The 2019 General Election looms… but who’s fighting for us?

With the General Election on Thursday 12^th December 2019 fast approaching, there has been much debate on LGBT+ policies within each party. In April this year, LGBT+ inclusive education was implemented into our schools and with the protests that followed some parties have pledged to tackle this homophobia and provide further funding to decrease bullying. Other major issues raised include the gender recognition act, PrEP HIV treatment and tackling anti-LGBT+ hate crimes.

 

The parties themselves have come under pressure from LGBT+ groups. Boris Johnson has recently come under fire by not wearing a red ribbon on World HIV day and refusing to apologise for a historic comment where he called gay men “tanked-topped bum boys”. However, in the past, Johnson has rebelled against his own party on numerous occasions to support LGBT+ rights, especially in his support for the abolition of Section 28 in 2003. Section 28 was created by previous conservative PM Margert Thatcher which banned local authorities and schools from promoting homosexuality. He was also among a small number of conservative MPs which introduced Civil Partnerships for same-sex couples in 2004, and publicly supported the introduction of same-sex marriage in 2013 but abstained on the extension to Northern Ireland in 2019. Jeremy Corbyn on the other hand has voted in favour of every LGBT+ right since he became an MP in 1983. However, in Labour’s 2019 manifesto section on woman it states “ensure that single-sex based exemptions contained in the Equality Act 2010 are understood and fully enforced in service provision” implying that trans and gender non-conforming women could be excluded from “women’s only services” such as shelters and crisis houses.

 

Reading through each parties manifesto, there are clear LGBT+ issues raised and considered by all, except unsurprisingly the Brexit party, but there are variations in points as shown below:

 

Conservatives

• Education: Support LGBT+ inclusion in schools and aim to tackle homophobia bullying in schools.
• Gender Recognition Act (GRA): No pledge
• Anti-LGBT+ hate crimes: Tackle all harassment and violence against religious and LGBT+ communities.
• Gender X passports: No pledge
• PrEP: No pledge
• Healthcare: No pledge
• Spousal Veto: No pledge
• Other: Host the UK governments first international LGBT conference

 

Labour

• Education: Support LGBT+ inclusion in schools and provide funding for schools to deliver LGBT+ inclusive relationships in education.
• GRA: Push forward law that enables some trans people to have their gender legally recognised with a gender recognition certificate. GRA allows trans people to change name and gender on birth certificate to help getting a job, married or change of records easier.
• Anti-LGBT+ hate crimes: No pledge
• Gender X passports: No pledge
• PrEP: Fully fund sexual health services to provide these. PrEP medicine are pre-exposure prophylaxis medicines which protect HIV negative people from becoming positive.
• Healthcare: Guarantee universal healthcare made accessible to LGBT+ people
• Spousal Veto: No pledge
• Other: Only party pledging to create a dedicated global ambassador to the Foreign Office on LGBT+ issues and aim to ban conversion therapy.

 

Liberal Democrats

• Education: Support LGBT+ inclusion in schools and aim to tackle bullying on basis of gender and sexuality by providing pastoral leadership and education on all types of relationships. Also pledge for gender neutral uniforms and break down perceptions of gender appropriate subjects.
• GRA: complete reform to remove requirement for medical reports, remove fee and recognise non-binary gender identities.
• Anti-LGBT+ hate crimes: Tackle by making them all aggravated offences and provide training and resources to law enforcement to prevent them
• Gender X passports: introduce the option of “X” gender to cover all gender identity
• PrEP: Ensure HIV prevention is fully available to all who need it on NHS
• Healthcare: Review on discriminatory practices aimed solely at LGBT+ people such as blood donations. Ensure that LGBT+ inclusive mental health services receive funding.
• Spousal Veto: Complete the introduction of equal marriage by removing the spousal veto and allowing marriages that were dissolved solely due to gender recognition process to be retrospectively restored. When same-sex marriage was introduced a married trans person had to end their marriage to gain legal gender recognition, but under Spousal Veto trans people can now seek gender recognition as long as their spouse give permission.
• Other: Only party explicitly committed to reforming treatment of LGBT+ asylum seekers. No pledge made on banning conversion therapy even though party announced its intention to do so. Also include a question on LGBT+ identities in 2021 Census and ban conversion therapy.

