Bi Romance, Scifi and more at Rainbow eBooks

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Your Virtual Corner Bookstore (Credit: rainbowebooks dot com)

If you have always wanted to read more books that catered to the bi community, now is the time to check out Rainbow eBooks unique section of fiction, non-fiction ebooks from romance, to science fiction; to horror and suspense. Clearly something for everyone.

Rainbow eBooks offers a permanent bookshelf and unlimited access to the files, in all available formats.  The titles can be read on any eBook reader device, all computers and most Smart Phones.  They support ePUB, LIT, PRC, MOBI, PDF and HTML files.  If you ever switch eBook readers you can come back to your account and download a different file type or you can read the same book on multiple devices.  In addition, any time formats are added to a title you’ve already purchased they are made available to you via your bookshelf. Continue reading »

Bi Talk Radio: Tammy May of ‘Rainbow eBooks,’ Sept 28

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Tammy May of Rainbow eBooks on Bi Talk Radio (Credit: Tammy May)

Tammy May, CEO of Rainbow eBooks will be on Bi Talk Radio to discuss the exciting new medium of online publishing. May runs an online bookstore with unlimited access to formats in ePUB, LIT, PRC, MOBI, PDF and HTML, for a range of reader devices— such as iPad, Kindle, Nook and others exclusively for the  gay, lesbian, bisexual and  transgender communities.

At Rainbow eBooks we’ve identified a growing need for a technologically current GLBT bookstore that features eBooks from fact to fiction for young and old.

One of the goals of Bi Social Network is to feature real businesses that support the bisexual community and have products for us. This is a great opportunities to check out Rainbow eBooks and test drive one of their selections.

Check out the Bisexual Sections in the store, something for everyone.

Listen to internet radio with Bi Social Network on Blog Talk Radio

To learn more about Rainbow eBook visit their website at www.rainbowebooks.com

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Dr. Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio Talks Poly Life and BiTopia on Bi Talk Radio, April 20, (Special Time)

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As Bi Social Network moves into our mission of sexuality in an educational way, I’m especially excited to talk with Dr. Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio, Founder of BiTopia—author of Eros: A Journey of Multiple Loves, Gaia and the New Politics of Love, and Bisexuality and Queer Theory on issues surrounding the bisexual community on bisexuals in polyamory lifestyle and bisexual research.

Bi Talk Radio will broadcast a little earlier this week because we’ll be attending the Bisexual Invisibility Report for Chicago on Wednesday’s at 6 p.m. CST. Bi Talk will go live at 2 p.m. CST and will be added to our site later that evening as an on-demand stream. To call in to ask a question or comment about the topic of the day, please call in to (646) 915-8057 to join us on the air.This content is for members only.

Bi Talk Radio: Interview with Ann Herendeen of Pride/Prejudice, April 6

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This week we interviewed Ann Herendeen—what a treat, romance, sex, bisexual intrigue. You have to read Pride/Prejudice, to learn more on this spin of the classic Jane Austen. Learn the behind the scene scoop on how Herendeen crafted the ‘what if’ between Darcy and Mr. Bingley as bisexuals?

Bi Talk Radio shares bisexual news of the week. Our radio show meets weekly on Wednesday’s at 5 p.m. CST. We will go into the hot topics of the week in politics, news, entertainment and opinion. To call in to ask a question or comment about the topic of the day, please call in to (646) 915-8057 to join us on the air.

This content is for members only.

Ann Herendeen Joins Bi Talk Radio on a Bisexual Fictional Journey, April 6

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Ann Herendeen shares her writing with Bi Talk Radio April 6 (Credit Image: Efrain Gonzalez)

Bi Social Network is pleased to announce that Ann Herendeen will join us on Bi Talk Radio Wednesday, April 6 at 5 p.m. CST.

Lover of the written word, you can read her first novel called Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander (HarperCollins 2008) in this salacious period piece of bisexual “lust, love and secrets, set against the backdrop of Regency England.”

Herendeen’snew book Pride/Prejudice, as we get a big taste of naughtiness, in this latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s masterpiece. Oh my, what might be happening with Mr. Darcy, Mr Bingley and Elizabeth Bennett? Grab this book and join us on this journey of discovery.

The Bi Social Book Club Starts Now!

