CHICAGO - June 29, 2012—You can’t imagine my surprise when I received an email late Friday night from Bro Michael Oboza—long time Bisexual activist in Chicago in distress, “Bisexuals Are Under Attack Now!” Regarding a very curious and bi-phobic article written by “Free Republic” called “’Captain Bisexual’ Marches in Chicago Pride Parade as Young Children Watch.”

Captain Bisexual a.k.a. Noel Spain, Founder of Bisexual Queer Meetup in Chicago Activist, and has started the very famous bisexual visibility superhero, with cape and passion for justice about four years ago at the Chicago Pride Parade.

Are Bisexuals Harmful to Kids as Role Models?

The Article goes on to say:

 ”Talk about marketing perversion and unhealthy behavior to kids: take a look at these photos of “Captain Bisexual” marching in Sunday’s Chicago homosexual “pride” parade. He is the child-friendly face of a group called Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago/ Click on the photos to enlarge them and notice the youth in the background.”

The Bisexual contingent started with Mr. Spain in Chicago, trying to make visibility for bisexuals possible.

Free Republic goes on to add:

“Even though it appeared the organizers had dialed down the more raunchy floats…..spectacles like (Captain Bisexual) this that were utterly inappropriate for Children. And yet, as you can see, many children looked on from the sidelines.”

As we know Chicago Pride has been bringing many more families from all walks of life in recent years to watch the festival, events and floats. ABC 7 News was quoted as saying, 2012 Chicago Pride was in fact record breaking in attendance. Clearly, the masses are accepting people being themselves. What’s different now?

Bisexual Male Visibility!

Captain Bisexual is a very kid-friendly character and no way is this costume seen in any way as inappropriate to children of any form. Is the issue more to do with visibility for the bisexual community and educating the public that bi’s exist? Why did this publication only single out bisexuals and not the other gay, lesbian and transgender participants in the parade? What is so scary that a friendly superhero of visibility and human rights for all, needed to be connected to harming children, in this now friendly family event in Chicago?

This isn’t the only story that has hit the bisexual community this month! Adele’s ex bisexual boyfriend  and Johnny Depp Alleged new girlfriend has been highlighted all over the media with biphobia language—comments about bisexual men being liars, cheaters, bi women being whores and the like.

Here are some headlines in the media:

• Depp’s bisexual costar behind Paradise love split?
• Depp linked to bisexual actress
• Adele’s bisexual lover left her for a gay friend caused the trauma and heartbreak behind her music new book claims
• Adele Dumped By Bisexual Boyfriend - Biography Claims

 Sadly, no other LGBT media has really covered this story but Advocate.com, (That I know of) as they try to bring more bisexual content to their media outlet. Sadly, the comments on their website were very negative regarding, “Why did we need to know about this [Adele] story. One person even stated, “There are no bisexual men” on Advocate.com.

Bi Social Network has long known that bisexual males and celebrities that come out of the closet, are being attacked on all fronts, because many are finally speaking out on existing! We need more, but as with any movement, the first can get hit a bit when trying to change perceptions.

Bi Talk Radio, Thursday, July 5

Bi Social Network will have a special Bi Talk Radio show Thursday, July 5. Times TBD. Check back for interviews and news on this story and what if any, the Chicago bisexual community is going to do about it?

Thoughts? Should the bisexual community protest? Should we get GLAAD or BiNetUSA involved? Please comment below!

***This is a breaking news story. We will update your on information as it comes available.

Disclaimer Note: Noel Spain is a friend and partner Bi Social Network and a key player for bisexual visibility in Chicago and has worked tirelessly to make a difference in our community. Go Captain Bisexual!

So the baby pictures, with bi families, bi women and celebrations abound all over Facebook. But who are these people? Well, If you don’t know all the personals, and why they got the invite, read below all the brilliant things folks are doing to make a different in the bi community! 