 

Green

• Education: Support LGBT+ inclusion in schools by funding age appropriate personal health and sexual education (PHSE) lessons covering all aspects and end the opt-out of LGBT+ inclusive PHSE classes to ensure every child learns about different couples.
• GRA: Update to allow trans youth and non-binary people to get legal recognition
• Anti-LGBT+ hate crimes: Increasing funding to support prevention and prosecution
• Gender X passports: Change the law so an X gender marker is added for non-binary and intersex people.
• PrEP: Ensure HIV prevention is fully available to all who need it on NHS
• Health care: increase funding to NHS areas relied on by LGBT+ people including trans healthcare, gender identity clinics, HIV treatment and specific mental health provision.
• Spousal Veto: Remove so married trans people can acquire gender recognition certificate without having to obtain permission from spouse.
• Other: Ban conversion therapy

 

Brexit party

• Education: No pledge
• GRA: No pledge
• Anti-LGBT+ hate crimes: No pledge
• PrEP: No pledge
• Health care: No pledge
• Spousal Veto: No pledge

 

It is important to take a look at all the policies each party makes but I hope this summary shows the LGBT+ support each party shows, and what they may do for our community if voted in.

LGBT+ History Month: Bayard Rustin

Let me tell you about a man who was monumental in the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement. A man subject to scrutiny for his sexuality, deemed a “deviant” and “pervert” like so many others before and after him. A man erased from history.

You’ve heard of Martin Luther King Junior? Meet his right hand man, Bayard Rustin, an openly gay black man in 20th century America.

Martin Luther King Jr & Bayard Rustin

Along with many other efforts, Bayard Rustin, along with A. Philip Randolph, was the main organiser of the March on Washington in 1963 where on 28th August, an assembly of more than 200,000 people gathered in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial and heard the prophetic address of King that became known as the “I Have A Dream” speech along with Rustin reading the 10 goals the march demanded.

This landmark event and the rising tide of civil rights protest resulted in the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 that guaranteed equal voting rights, outlawed discrimination in restaurants, theatres, and other public spaces, and encouraged racial desegregation in schools.

While this may have been the highlight of Bayard’s political actions, he’d been fighting for a variety of human rights issues for many years prior, all while living as an openly gay man despite being arrested in 1953 for publicly engaging in homosexual activity.

Other noticeable feats include co-ordinating the 10,000 strong Aldermaston, England march against nuclear weapons in 1958, assisting with King’s boycott of segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama in 1956,and founding a labour organisation for African-American trade union members with his mentor Randolph in 1965.

But while King, Rustin, and Randolph came together for the iconic March on Washington, their partnership hit a low point only a few years prior when Rustin and King were planning a march in Los Angeles in 1960.

King was approached by another leader who threatened to tell the press him and Rustin were gay lovers, if King did not drop him. King gave into the demands, called off the march, and put distance between the two, leading Rustin to resign from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by King.

While they did reunite in 1963 for the march, Rustin as a gay man with Communist party ties was considered a liability and Roy Wilkins of the NAACP refused to allow Rustin to be the front man. As a result, Randolph served as the March’s director with Rustin as his deputy.

As time of the initial movement passed and each activist forged their own path fighting against various injustices, Rustin opened up about his sexuality in interviews in the 1980s and worked to bring the AIDS crisis to the attention of the NAACP.

It’s clear from the lack of mention of his name in history lessons, the ghost of his presence in stories of King’s triumphs, and the amount of searching required to find credible sources to use for this article, that people have worked hard to erase Bayard Rustin and his work for the “immoral crime” of being gay.

So this LGBT+ History Month and Black History Month (in the USA), join me in making sure his name is spoken everywhere.

For anyone who’d like to learn more about the man himself, there is a documentary called Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.

LGBT+ History Month: Stephen Fry

I don’t know about you, but I heckin love Stephen Fry. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve watched the various documentaries he has done, mostly those on mental health issues, which is unfortunately something that massively affects the members of the lgbt community (and us as vets) but also a large proportion of people in general, and Out There, in which he visited Uganda, where in 2014 it was made a capital crime to be gay.

In 2017 Fry was listed as no.12 on the World Pride Power list, no.2 the previous year. In 2012 he wrote the foreword to the University of East Anglia’s Students Union’s report on the student experience for lgbt students, which gained him honorary lifetime membership of the union.

If you haven’t watched Stephen Fry: Out There, you’re missing out. It’s an eye opener to how other parts of the world view homosexuality, from so called “conversion therapists” in the USA, to an interesting interview with a Brazilian politician who is painfully homophobia, and has definitely made the list of people I’d like to punch square in the face.

That’s all great but to be honest, but I adore and appreciate him greatly for the work he has done to help fight stigma around mental health, just a few examples being the president of Mind, the mental health charity, and also his two documentaries on his own, and others, struggles with bipolar disorder. In all honesty I watch those programmes probably at least once a month. This can be such a misunderstood illness and I cannot express my appreciation using my limited vocabulary, that contains mostly swearing, for him showing what it is really like.

This is probably the most serious thing I’ve written for this WordPress account and you’re all so welcome xo

LGBT+ History Month: Alan Turing

For many people, the life of Alan Turing was unknown.