Read Pride/Prejudice along with me as we start a new adventure of bisexual reading called “The Bi Social Book Club.” At the end of the month in April, join us online in our chat community and learn and share all that we read. This isn’t your momma’s book club, expect to chat about adult themes—so sorry kiddies, you must be 18-years-old or older to join in this chat fest.

Pride/?Prejudice “fills the gaps” in Austen’s story, daring to imagine the full truth suggested by the original. What is Darcy’s real motivation for preventing Bingley’s marriage to Elizabeth’s beautiful and virtuous sister Jane? How can Darcy reconcile his desire for Elizabeth with his determination to save his friend from a similar entanglement? And what is the disturbing history behind Darcy’s tortured relationship with his foster brother, George Wickham?

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Talking About Bisexual And Lesbian Politics

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Paula C. Rodriguez Rust/Mediakit

A few months ago, when the whole “Lesbian Mafia” controversy happened, I decided I wanted to learn more about the lesbian/bisexual divide, and I started looking for an academic book on the subject. I ran across the book “Bisexuality and the Challenge to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty, and Revolution (The Cutting Edge : Lesbian Life and Literature Series.” I skimmed the reviews of the book and it looked like it was pretty balanced so I decided to read it. Unfortunately the last edition was published in 1995—but it seemed like at least some of it was still relevant today.

The author of the book, Paula C. Rodriguez Rust, is someone who has experienced the lesbian/bisexual divide first hand; she had come out as a lesbian and considered herself one until she got involved with a man. She then experienced first hand the rejection several women in the lesbian community face—if they engage in bisexual behavior. She still considered herself a lesbian, but she began to think more about bisexuality, about bisexual women, and about her own attitudes towards bisexuality. Even though her relationship [ended], she still was interested in bisexuality and decided to do a study of people’s attitudes and perceptions of it, in both the lesbian and bisexual communities. Although, she still considers herself a lesbian indentified female sociologist, she also now thinks of sexuality as a continuum.

The book starts by talking about how bisexuality is and has been viewed and covered in the lesbian and gay press; at first it was barely mentioned, or treated as a joke, but since the late 80’s, it began to be mentioned more, with both positive and negative results. Some readers of the publications wrote in and said they didn’t have a problem with it, but it seemed more did, and they felt that it wasn’t something that should be discussed in a gay or lesbian magazine. The author then went on to discuss how the political interests of the lesbian community had developed since the Stonewall riots. The actual study—both lesbians and bisexual women were asked questions at pride events, and some were also recruited to fill out questionnaires that asked questions such as “does bisexuality exist?” “What do you think of bisexuals?” and “how does bisexuality affect gay and lesbian politics?”

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What the author found was that lesbians of different races, educational levels, and social classes seemed to share the same ranges of attitudes about bisexual women. These attitudes ranged from “it doesn’t exist.” “It’s a cop-out.” “Bisexuals are really gay and can’t admit it,” [or "everyone is bisexual to some degree" and “I feel bisexual women have to put up with a lot.” What I found most interesting was that a majority of the lesbians interviewed, including the ones who believed bisexuality exists and were sympathetic and or welcoming of bisexual women. [They said] that they had a hard time relating to bisexual women and imagining themselves in their place. Lesbians who had once identified as bisexual themselves indicated that they had a bit of an easier time, but it was difficult for many of them as well. Eighty percent of lesbians interviewed, felt that lesbians experience [is] much more discriminatory  than bisexual women; and only twenty percent felt that bisexuals experienced a great deal of prejudice.

The findings were both interesting and startling, when it came to the attitudes of bisexual women. While many of course believed bisexuality existed, there were some that didn’t, and indicated that they felt confused and also thought most bisexuals were confused—even though they identified as bisexual. Many also stated that being bisexual was harder than being straight or gay, and that they felt invisible and that because of this, they chose to identify as lesbians.

As the author interviewed more bisexual women, she found that 1 in 3 of them [lesbian] believed bisexuality was the norm and most people were bisexual to some degree. Yet 84 percent had identified as lesbians at some point in their lives, and 51 percent agreed with the statement that “it is more acceptable to be bisexual.” Some people who are really lesbians say they are bisexual and 44 percent indicated that they believed bisexuality could be a transitional identity, and felt that they identified more with the lesbian community than the bisexual one. Only 14 percent said they felt like they identified with the bisexual community. As the author stated at the end of the study, the two most striking findings were the extent to which bisexual women’s attitudes towards bisexuality resembled those of the lesbians, and the extent to which bisexual women felt a lack of their own community and their own political interests.

