TIPS TO BECOMING A BISEXUALITY ADVOCATE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ADVOCATE?
To advocate means to take action, to do something in order to make
something else happen. There are different kinds of advocacy. “Systems
advocacy” is to influence the way things are done for everyone in a county, a
school district, or a state. “Individual advocacy” is to influence what happens
for one person, which could be yourself. Some people talk about advocacy
as speaking up or standing up for yourself or someone else. Advocacy is
better understood as action taken to effect a desired change or outcome.
Effective advocacy does more than speak out. Good advocacy helps to
define the outcome you want to achieve.
When people form an alliance to speak out against prejudice and
discrimination, people who are the target of that prejudice are not the only
ones who benefit. They may be the ones who most directly benefit from
efforts to combat prejudice, but all of us, regardless of our identity, benefit
when any of us take steps toward eliminating prejudice and discrimination in
our society. We all benefit from our collective efforts to create a better
educated and more understanding world that treats each of us with dignity,
respect, and equality. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere
is a threat to justice everywhere."
Being an advocate is more than being sympathetic towards those who
experience discrimination. It is more than simply believing in equality. Being
an advocate means being willing to act with and for others in pursuit of
ending oppression and creating equality.
An advocate is someone who whose personal commitment to fighting
oppression and prejudice is reflected in a willingness to:
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Bisexuality is a sexual orientation and should not be stigmatized.
Use inclusive language about all relationships.
Celebrate Bisexuality Day on September 23.
Ask people how they identify.
Sexual orientation is very different from how someone develops a
relationship so don’t assume that bisexuals cannot be
monogamous.
How one practices relationships is as unique as the individual is
unique. Because someone is bisexual does not mean they are
interested in open relationships or casual sex.
A bisexual person does not become gay, lesbian or heterosexual
because they are in a monogamous relationship.
Everyone’s sexual history is different so don’t assume that a person
must have had any particular set of sexual experiences in order to
be bisexual.
If someone identifies as pansexual or fluid, use their identity word
to describe themselves.
Do recognize that people who fall under the “community identity
label” bisexual may also use “personal identity labels” such as fluid,
multi-sexual, pansexual, polysexual, pomosexual and omnisexual.
Understand that within the bisexual community, you will find that
people have a broad array of attractions including attraction being
unrelated to gender identity or expression as well as gender
expression.
Recognize that bisexuals are part of the LGBT community,
regardless of their current relationship status.
Understand that bisexual people frequently encounter prejudice
about their identity.
Avoid phrases that are frequently used to mock the idea of
bisexuality (i.e. plays for both teams, is on the fence, gets the best
of both worlds, etc.)
Avoid using the word gay as an umbrella term for the LGBT
community.
Advocate in support of Bisexual rights and causes.
1. Educate oneself about different identities and experiences,
2. Challenge one’s own discomfort and prejudices,
3. Learn and practice the skills of being an advocate,
4. Take action to create interpersonal, societal and institutional change.
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Resources
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http://www.biphoria.org.uk/
http://www.bisexualweek.com/
http://www.glaad.org/reference/bisexual
@BiNetUSA
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Books
Podcasts: The BiCast podcasting for the bisexual community
http://www.thebicast.org/
See the MCC Recommended Reading List at
www.MCCchurch.org / Chris is adding now
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THINGS TO REMEMBER AS AN ADVOCATE
Members of Groups that Face Oppression:
• don’t always want to be “teachers”
• don’t represent all members of a particular group
• are often members of more than one group that faces oppression
• may not describe themselves the same way as other members of a
particular group
• know what it feels like to be both targeted and made “invisible”
• may not be experts on their own cultures and oppressions
• can be prejudiced themselves, even towards members of their own
oppressed group(s)
• may be more sexist, racist, heterosexist, etc. than members of other
groups
• may tire of answering questions about their cultures and lives
• tire of and resent stereotyping because they generally perpetuate an
oppressive ideology
• can become weary, anxious, irritable, or angry because of living in the
dominant culture that is not accepting of their own
• do not necessarily want to become more like the dominant culture in
attitudes or behavior
• may share some of the same values as the dominant culture
• do not appreciate appropriation of their cultures by non-members because
non-members do not share the same life experiences
• have been a part of history, art, science, religion, education, etc., but their
contributions have often been ignored, downplayed, or wrongfully taken
credit for
• may use typically derogatory terms for themselves and other members of
their group, but may prefer that non-members do not use these words
Become A Bisexuality Advocate!
Celebrate Bisexuality Day
23 September 23 2015
Bisexual Awareness Week
20 – 26 September 2015
Videos
Things Bisexual People Are Tired of Hearing
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6SXrK0l-ZA)
Ask a BI Guy
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYCMvYK0GxU&feature=youtu.be)
Bisexuality Awareness Day
was created in 1999 by three bisexual activists who were seeking
stronger visibility for the B contingent of LGBT.