That is until the statute of secrecy expired in 2012 on his classified work in the Second World War. This revealed the work of a genius, plagued with a secret at the time that would reward his contributions to this country with a house arrest and chemical castration.

BBC named him the Greatest Scientist of All Time and summarised his contributions to society in three important points:

1. He invented the computer – and stops you getting spammed.

Turing’s mathematical genius allowed him to foresee the possibility and function of computer like machines before the existence of the necessary technology. Laying out the theory for such devices in an essay in 1936, his revolutionary work provided the foundation for modern computers. He later came-up with the ‘Turing test’ to determine whether a machine is intelligent – or not. The principles of it are reversed online today, when a computer sets you a CAPTCHA test (like distorted letters) to prove you’re a human and not a rogue bot!

2. His machines helped win a war.

At the start of World War Two Turing, along with other mathematicians, was recruited to break enemy codes. Working at Bletchley Park, Turing built a machine called a Bombe. It sped-up code-cracking efforts from weeks to hours by trying multiple permutations. The information gleaned helped the Allies gain an upper hand in the war.

3. His legacy has helped change social attitudes in Britain.

Turing was a gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Despite his wartime contribution he was arrested for gross indecency in 1952 and given a stark choice between prison and chemical castration (opting for the latter). The arrest also lost him his security clearance and two years later Turing died of cyanide poisoning – whether it was suicide or not is still debated. A campaign to grant him a pardon, fittingly started by e-petition, resulted in him being granted one posthumously in 2013. A subsequent legal amendment dubbed Turing’s Law pardoned 65,000 other people convicted of the same ‘crimes’.

To me, it is tragic that such a genius couldn’t live his authentic life as well as contribute so fundamentally to society. Nevertheless, because of his sacrifice and the emotive response to his story once it became public knowledge, this allowed the reparation of 65,000 convictions hanging over LGBT+ lives for wanting to live their lives and express themselves with the people they love.

No matter who you are, you owe a huge debt of gratitude to this man.

Everything You Need to Know About Bi Stereotypes

By Steph Gowing

Got even more questions about being bi? Here’s the last post of three giving you a low down on the bisexual community and issues faced by it for the time surrounding Bisexual Visibility Day! The first covered bisexuality and the bisexual ‘umbrella’, the second looked at what sort of things contribute to bisexual erasure. This one goes through some of the negative stereotypes surrounding bisexuality.

Bisexual Stereotypes

These are often said or implied regarding bisexuals, often meant as a ‘joke’ in poor taste, or more seriously. These harmful stereotypes imply the person who speaks or thinks them tars all bisexuals with the same brush – a very unpleasant brush. Even when used as a joke, these stereotypes can become irritating and distressing if people hear them every time they mention bisexuality, or come out to new groups of people.

• “You’re so greedy!”, “You must get around!”, “No wonder you’re single…”

The stereotype that all bisexuals just want to get laid, or be with as many people as possible (of all genders) is a pervasive one. But ultimately, while bisexual people may have a greater chance of having chemistry with any given person regardless of gender, there’s a lot of other factors involved in meeting potential partners! This negative stereotype also links to the media portrayals of bisexuals as manipulative, with negative intent or no morals.

These phrases are part of a trend of comments people say to bisexuals that are overly concerned with sex and attraction, which rather than being seen as rude, are somehow considered excusable. The rest of the LGBT+ community also often suffer with this intense curiosity, however regardless of someone’s orientation, overtly personal or sexual questions aren’t appreciated, unless the individual offers the information.

• [To a partner of a bisexual person] “Don’t you think she’ll cheat?”

Many gay and straight people feel that bisexual people will be less satisfied in relationships, and are more likely to cheat on their partners or have open relationships than people interested in only one gender. This is often born from the fear of being left for someone of another gender. This is an irrational fear – bisexual people who choose to commit exclusively to one (or more) partners remain so. Being exclusively monogamous or polygamous, or choosing an open relationship is completely independent of sexual identity, as is the decision to remain faithful.

This is a particularly damaging stereotype to bisexuals in relationships as not only is it said to them, but more often it’s said discretely to a partner, which can cause distrust and doubt.  As this stereotype is commonly held by both straight people and members of the LGBT+ community, it can lead to bisexuality being a dealbreaker on starting new relations  as well as in established relationships.

• “Bet you get laid twice as much!”, “Want to have a threesome?”

As bisexuals are viewed as sexually ‘greedy’ and unfaithful, a common myth is that all bisexual people are very sexually active, and interested in ‘anything that moves’. This is commonly seen in the media as well, when bisexual behaviour is portrayed as the character wanting to be sexual with any individual or being very sexualised. This harmful stereotype perpetuates other negative assumptions of bisexuality, and ignores the experience of all the bisexuals in committed relationships or who are single but don’t feel the stereotyped urge to flirt with everything that moves. It also assumes that bisexuals are only present to fulfil sexual fantasies of threesomes.

