The Bisexual Blog

A blog about bisexuality in the media and beyond.

[huyandere]

happy trans visibility day to the t4t ever

[majimasleftasscheek]

😊ㅤ

[ukbisexualblog]

Tadano:

We all know Haida is best boi and would never do Retsuko dirty like this.

[renguro-main]

“You’ll catch a cold.”

[oceanrabbits]

I love them.

[ukbisexualblog]

Retsuko: IF ONLY THERE WAS A GUY I FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING MYSELF AROUND AND WHO ALSO HAS A JOB

Me:

[ukbisexualblog]

Haida got me like

[ohbeauregard]

Tahani as Eleanor’s soulmate in Attempt #218

[ukbisexualblog]

We need to see more of attempt #218!!

[ukbisexualblog]

TODAY IS BI-VISIBILITY DAY AND THE MEDIA NEEDS TO TAKE NOTE

Today, 23rd September, is bi-visibility day and I was overjoyed to see the bi flag proudly flying over my local library/museum, along with a display about bisexuality inside (I live in Bolton, UK in case you were wondering).

                                                                              I’M NOT CRYING UR CRYING

Despite this, we've still got a long way to go when it comes to bisexual representation, particularly in mainstream media. In the Bisexuality Report, a report written to shed light on bisexual issues in the UK, bisexual invisibility is called 'standard in the media' which I wholeheartedly agree with.

The amount of bisexuals in the mainstream media, whether that be characters or real people, is shockingly low. In Stonewall's report on television for young people, LGB people altogether accounted for only 4.5% of all programming, and bisexual portrayals accounted for around a pitiful 1% of the programming relating to LGB people.

                                                         Srsly tho, where’s my representation at?

In the last few years, there has been a rise in bisexual people in the media – however it is only a very small rise. US television shows such as Legend of Korra and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend have championed bisexual characters as legitimately bisexual and not just 'going through a phase' or purely gay/straight, depending on their partner's gender.

                                                          This song is pretty much my theme tune. 

But generally, the media is plagued with bi-erasure, specifically in fictional characters. As mentioned in the Report, the film Brokeback Mountain is generally seen as a 'gay western' even though both characters have previous long loving relationships with women. To add, bisexuals are often bafflingly portrayed as evil, promiscuous people who can't keep it in their pants. Bisexual women are more likely to be portrayed as promiscuous and the lines between bisexuality and polyamory are mind-numbingly blurred.

                                                        Please. Just stop asking for a threesome.

Another issue is that people who identify as bisexual have different struggles to people who identify as lesbian, gay, or trans. This is something the media barely seems to understand, as they would rather lump us all into the same group and happily check their LGBT+ diversity quota as filled, than understand us as a group of people with different struggles, wants and needs.

       Accurate depiction of TV execs wondering why all the bisexuals are upset.

So, it warms my heart to see my town shining a positive light on our regularly invisible sexuality. I just wish that the media could do the same, too. <3

I'd like your thoughts: Do you think bi-erasure is still prevalent in mainstream media? As a bisexual, do you feel invisible too? Leave a comment to let me know!

[ukbisexualblog]

YouTube is censoring LGBTQ+ voices and we’re not okay with it.

Over the past few days, YouTube has yet again done something mind-bogglingly stupid which hinders it’s content creators.

This time, YouTube has made the decision to filter out LGBTQ+ content on it’s new Restricted Mode - the intention of this mode being to ‘filter out mature content for the tiny subset of audience who want a more limited experience.’ Code for: adults who don’t want their kids to view inappropriate material. However, YouTube have somehow come to the backwards-as-fuck decision that a LGBTQ+ topics is categorically unsafe viewing. I call this decision backwards-as-fuck, for a couple of reasons. One, because DUH, and two, it’s very much reminiscent of how traditional media in the not too distant past dealt with LGBTQ+ topics. Basically, pretending they don’t exist or heavily downplaying them.

There has, rightly so, been massive backlash against this decision from LGTBQ+ content creators and viewers.

Connie Glynn (aka Noodlerella), who is a YouTuber who identifies as bisexual, Tweeted:

‘What am I to do when I find out my videos where I mention being attracted to girls are restricted? It breaks my heart.’

Emma Blackery, a YouTuber who has discussed being bi-romantic, also Tweeted:

‘LGBTQ+ kids need a voice in a world that still sees people murdered for not being straight. @TeamYouTube is actively taking away that voice.’

