Comics ), Marissa Lee ( Racebending.com ), Tara Madison Avery ( Gooch, Anything That Loves ), RJ Aguiar ( YouTube's "TheNotAdam," NotAdamAndSteve.com ), and Steve Orlando ( Midnighter, Batman & Robin Eternal ). The panel will focus on bi representations in popular culture and what these images of bisexual identity mean for the bi+ community.
"We're supporting bi comics creators at Comic-Con with the major venue debut of ALPHABET, an anthology featuring creators of a broad variety of genders and orientations," said Tara Madison Avery of Stacked Deck Press and Prism Comics.
The panel and the Bi Stories project, along with BiNet's other work, is meant to raise awareness and visibility about the numerous disparities the bi+ community faces —— including higher rates of physical and mental health problems, and lower levels of social support —— compared to both their lesbian/gay and non-LGBTQ counterparts. Bi+ people also face discrimination and biphobia from within the LGBTQ community, making it more difficult to be out and connected with a supportive community.
Earlier this month, BiNet USA's Bi Stories Project co-sponsored programming at the annual Netroots Nation conference, including a "chill space" for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer ( LGBTQ ) people of color, and an event highlighting the voices and experiences of bi+ people of color, #BiPOC Speak Out.
"We're so excited to continue bringing greater visibility to the bi+ community," said Cheltenham. "The more people who see us as human beings, and who understand our struggles and experiences, the closer we get to true equality and inclusion."
To participate in the program, please visit binetusa.org/bistories and use the #bistories hashtag on social media to follow along with all of our Comic Con activities!
As America's umbrella organization and voice for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer ( bi+ ) people, BiNet USA facilitates the development of a cohesive network of independent bisexual and bi-friendly communities; promotes bi-inclusive visibility; and collects and distributes educational information regarding sexual orientation and gender identity with an emphasis on bisexual communities.
