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boblendzinski's review
5.0
An excellent book for understanding the bi community, for resources for bi individuals, and for anyone who is an ally.
an_library_stan's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.5
Lots of helpful quotes and definitions. The book is UK based and feels a bit dated at times, but I found the content still very relevant today. I'd recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about bisexuality
audsisburrito's review
5.0
My first queer read beyond some fiction since I have come out to friends and family. This was really validating and informative. An easy read but a compelling and thorough one! I also appreciated the UK perspective.
hbaier94's review
5.0
Absolutely wonderful. Great information as well as actionable items to continue and begin bi activism
deanna's review
3.0
An enlightening read for anyone regardless of their sexual orientation.
Claiming the B in LGBT: Illuminating the Bisexual Narrative covers a wide range of topics, such as bi-erasure, the pros & cons of coming out versus not coming out, dating, biphobia & discrimination, faith & religion, harmful stereotypes, mental health, monogamy & non-monogamy, and the privilege gained from passing as straight when in an opposite sex or opposite gendered relationship just to name a few. Unsurprisingly, the board scope of the book, the struggle to incorporate anything and everything related to bisexuality, does render it less in-depth on each particular topic than I would prefer.
Visibility, or lack thereof, is a recurring topic within bisexual communities and is therefore the most discussed topic of the book. Unfortunately, visibility is lower for bisexuals who are non-white, are not able-bodied, and are not cis-gendered. I like that the editors sought to include bisexuals of varying walks of life, such as disabled, people of color, non-binary and/or transgender. While some of the struggles these individuals face may be similar to mine, they also have a different set of unique challenges they've come up against that I haven't. For example, they're also tasked with having to cope with deciding how or when to wear an additional label that makes them different as societal perception of bisexuality already leans towards "attention-seeking" and claims that disabled bi-people or multiracial bi-people are trying to check too many "diversity boxes."
However, while there were multiple contributors to the book who fit the various descriptors (i.e.; male vs female, cis-gendered vs non-binary and/or trans, able-bodied vs disabled), there is a glaringly lack of non-white contributors. The simplest reason is the most likely reason here: bisexuals communities are less inclusive than we are willing to admit, as noted by Jacq Applebee, the main contributor to the chapter Bisexuals of Color.
Claiming the B in LGBT: Illuminating the Bisexual Narrative covers a wide range of topics, such as bi-erasure, the pros & cons of coming out versus not coming out, dating, biphobia & discrimination, faith & religion, harmful stereotypes, mental health, monogamy & non-monogamy, and the privilege gained from passing as straight when in an opposite sex or opposite gendered relationship just to name a few. Unsurprisingly, the board scope of the book, the struggle to incorporate anything and everything related to bisexuality, does render it less in-depth on each particular topic than I would prefer.
Visibility, or lack thereof, is a recurring topic within bisexual communities and is therefore the most discussed topic of the book. Unfortunately, visibility is lower for bisexuals who are non-white, are not able-bodied, and are not cis-gendered. I like that the editors sought to include bisexuals of varying walks of life, such as disabled, people of color, non-binary and/or transgender. While some of the struggles these individuals face may be similar to mine, they also have a different set of unique challenges they've come up against that I haven't. For example, they're also tasked with having to cope with deciding how or when to wear an additional label that makes them different as societal perception of bisexuality already leans towards "attention-seeking" and claims that disabled bi-people or multiracial bi-people are trying to check too many "diversity boxes."
However, while there were multiple contributors to the book who fit the various descriptors (i.e.; male vs female, cis-gendered vs non-binary and/or trans, able-bodied vs disabled), there is a glaringly lack of non-white contributors. The simplest reason is the most likely reason here: bisexuals communities are less inclusive than we are willing to admit, as noted by Jacq Applebee, the main contributor to the chapter Bisexuals of Color.
Bisexuals of color are not scarce in the United Kingdom, but there are often good reasons for them to keep their orientation to themselves and go elsewhere to friendlier spaces. The lack of diversity is an issue that diminishes the potential of bisexual spaces.
[...]Bisexuals of color face racism in LGBTQIA+ spaces, and [face] biphobia in lesbian and gay spaces. This is a truth that many white LGBTQIA+ people don't want to admit. "I can't be racist: I'm gay!" is a familiar refrain. The experience of one oppression does not mean all other oppressions are wiped away from their consciousness. Even if by some chance white bisexuals recognize racism, bisexuals of color often feel as if not much is being done about it. Bisexuals of color are often left to find ways to solve the problem of racism in their communities.
There are several individuals who contribute to multiple sections of the book however the contributors to the Bisexuals of Color chapter are not present elsewhere in the book, sadly proving Yemisi's statement:
People of color are hardly ever contacted to talk about the main reason they are a part of that movement without having to tie it to their race. I mean I would be very comfortable speaking on topics of bisexuality [...], but the very few times I've been contacted to do this, it has been to ask me about my perspective as a person of color within the movement. This sometimes makes one feel that many people think the only thing people of color are capable of bringing to a movement is the color of their skin to boost the movement's claim of diversity.
That being said, it is impossible for me to know for certain that there weren't more bisexuals of color who contributed to other topics in the book while simultaneously declining to speak on race, especially since some contributors chose to remain anonymous. And while that may very well be the case, at no other point in the book is there mention of the racism and prejudice within the bisexual movement nor any mention of improving and increasing inclusiveness of bisexual communities. A problem cannot be remedied until after its existence has been acknowledged and, as a white bisexual, I feel that we are collectively ignoring our prejudices within our communities.
When the conversation turns the higher rate of mental health issues among bisexuals, I can speak from experience that the overlap exists. I've lived with depression and anxiety since I was teenager. I'm aware the struggles I've had due to being bisexual have also negatively impacted my mental health from time to time over the years. However, I know my sexual orientation is not the cause nor a symptom of my disorders. I'm beyond frustrated that any non-heterosexual orientation is still regarded as pathological, that bisexuality is still official diagnosis criteria for certain disorders, and that some medical professionals are still actively propagating the myth that bisexuality is "merely a symptom of a more fundamental dysfunction." (pp.74-75)
Initially, I thought the chapter on non-monogamous relationships wasn't necessary. The negative stereotyping that bisexuals "can't commit" because we "want to have our cake and eat it, too" and that we will "always cheat" on our partners is harmful because this behavior has nothing to do with bisexuality and people of any sexual orientation can fit this description. Consensual non-monogamy is neither exclusive to bisexuality nor a component of being bisexual, and the editors themselves say as much. However, I came to understand why its inclusion is important.
Multiple interviewees admit to feeling like stereotypes for being both bisexual and preferring non-committal or non-monogamous relationships while others feel pigeonholed into monogamy solely to combat the stereotype and that they are less free to explore open relationships than people of other sexual orientations. One contributor, Eunice, states that they feels guilty that their preference for polyamorous relationships contributes to these negative stereotypes but knows that these are two separate components of their identity and that "even if I wasn't bisexual, I'd still be poly" and "even if I wasn't poly, I'd still be bi." (pp. 54)
Overall, the book delivers on the promise of "illuminating the bisexual narrative," though more work could have been done to include contributors of color to share their thoughts on topics beyond race in a true effort of improving inclusiveness of the bisexual community.
whitehorse99's review
5.0
Excellent. Pretty comprehensive overview of the different aspects of bisexuality. Loved the inclusion of multiple different bisexual POVs.
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