This new restriction posts a real threat to LGBTQ+ content creators, not only by taking away their voice, but by taking away their revenue. If their videos are not viewable by some people, it means that those YouTubers are losing out on the money they rightfully earned from the creation of the videos. And if this continues, these content creators will have no choice but to leave the platform.

Yesterday, YouTube responded to the backlash of it’s new restriction by posting a message to the community on the YouTube Creators Twitter page. The response is hilariously contradictory, beginning stating that they ‘are so proud to represent LGBTQ+ voices on (their) platform -- they’re a key part of what YouTube is about.’ However, they then state that LGBTQ+ videos will be in Restricted Mode, ‘but videos that discuss more sensitive issues may not be.’ The response doesn’t go on to state what they mean by ‘sensitive issues’, so really we have no idea what LGBTQ+ videos are and aren’t allowed!

So, what does this mean for LGBTQ+ content creators going ahead? What about bisexual YouTubers such as Rosie Spaughton who has an ENTIRE SERIES on her channel dedicated to her sexuality? Looking at how much YouTube is trying to backpedal out of this decision leads me to believe that they will most likely remove these restrictions. Although, this is YouTube, and when have they ever made logical decisions that make sense to the rest of society?

All I can suggest is to continue vocalising our communities disdain for this decision. Get the message out there that this is 2017, and THIS IS NOT OKAY.

[ukbisexualblog]

THIS.

[ukbisexualblog]

Celebrate International Women’s Day with some Bad-Ass Bisexuals!

To celebrate International Women’s Day I thought I’d give a quick rundown of bad-ass bisexual women, real or fictional.

First off, of course it has to be Korra!

This is a woman who takes no shit and means business. As the Avatar, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders, and sometimes that get’s her down. But guess what - that’s okay! Women are allowed to be flawed as much as their male counterparts, along with being as bad-ass as them (she has that last part down to a T for sure anyway).

Similarly, Asami Sato

The beautiful, strong and smart girlfriend of Korra, had to grow up pretty fast when her father betrayed her and her friends in favour of the equalists. But just like Korra, with the power of love and friendship, she powered through and helped save the world.

Evan Rachel Wood

Star of the television series, Westworld,Wood has been very open about her bisexuality. She Tweeted candidly about bi-erasure in 2015: "Bisexual people are the largest single group within the LGBT community, yet we are hardly recognized," … "I can assure you that whatever 'straight privilege' I sometimes get accused of having, gets erased by #biphobia."

These violent delights will have violent ends…

Angelina Jolie

Humanitarian, actress, filmmaker and all round awesome person, Jolie has mentioned her bisexuality in the press: She told OK! magazine: "I absolutely love women and find them incredibly sexy.

"I have loved women in the past and slept with them.  I think if you love and want to pleasure a woman, particularly if you are a woman yourself, then certainly you know how to do things a certain way."

….

I’ll be in my bunk.

So, if you know of any other amazing bisexual women within the media that you’d like to give a shout out to today, then leave a comment below!

Have a lovely day you beautiful bisexual land mermaids <3

Nicole xoxo

[ukbisexualblog]

Korrasami is Back, Haters Can Go Suck It!

It feels like forever since we saw Korra and Asami romantically hold hands together as they entered the spirit world in the season finale of Legend of Korra. But now, curtesy of EW, we have the first look at the adorable bisexual couple’s new adventures in the spirit world. Turf Wars is written by everyone’s bae, Michael Dante DiMartino and illustrated by the lovely Irene Koh. The comic is due to be released some time in June. Because of this, I’d thought it’d be a good to have a little chat about Korrasami and people’s reactions.

Myself, along with the rest of the bisexual community were delighted when it was revealed that Korrasami was cannon. ‘Yes!’ we thought, ‘Two strong bisexual female characters being represented in the media – and on a children’s show, too!’

However, not everyone shared our delight. Some fans were angered at the reveal of Korrasami being in a relationship, saying it to be blatant fanservice and that their relationship developed out of no-where. These were the same fans who vehemently defended the notion that Korra and Asami were just friends during the finale, and that anyone who believed that the pair gazing lovingly into each others eyes whilst holding hands in the portal to the spirit world we’re absolutely bonkers. That is, until the shows creators, DiMartino and Konietzko stepped in to verify Korrasami being cannon.

