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by Kimberly A. Ward
This year, there has been a lot of talk about the "gay conversion" programs run by the Florida-based Center for Reclaiming America and other similar groups. However, one of the most invisible parts of this discussion all along has been the issue of bisexual and trans identities and how they fit.
A few months ago, the national bisexual community decided it was time to open up the discussion. After all, if the "powers that be" were going to claim that a lesbian, had been converted, and write under her photo, "she's married, a mother of two and happy," or something similar, what was the first thing that would come into the minds of most bisexuals? "Well, so am I" is one thing and "Maybe she's bi" is another.
The fact that bisexuality is ever-absent in any discussion where it could muddy the waters for groups such as the Center for Reclaiming America has been painfully obvious to many.
What did the national bisexual community do about it? They raised money and produced a spectacular rebuttal ad, which ran in a recent issue of Anything that Moves. The only national magazine of its kind, ATM has put all of its chips on the table and found that it's won the pot.
This ad, created with the utmost care and love, is currently circulating through the campuses and communities of the world. It shows boldly the faces of varied community members including national speaker and activist, Elias Ferrajaje Jones, youth organizer Penelope Williams from New York City, pioneer Maggie Rubenstein and many others. The top of the ad states it simply: "Toward a new national discussion of sexual orientation." Underneath, in bold letters, is a repeat of the Center for Reclaiming America's slogan, "If you love someone, you'll tell them the truth."
The ad is also running on the magazine's website (www.anythingthatmoves.org). Though the site recently had to be rebuilt from the ground up due to hackers, it still makes the information available to all who wish to use it to further the cause of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, non-labelling, questioning communities.
The only thing they ask is that anyone who uses it report how and where they used the ad, so that they may track the ad's progress and keep us all informed and pushing for national awareness on the issue at hand.
I recently received a great list of places that have been registered as hitting the website to see the ad. The list included Ivy League schools across the country, campuses in Australia, France, and England, and the list went on.
The long list of contributors and supporters includes organizations such as BiNet USA, FTM International, LLEG, National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and many others.
Many of these same organizations have also signed on as allies to Bisexual Network, USA during this past year. Within the ranks of BiNet USA, the push is on to get that bridge built between the gay/lesbian and bi communities of the world, between the queer and straight communities, the trans and bi and so on.
Why? Because if we don't join together soon, the push to oust us all from our very own backyards will begin to succeed. And because BiNet USA has reached a point where it is old enough and organized enough that it is not only able to stand alone, but to start mobilizing toward others and reaching out a hand.
This ad campaign is proof that not only is there still a bi community out there, but its national consciousness is becoming active enough to be noticed. With the religious right adding our name to the lists of evil on their proposed legislation, those who resist bi inclusion are realizing that bi people are and have always been a part of their community as well.
With the Equality Begins at Home visibility project coming up in March, many activists are excited to have such a wonderful new tool with which to help present the case for bi inclusion. The ad's text body is full of the most precise, on-target arguments we've made for years. As the EBAH push starts, and the idea of having a "50-state march" is fleshed out with specifics, I know I am one activist who will be spending some time and money at the copy machine.