Emily Drennen has been an outspoken bisexual advocate since appearing on a live CNBC show to talk about her undergraduate research on bisexuality in young women. She has been a leader in the Bay Area Bisexual Network for many years, as well as working at cornerstone LGBTQ organizations LYRIC and the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. Much of her activism has focused on pushing mainstream “lesbian and gay” organizations to become more bi- and trans-inclusive.

Emily met her wife of 14 years, Lindasusan Ulrich, at a BiFriendly New Year’s Eve Party only a couple of weeks after moving to San Francisco in 1997. Married three times to each other, Emily and Lindasusan have been vocal spokespeople in the same-sex marriage movement. They have been featured in stories by Reuters, the San Francisco Chronicle, American Public Media’s “Marketplace Money,” and numerous other newspaper, radio, and tv outlets. She is enjoying being a new mom to their newborn foster-adopt son, RJ.

Emily is a transportation policy analyst by trade, earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from San Francisco State University, and has served as an appointed official on multiple local and regional government committees. A graduate of the Emerge program, she has been involved in San Francisco politics, including working at City Hall, serving on the board of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, and running for public office. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at her church, the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco.

Estraven has been an activist since she attended her first March on the Pentagon in 1967. She has been facilitating the Bisexual Group at The LOFT, the LGBT Center in Westchester, since 2006, and helping to provide bisexual programming there. A therapist for 31 years, she has been developing a specialization in working with the LGBT community for the last 12 years. She is a bi blogger and public speaker, and was on the Board of BiNET USA for 3 years. Currently she is affiliated with NYABN, and tirelessly defends bisexuals and LGTQIA people from attacks all over the Internet, working to increase bi visibility, decrease prejudice against bisexuals, and to build a bi community.

Chiquita Violette : “I’m a 27 year old bi activist and student from Dallas, Texas. I began participating in activism in  the summer of 2009 and have really been marching ever since. I mainly started with local direct action groups helping organize marches and protests. Later, I volunteered in the Bi Suite when Creating Change Conference came to Dallas in winter of 2010 and two years later, I found myself in Baltimore co-facilitating it’s Day Long Bi/Pan/Fluid Institute with many Bi activists that I look still up to. In between parades and protests, I enjoy writing for the Bi Women Newsletter and have been voted from volunteer to board member of BiNet USA. Not quite exactly where I thought I’d end up when I was just documenting my first protest three years ago but I’m happy to be here and have enjoyed the trip.”

Regina Reinhardt, PhD has been serving the bisexual community for 28 years. As a community service she became the coordinator/facilitator of the the Bisexual Forum, a support group for bisexual people, while at the same time serving the LGBT community as a psychotherapist. She gave workshops and lectures on bisexuality at conferences in the US, Germany and the Netherlands. She is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Bisexuality, which is now in it’s 12th year of publication. She was honored in 2008 by the Lambda Archives of San Diego as a Hero, Pioneer and Trailblazer for committing her life to advancing the rights for the LGBT people. She received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Susan A. Davis, Member of Congress and a Special Commendation from Council member Todd Gloria, City of San Diego. She is on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB), a Non-Profit Organization, created by Dr. Fritz Klein, her dear friend, who died in 2006. Regina is dedicated to continue to enhance public knowledge and awareness about bisexuality. 

Denise Penn, MSW: Denise Penn is currently a Director with the American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB) a non-profit foundation supporting research and education. Prior to that, she was President  of BiNet USA, the oldest and best known Bi-Activist group in the nation. She is a clinical social worker, writer and editor who has been working as an advocacy journalist covering issues for the LGBT and HIV affected community since the early nineties. She has presented numerous workshops and interviewed many experts on bisexuality. In addition, she has appeared on many talk shows discussing bisexual issues. As a Producer and host of The Gay & Lesbian News Magazine, a weekly live cable television program serving the Long Beach community, Denise reported the news and issues for over twelve years. She has been a news reporter, columnist, and contributing editor for several LGBT publications. She currently is the News Editor of The Lesbian News. She has also served on the Boards of the Free Clinic of Orange County, AIDS Walk Orange County, The Sexual Assault Network, and the Elections Committee of the County of Orange.