Both of them wrote tenderly written posts about Korra and Asami’s relationship and how it developed over the series.  DiMartino wrote: ‘Our intention with the last scene was to make it as clear as possible that yes, Korra and Asami have romantic feelings for each other.’

In Konietzko’s post, he writes how Korra and Asami’s relationship wasn’t intended from the very beinging, but blossomed over the series’ production: ‘Was Korrasami “endgame,” meaning, did we plan it from the start of the series? No, but nothing other than Korra’s spiritual arc was.’ ... ‘That’s how writing works the vast majority of the time. You give these characters life and then they tell you what they want to do.’

All in all, being a bisexual person myself, having my sexuality being represented in such a positive light by the show’s creators makes me truly happy. Personally, I can’t wait to read the comic to see what adventures the couple get up to and how their relationship develops! And to end, I want to say a huge thank you to Michael and Bryan, for representing us, for making our voices heard.

 - Nicole x

[kingdollophead]

[ukbisexualblog]

*SCREAMING*

THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY

[ukbisexualblog]

Tried to make a Korra inspired character in Saints Row the Third.

xoxo

[ukbisexualblog]

R.I.P David Bowie

Today we’ve said goodbye to a music legend. His music will live on for generations to come. 

David Bowie quickly became a gay icon from his persona Ziggy Stardust, a bisexual alien rockstar, for the album Space Oddity in 1969.

However, years later he admitted to Rolling Stone that coming out as bisexual was “the biggest mistake I ever made.”

In 1993, he told the same magazine: “I wanted to imbue Ziggy with real flesh and blood and muscle, and it was imperative that I find Ziggy and be him. The irony of it was that I was not gay. I was physical about it, but frankly it wasn’t enjoyable.”

The fact that he was faking this sexuality could potentially be seen as quite insulting. If he, or another celebrity, tried to do this today, they would be seen as attention seeking or using bisexuality as some crude fashion statement. (Just like Jessie J and Katy Perry did, along with many fashion campaigns showing heterosexual females in lesbian poses).

But I think what’s important to consider was the time in which he was doing this. In 1969, homosexuality was not looked upon in a great light, and it wasn’t deemed to be acceptable until several decades later. The fact that Bowie was going out there, performing as this bisexual character was a figurative middle finger to the status quo back then. He was this sexual being who loved both genders on stage and that’s really where it counted for his fans. People in the closet at the time had this glorious gay icon that was accepted in the mainstream - everyone loved his music, even homophobic people.

So to conclude, yes, Bowie may have not been gay nor bisexual, but who gives a shit? His music was literally one of a kind and he empowered so many people in the gay community. Here’s to you, The Goblin King. 

xoxo

[ukbisexualblog]

So, Threesome?

I hate it when men find out your bisexual and suddenly see this as an invitation for a threesome. Yes, we like girls and boys, and having a threesome, foursome (or even more!), is perfectly fine if you’re all into it, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE’RE INTO BOTH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN WE’RE UP FOR A THREESOME WITH YOU.

Nor, may I add, does it give you permission to ask you very personal details about our sex lives, particularly if we’ve just met. And yet, time and time again, some people seem to think this is acceptable. Why is this? 

I think it comes from people’s belief that if you’re bisexual, then you must be a greedy sex crazed lunatic who will do anything with a pulse. 

In the media, bisexuality a lot of the time is played off as a joke, most of the time that the women are being sexually promiscuous. Take a look at Phoebe from Friends. In one episode she hits on Ross and Monica’s female cousin and in another kisses Rachel, but this is never really seen as anything more than ‘a voluntary act of experimentation.’

At the end of the film, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Vince Vaughn’s love interest is revealed to be bisexual. And how do they reveal this? By her running to her girlfriend and kissing her passionately. Seeing Vaughn looking disheartened, she turns to him and proclaims that she is bisexual, then makes out with him.

I get that it’s supposed to be a comedy film, but that’s just... NO!

I don’t even understand why that joke was added in, it would have been more funny if they left it at her embracing her girlfriend and Vince realising he’d been barking up the wrong tree. And maybe they could have stayed friends! Wouldn’t that have been nicer! But no, instead we got this confusing, kind of insulting, bi-joke. It really does perpetuate the idea that bisexuality automatically equals polygamy. I have nothing against polyamory, just to add.

Anyway, this blog was more of a rant than anything, my next post should (hopefully) have a better structure to it. I just wanted to get this off my chest.

 - Nicole x