[USA]: National Equality March: Bisexual Inclusion Isn't That Hard
X-Posted from Queer Subversion a blog by Jackson a bisexual and transgender activist living in Wisconsin with his cat and three dogs. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. Jackson is also a feminist, vegetarian, witch and a bunch of other stuff. You can also read more of his musings on life, the universe and everything on his website also called Queer Subversion and follow him on twitter on @queersubversion - cause let's face it, you can never get too much Jackson!
This is a "hint hint" post. As in "hint hint, you're screwing up, hint hint." But I'll not be too specific here, except to say that a couple days ago I clicked on my email box to see that it as flooded with discussion from BiNet USA's mailing list about the National Equality March (NEM) (you know, the one that has a petition against "fractions of equality" on their website) and how until recently its only openly bisexual speaker was . . . drum roll, please . . . Lady Gaga.
I already asserted my belief that Lady Gaga has every right to be considered a real bisexual. I don't care that she's a celebrity, or that her attraction to women is totally based on physical attraction and not love, or that she is kind of an oddball (understatement), I can easily consider her bisexual. The fact remains, though, that for a while it was like the organizers of the National Equality March thought she was an appropriate substitute for all of the bisexual experiences out there, despite the fact she just hasn't been in "our community" for that long outside of being a celebrity who has been openly bi for a little bit.
After all, they put up our posters as a token pro-bi gesture. And considering the organizers were given ample suggestions for bisexual activists to choose as speakers, it's downright appalling.
Actually, I kind of wonder if the reason they picked Lady Gaga wasn't because she is bisexual, but because she has a large gay following. That is, of course, only speculation, but one thing is for certain: My community did not choose her to speak for us. A different community did.
Please CLICK HERE to read the rest of Jackson's Essay
This is not at all to say that people don't want Lady Gaga to speak (and if she wishes, to be able to sing too . . . since after all she IS an artist - one of OUR Community's Artists to be specific!), we are thrilled that she wants to stand up with and for us. Additionally after many discussions with the powers-that-be, we were all really excited to later hear that the fantastic Queer-identified @chloenoble who works with PrideWalk on behalf of homeless LGBT Youth will also be representing our community.
The point that National Equality March kept missing was, as Jackson so eloquently pointed out that they hadn't given us the courtesy to define ourselves and they kept missing that word ALSO.
We also wanted to have some sort of representation of the hard-working activists who actually do the everyday work and keep all the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual & Queer-identified services, groups and events going. And our community also wants to be treated with the same respect and dignity that Gay Men, Lesbian Women and Transgender/Genderqueer people are.
Many people from the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual and Queer-identified Community(s) will be going to Washington DC for the March or participating in related events closer to home. BiNet USA and and many other organizations that support the "B" in LGBT (including Bialogue) have endorsed the very laudable goals. As many members of the Community have repeatedly reminded the good folks who we have been talking to at the National Equality March, we wouldn't be fighting so hard to participate if we also didn't care so passionately about these issues!
For people who are going to DC, the local Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC Bisexual/Pansexual Groups will be acting as the local hosts. And the Bisexual Men's Alliance DC (BIMA DC) has kindly taken on the job of acting the communications conduit for those who are going to be there.
If you have any further questions, about our contingent at march itself please direct them to NationalEqualityMarch@binetusa.org and/or bima.dc@gmail.com
This is a "hint hint" post. As in "hint hint, you're screwing up, hint hint." But I'll not be too specific here, except to say that a couple days ago I clicked on my email box to see that it as flooded with discussion from BiNet USA's mailing list about the National Equality March (NEM) (you know, the one that has a petition against "fractions of equality" on their website) and how until recently its only openly bisexual speaker was . . . drum roll, please . . . Lady Gaga.
I already asserted my belief that Lady Gaga has every right to be considered a real bisexual. I don't care that she's a celebrity, or that her attraction to women is totally based on physical attraction and not love, or that she is kind of an oddball (understatement), I can easily consider her bisexual. The fact remains, though, that for a while it was like the organizers of the National Equality March thought she was an appropriate substitute for all of the bisexual experiences out there, despite the fact she just hasn't been in "our community" for that long outside of being a celebrity who has been openly bi for a little bit.
After all, they put up our posters as a token pro-bi gesture. And considering the organizers were given ample suggestions for bisexual activists to choose as speakers, it's downright appalling.
Actually, I kind of wonder if the reason they picked Lady Gaga wasn't because she is bisexual, but because she has a large gay following. That is, of course, only speculation, but one thing is for certain: My community did not choose her to speak for us. A different community did.
Please CLICK HERE to read the rest of Jackson's Essay
This is not at all to say that people don't want Lady Gaga to speak (and if she wishes, to be able to sing too . . . since after all she IS an artist - one of OUR Community's Artists to be specific!), we are thrilled that she wants to stand up with and for us. Additionally after many discussions with the powers-that-be, we were all really excited to later hear that the fantastic Queer-identified @chloenoble who works with PrideWalk on behalf of homeless LGBT Youth will also be representing our community.
The point that National Equality March kept missing was, as Jackson so eloquently pointed out that they hadn't given us the courtesy to define ourselves and they kept missing that word ALSO.
We also wanted to have some sort of representation of the hard-working activists who actually do the everyday work and keep all the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual & Queer-identified services, groups and events going. And our community also wants to be treated with the same respect and dignity that Gay Men, Lesbian Women and Transgender/Genderqueer people are.
Many people from the Bisexual, Fluid, Pansexual and Queer-identified Community(s) will be going to Washington DC for the March or participating in related events closer to home. BiNet USA and and many other organizations that support the "B" in LGBT (including Bialogue) have endorsed the very laudable goals. As many members of the Community have repeatedly reminded the good folks who we have been talking to at the National Equality March, we wouldn't be fighting so hard to participate if we also didn't care so passionately about these issues!
For people who are going to DC, the local Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC Bisexual/Pansexual Groups will be acting as the local hosts. And the Bisexual Men's Alliance DC (BIMA DC) has kindly taken on the job of acting the communications conduit for those who are going to be there.
If you have any further questions, about our contingent at march itself please direct them to NationalEqualityMarch@binetusa.org and/or bima.dc@gmail.com