Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Today is Bisexual Visibility Day, designated to raise awareness and honor the members of our community who identify as bisexual. Through the #AMPLIFY project, we have been able to publish Q&A’s with 70 individuals who identify as bisexual. Please note that this list may not be comprehensive based on how people respond to questions like ‘Please describe your identity.’

Our bisexual contributors have taught me a lot over the past years. I am grateful and honored that they trust me with their stories and experiences. One such change was adding this question to the Q&A “How can gay men and lesbians support the bisexual, transgender and queer members of our community?” in addition to asking about how cisgender hetereosexual allies can support the larger community – we wanted to explore the well-documented experiences of biphobia, among other things, from within the community.

Another ongoing issue is the lack of bi-specific programming in our community groups and organizations in this region. I’m not aware of anything actually with the exception of the BiPgh group that organizes some events and actitivities without any fundings or dedicates resources from groups like Persad, Pgh Equality Center, etc. I would really like to see some organizing to secure funding from The Pittsburgh Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, etc to specifically target the local bisexual community – funds that are in the hands of the bisexual community, not just allies with good intentions.

The reality that 42% of our community have no allocated resources is rather shameful and dismaying. We can do better.

Here’s to each of you for your courage and contributions.

As you read through these Q&A’s, you will meet parents and teachers and lawyers and doctors. You will see folx who are trans, cis, and nonbinary with respect to their gender identities. Some are Black, some Latinx, and some white. Many live in the suburbs. Some left rural communities to find community in more urban spaces. And many are at least partially anonymous for reasons that they explain in their responses.

I pulled some basic data for context from the Movement Advancement Project research:

• 51% of the LGB community identify as bisexual
• 28% of bisexuals say that all the important people in their life know they are bisexual, compared to 77% of gay men and 71% of lesbians
• Approximately 25% of bisexual men and 30% of bisexual women live in poverty, compared to 15% and 21% of heterosexual men and women respectively and 20% and 23% of gay man and lesbians
• 46% of bisexual women have experienced rape, compared to 13% and 17% of lesbian and straight women, respectively. Sixtyone percent of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner, compared to 43% and 35% of lesbian and straight women respectively

I hope you will take some time to read these posts and reflect on the experiences of your bisexual neighbors today and other days. To read more about AMPLIFY, please visit the homepage for the project.

And we’d love to include your story as we move forward if you are bi or an LGBTQ ally to the bi community. Click here to fill out the Q&A. It takes about 30 minutes.

