Summary
In the first article of ILGA’s #TurnItOff campaign, Soudeh Rad explains how bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. More activists all around the world are working hard to eliminate all forms of binegativity
“My girlfriend in Iran loved me and considered bisexuality just another sexual orientationrefers to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to - and intimate and sexual relations with - individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender. More. Now I cannot be who I am because they think only gays have the right to asylum. They call me a fake-gay”, he continued with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes.
Yes, we still need to introduce and repeat the definition of bisexuality, explaining our sexual orientation and ‘prove’ the stereotypes around us wrong! As a matter of fact, over-sexualization of our bodies and lives and denying the very existence of our orientation as part of our identity is a bitter truth.
While we are happy to finally see bisexual personalities in tv-series, our place feels shrinking by bi-erasure every single time we hear about the campaigns or celebrate the victory of ‘gayadjective to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional
attractions are to people of the same gender. Men, women and non-binary people may use this
term to describe themselves. More marriage’ which is in fact a victory for the right to ‘same-sex marriage’ – for which, among other rights, the bisexual movement has been historically present at frontline.
Biphobia, bi-erasure and bi-negativity are real. They continue harming not only bisexuals but the whole society, contributing to mono-sexism.
Today, bisexual activists all around the world are working hard to eliminate all forms of binegativity, including the internalized biphobiathe fear, unreasonable anger, intolerance or/and hatred toward people attracted to more than one gender. More mostly coming from the monosexist and heteronormative society dictations, and give more visibility to non-monosexuality.
This is not an exclusive battle by and for bisexuals only. It is all about intersectionality and inclusion. We need you to include us, name and mention bisexuality and acknowledge the existence and the specific discriminations against bisexuals in your everyday life and activism, to give voice to marginalized individuals.
Together, we can create an equal world. Let’s call the IDAHOTB as it is and not forget any of those letters, including the B.
Soudeh Rad
Queerpreviously used as a derogatory term to refer to LGBT individuals in the English language – and still perceived as offensive by some - queer has been reclaimed by people who identify beyond traditional gender categories and heteronormative social norms. Although not universally accepted, it is often used as a catch-all to include many people within the larger community of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. More feminist activist, President of Spectrum, ILGA-Europe board member
This article is part of ILGA’s #TurnItOff campaign, where human rights defenders share their experiences and advice on how to speak up to silence the noise of LGBTI-phobia
Disclaimer: These articles are meant to offer a place for views, ideas and debate. The views expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the policy of ILGA, or the views of its board members or staff.