• “So, do you prefer men or women?”, “An 80/20% split?”

Some people, often those who believe bisexuality is attraction to men and women only (but not always) think that people who are bisexual are attracted equally or similar amounts to different genders, often described as 50/50 attraction. This, as well as being a misunderstanding, invalidates bisexuals whose attractions are more towards particular genders. Some bisexuals don’t consider themselves more attracted to specific genders than others, or sometimes do recognise a preference. In any case, ‘percentages’ of attraction is personal information that shouldn’t be asked about, unless it’s offered. Also, the entire idea of asking a bisexual if they are ‘more gay or straight’ so they can be placed in that box again reverts to the idea of sexuality being a binary, not a spectrum, and linking to bisexual erasure.

Bisexual Stereotypes Surrounding Gender

As many people still view gender as binary, there are also stereotypes surrounding bisexual people perceived as male or female, in addition to those mentioned above about bisexuality in general.

Bisexual Men

Bisexual men have the most difficulty coming out to significant others in their lives, because any same-sex attraction or behaviour causes them to immediately be labelled as gay. Especially in the young formative years of school, ‘gay’ still equates to ‘bad’ and ‘not a real man’. This often leads to the suppression of any same-sex interest men or boys may have as they learn that if they reveal or act upon it, there will be consequences. They will be considered gay, and be harassed for it, and find more difficulty in beginning relationships with women as well.

This belief is perpetuated by both men and women, who consider men who have had relations with men to be ‘just gay’ or ‘damaged goods’, regardless of how often that was in relation to being with women. This suppression of part of their identity leads to well-documented negative effects such as anxiety and depression. As heterosexuality and being with women is a major part of the traditional masculine gender role, bisexual men are a ‘double threat’ as they both fit this mould (as they have interest in women, and may act less camp than gay men), but also do not (as they have interest in men, which traditionally makes them ‘not real men’). This means many bisexual men live in fear of expressing the bisexual part of their identity as they will no longer be viewed as masculine, and this therefore leads to fewer of them coming out or being harassed as gay when they do.

Bisexual Women

Whereas bisexual men are assumed to be ‘actually gay’, bisexual women suffer from the opposite assumption – that they’re ‘actually straight’. It’s assumed both bisexual men and women will end up with men, due to men still being viewed as the ‘superior’ gender. This leads to many myths to describe bisexual women’s same-sex behaviour such as ‘doing it for attention’, ‘to turn guys on’ or ‘to be fashionable’.

This is also rooted in traditional gender roles, with women being sexually subservient to men, and therefore ‘performing’ same-sex behaviour for male fantasy, but still being ultimately straight because relationships between women are considered less valued or satisfying. The idea that women can enjoy same-sex behaviour without male involvement is a threat to the gender roles that have been traditionally created – of women being a gender to be objectified, but without sexual desires of their own.

Though women are often thought to be more ‘sexually fluid’, this assumption is caused by several factors – women and not men being allowed to have close emotional and physical ties with those of the same gender, the demonization of gay and bisexual men, the fetishization of female same-sex behaviour, and the assumption bisexual women and lesbians will eventually ‘revert to straight’. If anything, it is based on the fact men are forced to be less ‘sexually fluid’, rather than women being more so.

While this allows more women to be ‘out’ as bisexual, they are still often not seen as valid by the straight or LGBT+ communities. For example, in a similar way to how bisexual men are viewed as less desirable to women due to involvement with men, bisexual women are often viewed with disdain or disgust by lesbians due to their involvement with men. For example, some lesbians who have never had any relations with men hold all women interested in women to this standard of the ‘gold star lesbian’ – so bisexual women are inherently seen as worse partner choices. As well as men assuming bisexual women will eventually ‘end up straight’, women also assume this, leading to a reluctance of lesbians to get involved with bisexual women purely based on this stereotype of their orientation.

Bisexual Stereotypes in Other Areas

• Poor mental health

The Bisexuality Report, written in 2012, was a major study into bisexual-specific experiences. It found that bisexual people have one of the highest rates of depression, anxiety, self harm and suicidality, both in the UK and abroad higher than gay men and lesbians when separated out. Bisexuals were also less “at ease” with their sexuality, less likely to be out, and more distressed about their sexuality, in particular bisexual men. Furthermore, biphobic comments were often mentioned to be left unchallenged in both straight and LGBT+ spaces, or it is used as a joke in a way being lesbian or gay is not acceptable to.  This distress bisexuals experience is likely a combination of the negative stereotypes bisexuals hear about their identity, and also not feeling welcome or represented in LGBT+ or straight communities due to biphobia and erasure.

