It’s 2016, bisexuals in some form or another have been marching at pride since at least 2006 (that’s when I was first aware of them marching, I wasn’t able to attend). With the exception of 2 marches in that period, we’ve had abuse yelled at us from the crowd. Sure it’s only a couple of people, but seriously…
IT IS TIME TO STOP DOING THIS
If you think that bisexuals are confused, not choosing to be fully out, making the gay and lesbian communities look bad (though you’re doing a good one of that yourself), or something else – DON’T TALK TO US.
If you think that yelling abuse at any group at Pride is acceptable – DO NOT COME TO PRIDE.
I was having a really great walk down Fitzroy Street with bisexual people and the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (yes, I know), being distracted by ManHunt behind us, smiling thanks to the cheers, waves and the general positive mood… until you decided that we needed to be told to choose a side.
Listen, the only people who need to choose a fucking side are those that think that biphobia is bad and didn’t actually say something to those arseholes.
This is my request. If you cannot restrain yourself from being biphobic in public, don’t come to Pride or any other LGBTIQ+ community event. Stay home, stay amongst your friends who tolerate your biphobia (though why I don’t understand), limit your exposure to bisexuals (and/or the other groups that upset you), just keep your toxicity to yourself
Every time you are biphobic you add to the poorer mental health that bisexuals have versus gay and lesbian people. You add to the higher rates of violence against us, and to the higher rates of suicide versus gay, lesbian and straight people. STOP being an awful person. (source)
We really don’t care why you do or do not like bisexual people. We care about the effects that your toxic behaviour has on us, and we want you to stop. If you can keep your mouth shut and say nothing, then we’ll all be much happier.
Without bisexuals, you wouldn’t have Pride marches anyway.
Brenda Howard is known as the “Mother of Pride”, for her work in coordinating the march. Howard also originated the idea for a week-long series of events around Pride Day which became the genesis of the annual LGBT Pride celebrations that are now held around the world every June. Additionally, Howard along with fellow LGBT Activists Robert A. Martin (aka Donny the Punk) and L. Craigt Schoonmaker are credited with popularizing the word “Pride” to describe these festivities. As LGBT rights activist Tom Limoncelli put it, “The next time someone asks you why LGBT Pride marches exist or why [LGBT] Pride Month is June tell them ‘A bisexual woman named Brenda Howard thought it should be.'” (Wikipedia)