1. AMPLIFY! Donna Met a Female Impersonator Who Made a Lasting Impression
2. AMPLIFY! Gina Shares Her Truth With Those Who Deserve To Know
3. AMPLIFY! Paula Speaks Out About Bisexual Exclusion and Bi Erasure
4. Coley Claims To Be Invisible in Plain Sight #AMPLIFY
5. Kitty Is Out and Open as a Bisexual Trans Woman in Erie County #AMPLIFY
6. Ashe Believes To Be Queer Is To Be Yourself #AMPLIFY
7. Anonymous Grieves How Pgh’s Lesbian & Gay Community Treats Bisexuals #AMPLIFY
8. Raven Has Not Told Anyone That She’s Pansexual Because She’s Afraid #AMPLIFY
9. Erin Answered These Questions To Challenge Bisexual Erasure #AMPLIFY
10. Jean Came Out As Bisexual After Her Retirement #AMPLIFY
11. Niki Talks About Living as a Gender Queer Trans Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY
12. Ade is Pansexual, Androgynous and Finds Comfort in Their UU Community #AMPLIFY
13. Elliot is Bi, Trans and Wishes Westmoreland County Was Talking More About Queer Youth
14. Heather Refuses To Marginalize Herself As a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY
15. Lela Wants Bisexual Voices To Be Heard #AMPLIFY
16. Minion Wants To Talk About What It Means to be a Queer, Black, Futch Leathergirl #AMPLIFY
17. Ama, 30, is a Girl Who Likes Girls and Who Likes Guys #AMPLIFY
18. Tylor, 30, Is a Pansexual Trans Man Who Wants Better For Young People #AMPLIFY
19. Mia Donna Has Wild Happy Life as a Pansexual Polyamorous Person #AMPLIFY
20. Maggio, 28, is Unapologetically a Bi-sexual Queer Feminist Scholar #AMPLIFY
21. Rachel, 30, is in the Process of Coming Out as Bisexual #AMPLIFY
22. Staci, 52, Wants More Representation For The Bi Community #AMPLIFY
23. alexis, 29, talks compensation & community for marginalized lgbtq neighbors #AMPLIFY
24. Mel, 40: Bi, Queer and Pan Folks Don’t Always Speak in a Gay or Lesbian Voice #AMPLIFY
25. Kim, 40, Mother, Pansexual, Mexican-American & Washington Co Resident #AMPLIFY
26. Avery is a Bisexual, Latino Trans Man in Cambria County #AMPLIFY
27. Jessica, 28, Is Resisting Bisexual Erasure in Pgh #AMPLIFY
28. Dominic, 18, Is a Bisexual Man Finding His Comfort Zone in College #AMPLIFY
29. Janet, 66, is Bisexual, Cisgender and Gender Nonconforming
30. Ciora, 27, Says Trans People Have the Strength of Two Souls
31. Lavi, 29, is Trans Queer Bi and Wants Your Respect & Support
32. Alexa, 22, Talks About Acceptance as a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY
33. Ira, 30, Identifies as Pansexual, Genderqueer and Possibly Agender 
34. Vi, 24, Is Very Concerned About Trans Health Issues in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY4
35. Tara, 29, Describes Life in the Shenango Valley as a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY
36. Ravenna, 37, Pansexual Trans Woman Living in the Allegheny County Suburbs 
37. Vanessa, 31, Describes Her Transition & Life as Pansexual in Washington County
38. Leo, 42, is a Bi Man in Erie County Who Wants to be Heard #AMPLIFY
39. Kyle Discusses Privilege & Perception of Gay, White, Cisgender Men #AMPLIFY
40. Brandon, 23, Identifies as a Pansexual Genderqueer Male
41. Jesse, 28, Helps To Build New LGBTQ Community Supports in Mercer County #AMPLIFY
42. Megan, 22, is a Bisexual Woman Using Her Voice To Grow Her Community #AMPLIFY
43. Tyler, 18, is a Pansexual Trans Man in Erie #AMPLIFY
44. Chica Discusses Her Bisexuality to Show Solidarity #AMPLIFY
45. Krissy, 34, Talks About Step Parenting as a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY
46. Seth, 21, Came Out as Bi and Trans Via Power Point #AMPLIFY
47. Tanha, 36, is a Queer, Bisexual Woman in Erie #AMPLIFY
48. Selene, 60, is genderfluid, pansexual, femme-presenting, neuroqueer and more
49. Krista, 28, Lives in Washington, PA as a Pansexual Woman
50. Angie, 32: Out, Loud, and Proud Black Pansexual Mom #AMPLIFY
51. Roxxie Thunder, 27, is a Glittery Pansexual Femme from Beaver County
52. Jamaica, 41, is Bisexual and Wants the Pgh Queer Community to Have a Voice #AMPLIFY
53. Carmen is 42, Bisexual, and Resonates With Genderfluid Identity #AMPLIFY
54. Morgan, 31, is a Black, Bisexual, Queer, Polyamorous Woman & Mother #AMPLIFY
55. Lisa, 47, is a Bi Woman Trying to Find Community in Pittsburgh
56. Amy, 46, is Bi in Pittsburgh, But Not Really Out
57. Alexia, 40, is Bisexual, Transgender, and Loves Pittsburgh
58. Reece, 31, Grew up in Southern Virginia, but Found LGBTQ Connections in Pittsburgh
59. Hilary, 44, Works Hard to Boost Pansexual Identity in Erie County
60. Helen, 51, Came Out as Bisexual in the Army National Guard
61. Laura, 42, is a Bisexual Mom in Pittsburgh 
62. Dan, 36, is a Bisexual Man in Pittsburgh Who Wants to Build a Better World 
63. Jennifer is 40, Bisexual, and a Fan of Sara Lance 
64. Winter, 18, Identifies as a Genderquestioning Bisexual Person
65. He’s a cisgender polyamorous bisexual guy, but nobody asks
66. Madison, 40, is a Pansexual, Trans Woman Who Loves Pittsburgh
67. Rae, 48, is a Pansexual Trans Woman Living in Allegheny County
68. Kyle, 22, is a Bisexual, Vegetarian from Crawford County
69. Hutch, 57, Marched With Harvey Milk and Knows We Have Miles To Go
70. Jess, 22, is a Poly, Bisexual Woman in Pittsburgh
71. Louie, 50, Identifies as Queer, Pansexual, & Kinky 
72. Carla, 39, Identifies as a Bisexual, Non-Binary Scientist and Educator 

Thank you for your contributions! Happy #BiWeek!