• Inadequate healthcare

In addition to the often negative experiences of the LGBT+ community with healthcare providers, bisexual specific experience have also been negative when separated. Many bisexuals experienced health professionals linking their sexuality to mental health problems, and one study in the US found many therapists were openly uncomfortable with bisexuality. Providers were found to be biphobic (for example with inappropriate comments about sexuality), even when they were supportive in terms of lesbian and gay issues, which then leads to bisexual people accessing healthcare less.

To Conclude

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about the often-invisible ‘B’ in LGBT+! As can be seen, bisexual people face a range of difficulties associated with their sexuality, mostly based on the idea that it doesn’t exist or is a negative trait. This is coupled with the lack of positive bisexual role models, both in the media and in daily life due to people’s reluctance to come out and face this stigma. These factors mean there is still a long way to go for conquering biphobia and making bisexuality and those under the bisexual umbrella visible and free to express themselves how they wish without judgement.

Everything You Need to Know About Bi Erasure

By Steph Gowing

Got more questions about being bi? Here’s the second post of three giving you a low down on the bisexual community and issues faced by it for the time surrounding Bisexual Visibility Day! The last one covered bisexuality and the bisexual ‘umbrella’, including other multi-gender attractions. This one is all about bisexual invisibility and what sort of things contribute to bisexual erasure. The last one goes through some of the negative stereotypes surrounding bisexuality.

Bisexual Erasure

Here are some things said to or about bisexuals that cause feelings of invalidation for those identifying this way, or fear and confusion for those experiencing both same- and other-gender attraction. These ideas and phrases focus on the dismissal of bisexuality as a ‘real’ identity in and of itself, and are incredibly hurtful, particularly when often heard.

• “Being bi isn’t a thing, they’re just gay.”

The view that bisexuality isn’t a valid attraction pattern, and that someone identifying this way is mistaken – that their attractions to either same or other genders are fabricated or don’t happen is a pervasive myth. Bisexuality has been around for a long time, before there was a word for it, and even the lady that started the tradition of LGBT+ Pride was an out and proud bisexual! This frequently happens in the media, when celebrities who have come out as bi have their identities questioned publicly, or characters in shows are portrayed as moving from straight to gay, with minimal explorations of healthy bisexual feelings or labels, even when this matches their behaviour. This means there are few role models for bisexuals.

• “He came out as bi? I guess he didn’t want to come out as gay right away.”

Bisexuality only ever being a stop on the way to ‘gay town’ is another persistent myth. This grew from when being gay was much more frowned upon and some people came out as bisexual to ‘soften the blow’ first. While a minority of people still do this, in modern times people who identify as bisexual are in fact just that.

• “I’m sure she’ll get over it”, “It’s just a phase”, “They’re just confused.”

These phrases invalidate by implying being bisexual is only temporary, and that only immature or confused people identify this way. They suggest that rather than bisexuality being a lifelong valid identity, they will ‘grow’ into being straight or gay later on in life. The best person to know if they’re bisexual or not is the one identifying that way. Furthermore, it takes courage to come out and likely the person has been thinking about it for a long time and are quite certain.

• “You finally chose a side then?”, “Knew you were gay/straight all along!”

There is an intense pressure for bisexuals to ‘pick a side’ and identify as gay or straight. This is compounded when someone bisexual is in a public relationship with someone perceived as either the same or opposite gender (as most people still view gender, as well as sexual orientation, as binary). Depending on the perceived gender of their partner, bisexual people are labelled as gay or straight. This also refers to calling same-gender relationships ‘lesbian/gay/straight relationships’, and referring to homophobia only rather than homophobia and biphobia when talking about negative attitudes to LGB people.

This is also problematic particularly in LGBT+ environments and Pride parades, where some bisexuals are assumed to be in ‘straight relationships’ and abused for it, or assumed not to suffer because they ‘pass’ as being straight. This also leads to people who are in long term ‘straight’ relationships not to come to terms with any same-sex attraction they have, or people with only experience with one (or no) genders to assume they cannot be bisexual. The #StillBisexual movement has worked to tackle this by showing anyone, regardless of experience, can identify as bisexual if that is how they feel comfortable.

• “Why are you in LGBT+ space?” “You’re lucky people think you’re straight!”

As there are many more straight people than gay or bisexual put together, there is a strong likelihood bisexual people will often be in relationships with people of different genders. As bisexuals often get labelled as gay or straight depending on their relationships or activity, in these outward-appearing ‘straight’ relationships, bisexual people feel erased and often isolated from the LGBT+ community.

