London Bisexual Network

Our co-chairs Sian Jones and Víctor Moreno Alhambra  🏳️🌈 spoke on the recent Pride in Tech podcast, as part of Bi Visibility Day

🌈 Happy #BiAwarenessWeek! This week, lets raise the visibility of bi identities and tackle biphobia at its root. 💜 Bi people have diverse experiences which often differ from other members of the community, so take time this week to learn about the unique challenges they face! Want to be a better ally? Check out our blog where we dive into practical ways you can support the bi+ folks in your life. ▶️ https://bit.ly/39ryxSd.

It’s BISEXUAL AWARENESS WEEK🩷 💜 💙 Did you know that bisexual individuals make up about 50% of the LGBTQ+ population? Despite this, bisexual people are often invisible within LGBTQ+ initiatives. Many face unique challenges, including higher rates of mental health issues, addiction and discrimination from outside and inside the LGBTQ+ community. According to a 2020 study, bisexual people report experiencing higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their gay and lesbian counterparts. There are critical differences between the experiences of lesbian and gay people and bisexual people that can be life threatening: In the UK Bisexual asylum seekers are routinely denied asylum claims on the basis that they can just “act straight”. This is a great week to consider: 🩷 Are bisexual people a visible part of our network group? 💜 Does our LGBTQ+ index meaningfully include the experiences of bisexual people? 💙 Does our LGBTQ+ research actively seek input from bisexual people? While bisexual people face discrimination from non-LGBTQ+ community I can say first hand that the discrimination and prejudice that comes from within the LGBTQ+ community can be even more hurtful. Have a wonderful week and please think of the two steps forward you can take to ensure bisexual people are included 🩷 💜 💙 #BisexualAwarenessWeek #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Diversity #MentalHealth

“I also found in myself a hunger to find records of bisexual+ people and communities” This #BisexualAwarenessWeek, read this extract by Mel Reeve from the anthology It Ain’t Over Til The Bisexual Speaks 💗💜💙

“Being bisexual, it can sometimes be easier to ‘straight face’, but this leads to a feeling of inauthenticity and emptiness – which as someone who wanted to take on the world, left me feeling at odds with myself and that something was missing.” Jorgie Hunt talks to myGwork - LGBTQ+ Business Community about how she has fostered LGBTQIA inclusivity at Diageo

A PhD student from UWE Bristol is looking to interview bi+ people with personal experience of an eating disorder, as part of her doctoral research. If you would like to take part, you can contact Charlotte at charlotte4.rose@live.uwe.uk

Huge thanks to Sidley Austin LLP for hosting such a fantastic Pride in London Party! 🏳️🌈🥳👏 Particular thanks to Katy Webb, Jerry Gallagher, Jason Glover and Leonard Ng for their continued support of the firm’s #LGBTQ+ initiatives. #DiversityInFinance #DiversityInLaw

We're happy to share a fantastic volunteering opportunity with the Trans Legal Clinic, the UK's first specialist gender identity legal clinic. Volunteers will be able to enact social change and make a difference to trans lives, whilst gaining valuable experience in legal services through mentorship by senior solicitors at Clifford Chance 🏳️⚧️⚖ To find out more, contact them at info@translegalclinic.com or visit https://lnkd.in/e78vDmsC

Do you identify as Bi+ in a straight-appearing relationship? Photographer Mike French's documentary photography project "Affinity" hopes to illustrate that bisexuality can, and does exist, in straight-appearing relationships, by forming a collection of gallery portraits to encourage dialogue outside of the bisexual community. For more information or to take part, visit https://affinity.gallery or contact Mike on info@mikefrenchcreative.co.uk "By highlighting that we do exist we can confront the bi-negative myths about promiscuity and indecisiveness that face bi people. This in turn will reduce the misrecognition that we face and make society more welcoming, especially for those who are not already vocal about their sexuality."

🏳️🌈👨👧👦Are you a father who identifies as bisexual? Maise Matthews, a PhD researcher at UCL, is running a research study about to find out more about bisexual fathers and their families, and is looking for people to complete a survey which can be found at tinyurl.com/bidadsurvey The study is open to anyone identifying as both a father and bisexual and will take around 20 minutes to complete, with questions focusing on areas such as social experiences, wellbeing, and family life. All information will be anonymous and confidential. To take part, please go to tinyurl.com/bidadsurvey, or contact maisie.matthews.22@ucl.ac.uk for more information.