|
|
Bisexual woman starts network, will meet Obama
by Erica Demarest 2011-06-22
|
|
This article shared 5530 times since Wed Jun 22, 2011
|
|
When Adrienne Williams lost her job a few years ago, she fell into a funk. The former information technology specialist decided she needed a project, something that would lift her mood.
"Reflecting on my life," she said, "basically at the heart of the economic crunch, I just felt like, 'OK, what's going to get me to be happy? What do I want to do?' I was tired of the freelance thing… I just felt like I wanted to do something that was meaningful for me."
An out bisexual woman, Williams had long felt there was a dearth of bisexual content in the media, so she decided to fix that. Using skills she honed managing other people's websites, Williams created the Bi Social Network. Originally intended to be an online magazine, the network quickly morphed into a thriving social media hub, drawing fans from around the globe.
With more than 1,500 registered members and an additional 12,000-18,000 readers per month, the Bi Social Network is the largest and most comprehensive online community for bisexuals.
The site features blogs, online forums, a radio show, videos, photos, news and editorials. It focuses its attention on relevant entertainment items, such as the shows True Blood and Grey's Anatomy, which feature bisexual characters.
Much to Williams' surprise, bisexuals aren't the only ones who have noticed her. She's been invited to attend President Obama's third annual LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House, scheduled for June 29.
"I didn't think by any means I would be a part of it," she said. "I'm so new. I've been a part of the LGBT community for years, but the site is only about two-and-a-half years old… There are other people who've been doing it a longer time than me."
The White House press department confirmed the reception's date, but was unable to release further details by press deadline. Williams received a paper invitation in the mail. With gold leaf writing and an embossed seal, it reminded her of a formal wedding invitation ("It has really nice penmanship, I will say that.").
This will mark the lifelong Chicagoan's first trip to Washington D.C. Although she is excited, Williams is not letting the impending trip distract her from the Bi Social Network. She regularly hosts "Bi Talk" Radio and manages the site's "I am Visible" campaign, a yearlong project designed to give bisexuals a platform for expression.
"In every community, whether it's gay, lesbian or straight, there are some kind of self-doubt or identity issues," Williams said. For bisexuals, it's often hard to find understanding. "People say, 'When are you going to go this way? When are you going to go gay? When are you going to change over?'"
Through personal videos, blog posts and essays, bisexuals from around the world talk about what it is to bisexual in the "I am Visible" campaign. Williams hopes the site will educate non-bisexuals and feel liberating for bisexuals: "I want them to say, 'I'm bisexual, and that's it.'" |
|
|
|
This article shared 5530 times since Wed Jun 22, 2011
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | HRC president responds to NAIA vote to ban transgender women from playing sports 2024-04-08 --From a press release - WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, responded to the National Association of ...
|
| | Sinema retiring from the U.S. Senate 2024-03-05 - Kyrsten Sinema—the bisexual U.S. senator from Arizona who recently switched from being a Democrat to an independent—announced that she will not run for re-election this year, ...
|
| | Human Rights Campaign report releases new data on experiences of Black queer youth 2024-02-14 --From a press release - WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a report in ...
|
| | HRC State Equality Index: Anti-LGBTQ+ 2023 state legislative season "most destructive" 2024-01-30 --From a press release - WASHINGTON—Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the education arm of the nation's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federatio ...
|
| | NATIONAL Toni Atkins, Maine, bisexual advocate dies, Jussie Smollett, school board 2024-01-26 - San Diego leader and California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins kicked off her bid to become California's next governor, becoming the latest Democrat to join the 2026 race, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Atkins is ...
|
| | NATIONAL Trans candidates, Philly official, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, bisexual study 2024-01-05 - An Ohio transgender woman announced her candidacy for the state's legislature, challenging an anti-LGBTQ+ Republican, The Dallas Voice noted. "If you're gonna attack our communities, then you're gonna have to compete against someone from our c ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Former Disney star, women's sports, Latifah, Lenny Kravitz, 'Barbie' 2023-12-08 Videos below - In an essay about mental health that ran in Teen Vogue, former Disney star Karan Brar came out as bisexual, Out noted. In the essay, Brar talked about moving out of his parents' place —something that ...
|
| | LGBTQ+ figure skater lands triple axel in competition 2023-10-23 - Amber Glennwho identifies as bisexual and pansexualbecame the sixth U.S. female figure skater to land a clean triple axel in competition, hitting the jump at Skate America on Oct. 22, NBC Sports noted. "It's been more ...
|
| | Former 'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter talks bisexuality, mental health 2023-10-23 - t's safe to say that 2023 is probably one of the most pivotal years in Josh Seiter's life. During the summer, Seiter—a former Bachelorette contestant who's also a Chicago resident, Chicago-Kent College of Law grad, mental-health ...
|
| | NATIONAL Bisexual politicians, DADT, NBJC awards, crimes, Buttigieg 2023-09-28 - For Bi Visibility Day (Sept. 23), The Advocate ran a piece titled "35 Bisexual Politicians You Should Know." Just a few on the list include trans Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Nevada Assemblymember Cecelia Gonzalez, U.S. ...
|
| | New HRC data: LGBTQ+ youth still lack critical support and acceptance 2023-08-10 - From a press release: WASHINGTON—The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a report in partnership with the ...
|
| | HRC calls on House of Representatives to vote down anti-trans amendments to National Defense Bill 2023-07-13 - WASHINGTONToday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, called upon members of the House of Representatives to reject extremist ...
|
| | HRC declares state of emergency for LGBTQs, issues report and guidebook 2023-06-06 --From a press release - WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — officially declared a state of emergency ...
|
| | Louisiana Senate Health & Welfare Committee kills bans on gender affirming care, HRC responds 2023-05-24 --From a press release - Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, thanks members of the Louisiana Senate Health ...
|
| | HRC condemns Ohio state senate for passing education censorship bill 2023-05-24 --From a press release - Columbus, Ohio — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — condemned the Ohio State Senate for passing ...
| |
|
|