This is coupled with the idea that bisexuals ‘aren’t really LGBT+’ and don’t deserve to integrate in those communities and spaces because they can ‘pass as straight’ so don’t need the support or connection, and don’t suffer any of the issues of other LGBT+ groups. It suggests bisexual people are taking the ‘easy option’. This can also happen when bisexual people present are more stereotypically masculine or feminine in line with their gender identity and are assumed to be straight. The fear of rejection in a place where bisexual people should be able to find community and safety can be so intense that they do not get involved with fellow LGBT+ people at all.

• “Gay marriage…”, “gay bar/Pride”, “Those lesbians…”, “…gay guy at work…”

Phrases like the ones above are difficult for some bisexuals. Though it’s a part of casual conversation and is usually unintentional, these phrases continually reinforce the idea of people being either straight or gay. This can be particularly confusing for those who don’t identify with either label, but don’t know there are accepted identities in between. It is worth keeping in mind – usually ‘same-sex/gender’ or ‘LGBT+” are more inclusive, and show to any bisexuals who hear it that you’re accepting and thoughtful to their struggles. These are a form of ‘microaggression’ – small acts that are hurtful or irritating, but build up from many different sources to become more distressing and reinforce erasure.

Bisexual Erasure in Other Areas

• Inadequate healthcare

In The Bisexuality Report, researched and written in 2012 on bisexual-specific experiences, experiences of erasure in healthcare was examined. Often, health providers were found to ignore bisexuality entirely and assume their patients were straight or gay. Therefore, bisexual people weren’t offered the specific care needed, meaning they were expected to use a combination of heterosexual and homosexual services rather than being catered for in an LGB service, and there was generally reduced bisexual healthcare access. This shows healthcare providers need to consider, without judgement, the needs of bisexuals in comparison to the heterosexual and LGBT+ communities.

• Under-recognition and funding

Bisexuals are often excluded from services, publicity and funding – so called ‘dropping the B’ from LGB/LGBT+ – when organisations or people claim to speak for this group, then do not include bisexuality in the name or aim of a group or mention bisexual-specific issues. Lesbian and gay issues are often prioritised over bisexual issues as well, and receive vastly more funding, despite bisexual people being more common and at risk.

Everything You Need to Know on Bisexual Visibility Day

By Steph Gowing

Got questions about being bi? Here’s post one of three giving you a low down on the bisexual community and issues faced by it for the time surrounding Bisexual Visibility Day! This one will cover bisexuality and the bisexual ‘umbrella’, including other multi-gender attractions, and the next two will look at bisexual erasure and negative stereotypes surrounding bisexual visibility

 

What is Bisexual Visibility Day?

September 23^rd is Bisexual Visibility Day, also called Bisexual Day or Bisexual Celebration Day. Founded in 1999, there are two main reasons for a day of awareness – to rejoice in the ever-expanding global bi community, and to draw attention to the issues faced by it, so they can be tackled.

What is Bisexuality? Who Identifies as Bisexual?

Most bisexual people define it as the capacity to be attracted to the same gender as the person’s own or other genders to theirs. This is similar to homo- and heterosexual identities (‘gay’ and ‘straight’ respectively), where homo- means ‘same’ and hetero- means ‘different’ sex attraction.

Bisexuality is often assumed to mean attraction to men and women only, as before our understanding of gender evolved, these were thought to be the only ones. A minority of bisexuals still use this definition, but most use the same and other genders definition to accurately describe their openness to attraction, so unless otherwise told, this is what should be assumed. Some people also think bisexuality excludes trans people, however this is also false, the phrase bisexual does not inherently exclude anyone.

What about pansexuality and other labels?

Though originally bisexual simply meant having homosexual and heterosexual attractions, the bisexual label has a lot of stigma attached to it, so other labels people felt more comfortable with for bisexual attraction moved into use. These labels included pansexual, omnisexual, sexually fluid, bicurious, and the most commonly used in media to describe bisexual behaviour – ‘no label’. But of course, ‘no label’ is indeed a label, for how many gay people, when asked, would describe themselves as such? These labels were developed, in part, as a way to distance the users from the issues associated with bisexuality.

However, the beauty of choosing labels to identify with is that a label can be evolved depending on who uses it. This is why the B in LGBT+ is now considered ‘bisexual+’ and used as an umbrella term to take into account all those identities meaning attraction to more than one gender. Though some people within it are more comfortable with different labels, it is vital that the bisexual+ community work together to push for improvement for the erasure and stigmatisation for the whole group.

