Bi Visibility Day
Did you know?
The second most-declared sexual orientation for students and staff (after heterosexual/straight) at the University is bi, bisexual, or bi+
- 5.5% of students identify as bi, bisexual or bi+
- 2.3% of staff identify as bisexual1
What does 鈥榖i鈥� mean?
Bi is an umbrella term used to describe romantic and/or sexual attraction towards more than one gender of people. People under the 鈥榖i umbrella鈥� may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including but not limited to: bisexual, bi, pan, and queer.
Why do we need to be more bi-inclusive?
Bi people have unique experiences, even among the wider LGBTQ+ community.
- Just 18% of bi people are out to someone at work, compared to 38% of lesbian and gay colleagues, and only half of bi men are out to anyone at work about their sexuality (Stonewall, 2018).
- Only 28% of bi staff would feel confident reporting bullying or harassment, compared to
41% of gay and lesbian colleagues (Stonewall, 2020).
- 47% of bi students have received negative comments from other students because they鈥檙e bi, and 7% have been physically attacked (Stonewall, 2020). Bi people are also subject to many harmful myths and stereotypes specific to bisexuality.
How can we be bi-inclusive?
Follow the language someone uses to describe their own relationships and identity. There are many different terms that falls under the 鈥榖i umbrella鈥�, including bi, pan, and queer. Use language which is inclusive of bi people, and doesn鈥檛 erase their experiences. The term 鈥榞ay鈥� is not a catch-all term for the LGBTQUA+ community.
Stay alert to negative language and behaviour towards bi people, and challenge it when it is safe for you to do so. Engage with active bystander intervention training, to support your knowledge, skills and confidence to intervene.
Bi people are not a monolith, and bi people have different experiences, identities and backgrounds. Bi men are sometimes accused of being gay men in denial. Ace bi people are often told that they can鈥檛 be bi because they don't experience sexual attraction.
Avoid making assumptions about someone鈥檚 identity on the basis of their current or previous partners鈥� identities. For example, a man dating another man is often assumed to be 鈥榞ay鈥�. A bi person dating someone of a different gender to themselves is still bi, not 鈥榮traight鈥� or in a 鈥榮traight relationship鈥�.
Include Bi Perspectives
Explicitly include bi people in your work. If you are organising a panel of speakers for a sexuality-based event, consider whether you have included bi speakers. Consider how bi people鈥檚 needs may differ from other service users.
Engage With Bi Education
Engage with bi education and awareness efforts. Support the LGBTQUA+ Events Group at 糖心TV by attending and/or helping to organise activities for annual programmes such as LGBT+ History Month and Pride Month.
Respect Confidentiality
Someone may choose to come out to you, but not to others. Therefore, it's important to only share someone's sexuality with others if you have their explicit consent. Whilst it's understandable to be curious, avoid excessive or intrusive questions about someone's bisexuality.
Why not also choose something additional to鈥�
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1The sexual orientation demographic questions for staff and students have different response options. The options for staff are limited to 'bisexual', 'gay or lesbian', 'heterosexual or straight', 'other sexual orientation' and 'prefer not to say'.