| Bisexual Activism
(as defined by and excerpted from) Completely Queer: The Gay
& Lesbian Encyclopedia
Many bisexuals contributed to the actions and achievements of the Gay Liberation era in the early 1970s. In the mid-1970s, bisexuals began to seek greater visibility for themselves, leading to the first era of so-called "bisexual chic" –as it was hailed in the U.S. media-- around 1974. (Short-lived periods of chicdom were proclaimed by news magazines again in 1987, 1990, and 1995.) Bisexual Forum was formed in New York City in 1975 and continued to be active through 1983. Other affinity groups included the San Francisco Bisexual Center (1976-1984) and Bi-Ways Chicago (1978-1983). In the second half of the 1980s, bisexual activism was revitalized as bisexuals found themselves increasingly vilified as "conduits" of AIDS from the gay community to the supposedly HIV-free heterosexual population. At the same time, queer activism, which opposed the imposition of cut-and-dried sexual labels, encouraged many gay men and, especially, lesbians, to come out as bisexuals, both in their private lives and in publications like the quarterly Anything That Moves. By the 1990s, bisexual activists had gained a measure of recognition in the lesbian and gay communities, as evidenced by a worldwide trend towards adding "and bisexual" to the names of queer organizations and events such as Pride Celebration. The 1990s also saw the proliferation of ever more specialized organizations, such as the New York-based Bisexual Womyn of Color, which aimed to provide members a "safe space" to explore and develop their own unique identities. Copyright © 1998 Steve Hogan and Lee Hudson. All rights reserved.  Back to Mind Caviar Back to Bi-Articles Back to A Bi-Friendly Place Main Page Join Our Free Bi Discussion Group |