Bisexuals make up the largest part of the LGBT+ community  and there are more people identifying as not straight now than ever before, as society becomes more accepting of same-sex attraction. However, only 2% of the prior study identified as bisexual, though when this label is removed, percentages suddenly rise drastically. In the YouGov survey, people were asked to place their sexuality on a 0-6 scale, with 0 being exclusively heterosexual and 6 being exclusively homosexual – 19% overall placed themselves as somewhere in between (48% of 18-24 year olds). These are not isolated figures suggesting far more people fall under the bisexual+ umbrella than identify as such.

Given these numbers, it’s highly likely if you’re reading this, you know someone who is bisexual+. However, it might be that they don’t use this label, either because they prefer another or they don’t yet feel comfortable letting people know they aren’t straight. Though the rise of not labelling sexual behaviour is admirable as it shows people view which genders people are attracted to as less important, unfortunately we still live in a society where labels are needed.

In addition to those who don’t identify as bisexual+, even people who do are much less likely than gay or lesbian people to have told significant others in their lives about how they feel, which is damaging personally and on a society-wide level.

Positive role models of people attracted to more than one gender, in media and real life, are vital, as well as people campaigning to change attitudes. If people don’t identify as bisexual+, awareness isn’t increased and people wondering about their identify, seeking a community, or wanting validation don’t know how normal and widespread it is, and stereotypes are never challenged.

Why don’t people identify as bisexual then?

A huge issue for bisexuality is the mistaken belief that attraction is binary, not a spectrum – you’re gay or straight and that’s it. This means that bisexuality is either not believed to exist ‘really’ or treated with suspicion and derision. These form two major barriers to more people labelling their bisexual attractions/behaviour as bisexual erasure (when being bi isn’t acknowledged or seen as valid) and negative stereotypes surrounding bisexuals (so people don’t want to associate with it). There will be examples of these in the next two posts in this series!

People often speak this way about bisexuality because they’ve learnt it at an early age from others and internalised it, or don’t intend to be insulting but don’t consider how it makes people feel, particularly when it’s likely someone hearing it has experienced both same- and other-gender attraction. Without people that identify proudly and loudly as bisexual, it would be easy for the world to pretend bisexuality don’t exist or is something to be ashamed of.

What do I even call this?

I don’t do this. I don’t do serious like, ever. If you couldn’t guess from my treasurer’s welcome, I’m just here for a good time, so when it comes my turn to write something for here I really struggle and will probably try and get out of it (sorry in advance to the rest of the committee). I wish I could write about important issues the LGBT community faces, along with the triumphs, but I struggle to care.

Before you crucify me, when I say I don’t care, I don’t mean that I have no interest in the issues and struggles going on. I know right from wrong, how to treat people decently and with the respect everyone deserves. I recognize struggles that different members of the community go through, and I know when they’ve been done wrong. My problem is that I have never felt like I am part of the LGBT community, and so I can’t connect to the people and the problems they face for just simply being. It’s no ones fault (it’s probably my fault), I think it’s just how and where I was raised (now I’m just grasping at excuses).

Have I ever been to pride? No. Will I ever go? Now isn’t that a million dollar question. For now at least it’s gonna be a no. This is not because I’m ashamed or not proud of who my peers and I are. It’s just because I can’t picture myself as part of that, I don’t feel like I should be there. I don’t know what half the things Andrè and Tobias talk about are, sometimes it’s like they’re speaking a different language and boy was I never good at those in school. Maybe my struggle to feel real passion for the community is due to my lack of knowledge.

Another question. Do I want equal marriage in Northern Ireland? Of course I do, I want it because it’s been a long (and still loosing) fight for the LGBT community here. But I want it mostly because it’s only fair, it’s a human right, it’s the opportunity to show and share our love to and with whoever we want. Any decent person would agree (@Arlene Foster).

So I do have an interest, I do care about people, I just struggle to connect to the issues that come with the people I care about. I wish I cared as passionately as everyone else does (I also wish I’d stop trying to use big words I can’t spell). Maybe being part of this committee will teach me to see the reasons beyond things being simply wrong or right, maybe you’ll see me at pride next year.

 

LUVS LGBT+ Secretary: Why I March

Hey folks, it’s me, Tobias Hunter, and I’ll be the society’s Secretary for the coming year. After our fabulous President’s welcome last week, I’m here to talk about why I jumped at the chance to join the committee and what I’m hoping we’ll achieve together.

My main goal is to open this society and this platform up as a safe place for the entire LGBT+ community whether they’re trans, ace, or gay (and I’m all of the above), or any other gender identity or sexual orientation minority. The gay and lesbian community have made some fantastic progressive milestones in recent years, and they’ve deserved everything they’ve fought for, but there’s still so far to go for LGBT+ equality, and especially for the transgender community.