Denise is also a member of the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party and  an officer of the California LGBT Caucus. She is also on the Orange County Central Committee and serves as Co Chair of the local LGBT Caucus. She has also served on the Boards of the Free Clinic of Orange County, AIDS Walk Orange County, The Sexual Assault Network, and the Elections Committee of the County of Orange. Covering politics, Denise has been at the last three Democratic National Conventions in Los Angeles (2000) , Boston (2004) and Denver (2008) and covers many statewide and local political events. She was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” in 2008 by Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club.

Do you know anything about who is going to the 2012 LGBT White House Reception this year? As a past attendee in 2011, I know firsthand how exciting this time can be. Travel plans, who to take, what hotel to stay, can I afford a hotel stay! Meeting up with local bi peeps—the list can be endless. 

So I wanted to let folks know a little bit about each person going. Check out their bios and what they are doing for the bi community to move our bi visibility forward! 

Get to Know the  2012 Bisexual Leaders at the Upcoming LGBT White House Reception

Lauren Beach has been proudly out to the world as a bisexually identified progressive bi* and queer activist for the past 10 years. During the past decade, Lauren has held many leadership positions in both university student organizations and in community 501(c)(3) LGB*T*QQIAA nonprofits. Some highlights of her work in bi* communities include serving as Chairperson of the Minnesota bi*sexual non-profit the Bisexual Organizing Project (BOP), helping to organize BOP’s BECAUSE Conference on Bisexuality, and co-founding the University of Minnesota’s Bisexual, Pansexual, Fluid Sexuality Inclusion Project. Much of Lauren’s service to broader queer communities has focused on improving health and wellness in LGB*T*QQIAA populations and on advocating for the inclusion of gender expression and gender identity in university-wide anti-discrimination and inclusion policies. Lauren has developed and given numerous educational workshops about the inclusion of LGB*T*QQIAA individuals and communities in diverse settings including Creating Change, the MBLGTACC, the Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference, Target, the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, Augsburg College, Americorps, the Point Foundation, and many others. You may have seen Lauren featured as one of the founding voices in Bi Social Network’s “I Am Visible” campaign, where in her posting, “Straight in Disguise or Lesbian in Denial: Reflections on Life and Love from a (Bi)-Sexual Traitor,” she speaks out about the importance of bi* visibility. Recently, Lauren also began developing her own website dedicated to exploring issues of bi*sexual activism, www.midwestbiactivist.org. In addition to her activist pursuits, Lauren is also a NIH and Point Foundation funded candidate in the University of Minnesota’s Joint Degree Program in Law, Health, and the Life Sciences, where she simultaneously pursues a Law Degree and a Ph.D. in Genetics, in the lab of Dr. Louis Mansky.

Lindasusan Ulrich is a writer, musician, and activist dedicated to a vision of radical inclusion in both language and action. She served for eight years as the Communications Manager/Writer for Horizons Foundation (the world’s first LGBT community foundation) and is a former member of the LGBT Advisory Committee of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, where she was the principal author of “Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations.” This report was the first of its kind released by a governmental body in the US, and has since made its way to activists on five continents and inspired a similar report in the UK. 

Lindasusan has led workshops and participated in panels about bi issues, including at the UCSF LGBTQI Health Forum, UC Hastings OUTLAW Conference, and AIDS Health Project. She is a recipient of the Maggi Rubenstein Leadership Award from the Bay Area Bisexual Network.

Lindasusan also brings her passion to a variety of issues beyond the LGBTQ movement, such as embodied spirituality, progressive politics, and the well-being of children in foster care. She received her undergraduate degree in nuclear fusion from MIT, an MA in English from UC Berkeley, and currently attends Starr King School for the Ministry on the path towards becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister. She lives in San Francisco with her wife, fellow bi activist Emily Drennen.

More to come…