Bi Inclusion - Top Tips for Bi Inclusion

What does 鈥榖i鈥� mean?

Bi is an umbrella term used to describe romantic and/or sexual attraction towards more than one gender of people. People under the 鈥榖i umbrella鈥� may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including but not limited to: bisexual, bi, pan, and queer.

Why do we need to be more bi-inclusive?

Bi people are less likely to be out at work than lesbian and gay colleagues, and less likely to feel confident reporting bullying or harassment at work.

Just 18% of bi people are out to someone at work, compared to 38% of lesbian and gay colleagues, and only half of bi men are out to anyone at work about their sexuality (Stonewall, 2018).
Only 41% of gay and lesbian staff would feel confident reporting bullying or harassment, and that drops to just 28% for bi staff (Stonewall, 2020).
47% of bi students have received negative comments from other students because they鈥檙e bi, and 7% have been physically attacked (Stonewall, 2020). Bi people are also subject to many harmful myths and stereotypes specific to bisexuality.

How can we be bi-inclusive?

See below some top tips for bi inclusion:

Think About Language

Follow the language someone uses to describe their own relationships and identity. There are many different terms that falls under the 鈥榖i umbrella鈥�, including bi, pan, and queer. Use language which is inclusive of bi people, and doesn鈥檛 erase their experiences. The term 鈥榞ay鈥� is not a catch-all term for the LGBTQUA+ community.

Challenge Biphobia

Stay alert to negative language and behaviour towards bi people, and challenge it when it is safe for you to do so. Engage with active bystander intervention training, to support your knowledge, skills and confidence to intervene.

See Individuals Not Labels

Bi people are not a monolith, and bi people have different experiences, identities and backgrounds. Bi men are sometimes accused of being gay men in denial. Ace bi people are often told that they can鈥檛 be bi because they don't experience sexual attraction.

Avoid Assumptions

Avoid making assumptions about someone鈥檚 identity on the basis of their current or previous partners鈥� identities. For example, a man dating another man is often assumed to be 鈥榞ay鈥�. A bi person dating someone of a different gender to themselves is still bi, not 鈥榮traight鈥� or in a 鈥榮traight relationship鈥�.

Include Bi Perspectives

Explicitly include bi people in your work. If you are organising a panel of speakers for a sexuality-based event, consider whether you have included bi speakers. Consider how bi people鈥檚 needs may differ from other service users.

Engage With Bi Education

Engage with bi education and awareness efforts. Support the LGBTQUA+ Events Group at 海角社区 by attending and/or helping to organise activities for annual programmes such as LGBT+ History Month and Pride Month.

Respect Confidentiality

Someone may choose to come out to you, but not to others. Therefore, it's important to only share someone's sexuality with others if you have their explicit consent. Whilst it's understandable to be curious, avoid excessive or intrusive questions about someone's bisexuality.

Downloads:

奥补谤飞颈肠办鈥檚 Rainbow Taskforce has compiled some helpful bi inclusion tips, to support staff and students at 海角社区. Download our resource on: Bi Inclusion Tips (you can also download a plain text version of the tips).

Please share this resource with others at 海角社区.

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