With the UK government opening up consultations on the Gender Recognition Act reforms, while on the other side of the pond, Donald Trump proposes and supports banning us from public bathrooms and from serving in the USA military, this is a crucial time for trans rights. It’s so important that right now we add our voices to the call for change, for the protection of transgender children whose teachers refuse to use their correct names to the fight for the decriminalisation of sex workers where added to the danger of the work itself, being transgender as well puts their lives on the line every single day.

I want to call for an end to the mental health stigma, particularly in the veterinary profession, where the vast majority of us struggle alone and avoid seeking help. Having suffered with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts for years before I even reached vet school, I know how vital a support system can be and I will work tirelessly to ensure that there is support in place for every vet student, every LGBT+ student, and every other student for when we need it.

The third issue I’ll tackle is the ableism in the LGBT+ community. Because whether it’s Pride parade marches that those with mobility issues struggle to attend or social nights out with plenty of alcohol, music blasting from the speakers, and jostling crowds that are a nightmare for autistic people, being disabled and a part of the LGBT+ community has never been easy. I’m all for creating accessible events that cater to everyone’s needs, and making this society a place where anyone with a disability, physical or mental, will feel welcome and accepted.

Last weekend I joined our President Andre for my first ever Pride march in London, and Leah, the BVLGBT+ President, gave us her pre-parade speech on why she marches – for those who came before and those who will come after.

Well, this is why I march.

I march for LGBT+ rights and trans rights, for equality, because the fight doesn’t end with same-sex marriage, not when kids are being thrown out of their homes, harassed at school, and murdered in the streets – just for being themselves.

I march for anyone who suffers from mental health issues, because with the stresses we face every day for being part of the LGBT+ community and for our demanding profession, the current level of support in this country is just not enough.

I march for disabled people, for those with invisible disabilities that face doubt and judgement, and for those with very visible ones that just face plain old discrimination, because we can and we will do better to make our community accessible to everyone.

It’s going to be a long march, but I won’t be going it alone. I’ll have the rest of our amazing committee by my side, and I’ll also have anyone in this society, in this community, who is tired of waiting for the government to hand over the rights we deserve – and is willing to take up the mantle and fight for them.

Tobias Hunter

LUVS LGBT+ Secretary

LUVS LGBT+ President’s Welcome

Hello to all the guys, gals and non-binary pals who have stumbled upon what is quite the most fabulous, elite club in existence. No, forget the mile high and welcome to LUVS LGBT+.

As the president of the society for this year, I’d like to take this chance to welcome you all to our new blogging platform where we endeavour to post weekly updates on current LGBT+ affairs along with information on any events which we will plan to host. I would also love for this to become a sharing platform where anyone who wishes to express their own feelings or argument on a specific issue is free to do so; anonymously if they wish. We want to get people talking because through conversation we end stigmatisation.

The academic year hasn’t yet begun but our planning has. We have what I hope you will all agree are fantastic ideas to push our motions of inclusion and increasing diversity through the reduction of discrimination. The committee this year is formulated from an amazingly diverse group of individuals with whom I cannot wait to see what we achieve.

Pride in London has just passed this weekend and it proved the need for further education for people within and out with the LGBT+ community. We saw people imposing upon the rights of others for no beneficial gain to themselves, only to provide yet another bullet to the never-ending stream which is being repeatedly fired upon various groups. I believe that a big step in combating lack of inclusion is through addressing the lack of knowledge which we have the power to do through inspiring guest speakers as well as us sharing our own experiences (and yours!).

I have decided to take up the post as president of the society because I want to see and help achieve change. One voice is the trigger for reforms but it’s when the mass opinion shifts that these can materialise. If we look back over even the last decade, our attitudes towards so many issues have transformed as education standards and availability increase. HIV for example, seen as simply nothing but a death sentence, a ‘Gay’s Disease’, charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust have been working tirelessly to help educate and reduce the stigma surrounding HIV+ individuals. They prove for fantastic role models and just go to show how much we are progressing, but much more can be done.

I wanted to further get involved as mental health has been a very hot topic for the past few years, and as more studies are being conducted correlating various risk factors and the probability of mental health issues it’s important that these are addressed. We know that those who identify as LGBT+ are more prone to suffering from anxiety and depression, along with studying to enter one of the most demanding professions of our time, this to me is increasingly worrying and I have serious doubts for the level of institutionalised support in place. Having myself had issues in the past, some of which are ongoing I’d like to think I am able not only to empathise with many of you in the same shoes but help act upon and provide another outlet in the form of support.

Finally, I’d like to thank you all for taking the time to read my first post and I hope you plan to get involved with us and make this one of the busiest and productive years the society has ever had, we are open to LGBT+ individuals along with those who simply wish to offer support, we don’t discriminate and welcome everyone!

Andre Brenn

LUVS LGBT+ President