Isabella Mathews, Freshman
National Celebrate Bisexuality Day is a day to be inclusive to bisexuality. This day was created to make bisexuals feel like they have a safe place to be themselves, or simply just be proud of who they are and what sexuality they identify as. Some bisexuals may feel uncomfortable telling people that they identify as bisexual for the unadultraded fear that they will be accepted for who they are. So today is the day we have to make bisexuals feel comfortable to say they are bisexual.
Celebrate Bisexuality day (also commonly known as Bi Visibility Day and Bi Pride Day) was created by three bisexual activists, Wendy Curry from Maine, Micheal Page from Flordia, and Gigi Raven Wilbur from Texas, in 1999. They created it to remember the history of how bisexuality came to be and to try and help stop the stigma held against the bisexual community. September 23, 1999, the first Celebrate Bisexuality Day was celebrated in the United States, United Kingdom, and South Africa. Today this day is celebrated in over thirty countries. Although it is known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day, many members of the LGBTQ+ community come together to celebrate their sexualities. Although we have dedicated a day to celebrate, people all around the world celebrate their sexualities every day and are proud of who they are!
Bisexuals make up about forty percent of the LGBTQ+ community. Which is why we bring awareness to the stigmatism against the bisexual community. Gay men and lesbians are more likely to come out than people who identify as bisexual. According to Pews Research Center, “Only 19% of those who identify as bisexual say all or most important people in their lives are aware of thier sexual orientation. In contrast 75% of gay and lesbian adults say the same.” Bisexuals are less likely to come out to people they love for the main fact of someone possibly telling them that they are being “indecisive” or “just going through a phase”. These things are commonly said to bisexuals, these things can be very detrimental to how they end up feeling about themselves.
There are many stereotypes that have been made about people who identify as bisexual. These stereotypes or comments that people make about it are very tough for some people to hear because most of the time it isn’t true, and it makes the person who takes in these comments feel bad about themselves. Most of the time these comments are very detrimental to the person obtaining them.
Celebrate Bisexuality Day is the day that we use to celebrate the people who have been brave enough to come out, and to the people who have not felt as though they can come out. Today is the day that we appreciate everyone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Although it’s celebrating bisexality it is a day that everyone can celebrate their sexual orientation, and feel as though they are safe and comfortable enough to show who they are. We want to celebrate a day where we don’t have to worry about people making comments or judging people for who they are and identify as.
Sources
https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jul-14-la-me-bisexuality-20130715-story.html
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/18/bisexual-adults-are-far-less-likely-than-gay-men-and-lesbians-to-be-out-to-the-people-in-their-lives/
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