The good news is that as this study was done in 1995, both the attitudes of many lesbians and many bisexual women have changed significantly, and there is now much more of a bisexual community, more tolerance in the gay and lesbian communities (though we still have a long way to go), and more voices that speak for the political interests of the bisexual community. However, I have noticed that there are still a significant number of bisexuals who don’t feel connected to their community; or don’t want to use the term “bisexual.”  That really struck me as something that hasn’t changed enough since the book was written. What this book made me wonder was “how can we who are active in the bisexual community, reach out to more bisexual people (especially young people) so that [bisexuals] feel they have a community to identify with—and aren’t afraid of  the “b” word?

Overall I found the book very interesting and well written, and I do recommend it. The main drawback is that the study [was written in 1995]. I would be very interested to see a current follow up—I’m sure it would answer a lot of questions.

Listening to Bisexual Voices Around The World

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(Provided with permission) Robyn Ochs and Sarah E. Rowley

A common complaint in the bisexual community is that there is not enough literature out there for bisexuals. Walking into a bookstore, it’s easy to spot a whole bunch of gay and lesbian literature; and too often it’s just that, gay and lesbian [books]. In some bookstores we’ve been lucky enough to get a shout out as the sections are actually labeled “GLBT” or “GLBTQ”, but unfortunately the make up of the actual books is the same; mostly gay and lesbian with a bit of trans[sexual] slipped in and every once in a while an actual book [like] (The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe) [which is] about bisexuals as actual people—not just a quick letter.

That’s a major reason why when I first came out, I was thrilled to find the book (sold in our eShop!):”Getting Bi; Voices of Bisexuals Around the World,” written and edited by prominent bisexual activist and Professor Robyn Ochs, and Sarah E. Rowely. Robyn Ochs runs The Bisexual Resource Center in Boston, MA. The book was first published in 2005. I eagerly read it, and at a time when I felt like I was part of a really small group, I got to read personal accounts from people in countries all over the world, and felt connected to a larger global bisexual community. Contrary to the stereotypes, I had heard we were not “just a few people.” There are many of us all over the world, both in the closet and out—some are activists, some are not. Some understand bisexuality very differently from others, especially in different cultural contexts; and some don’t even call themselves that [bisexuals]. But throughout the book everyone has one thing in common: they are all attracted to both men and women in varying degrees, and don’t feel that they fit cleanly into either the gay or straight categories.

(Source) Author Robyn Ochs and Sarah E. Rowley, Cover of Getting Bi

The book is full of different bisexual stories, and chapters are divided up based on themes such as coming out, relationships, why someone does or does not call themselves bisexual, and politics in the bisexual community. The back of the book is full of bisexual resources, such as “Bisexual Etiquette,” a note for parents called, “If you think your child may be bisexual,” where to find bisexual organizations, websites, and books, and how to get along with gay and lesbian people and combat biphobia. For someone who is just coming out, or for anyone who’s looking to connect with a larger bisexual community, these resources are essential and extremely helpful.

Last year, the second edition of Getting Bi was released. In addition to having everything the first edition had, this one featured more and updated stories, updated resources, and a new chapter called “Bisexual Worlds.” The new chapter features people from several different countries and cultures talking about their bisexuality and their opinions about the global bisexual community and how they fit into it. The section of the new chapter I found most interesting was called “Bisexuality in the Arab Lands,” which features interviews (anonymous or with names changed for protection) with bisexuals who live in the Middle East. Reading about how oppressive the governments over there are of BLGT people, and how the bisexuals there are terrified of being found out really made me appreciate the freedoms we have in the United States.

I highly recommend this book, not just for bisexuals, but for anyone who wants to know more about bisexual people and the global bisexual community. And if anyone ever says “bisexuals don’t exist”—then they definitely need to read this book. As bisexual activists Loraine Hutchins and Lani Ka’ahumanu said when the second edition came out: “If you want to know what bi people are thinking, feeling, doing—you’ll find the answers here.” So everyone, if you haven’t already, do check out both The Bisexual Resource Center, and the book Getting Bi; Voices of Bisexuals Around the World by Robyn Ochs and Sarah E. Rowley. You won’t be disappointed!

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