You may have noticed the streets seem a bit busier this week. It’s not just that people are going back to school or the office. It’s bi visibility week, so the 51% of the LGBTQ+ community that usually goes unnoticed have shrugged off their invisibility cloaks.
To celebrate, Biscuit, The Bisexual Index and the Bi Survivors Network and Just Like Us have teamed up with OPEN Media to remind Britain that bi people exist in a big way.
Throughout Bi Visibility Week (September 16-23), there will be 24 billboards dotted around the UK, celebrating the bi+ community and highlighting the issue of bi-erasure. With locations as premium as Boxpark Wembley, and Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester City Centres, it’s estimated that half a million people will see the message.
Lois Shearing, founder of the Bi Survivors Network said; “We’re so excited for everyone to see this celebration of bi+ identities as they go about their lives. Given that all Pride events and most in-person community groups have had to be put on hold this year, this is a great way to remind people of bi+ issues, as well as reminding the bi+ community that even if we haven’t seen each other in a while, the community is still there waiting for them.
“I also hope that other companies are inspired to follow OPEN Media’s example; allyship isn’t taking up space in a parade, it’s sharing your resources with the communities that need them.
“I can’t wait for everyone to see these billboards and to take pictures in front of them as their beautiful, proud, radical bi+ selves. I also hope the message encourages others to question why bisexuality is still considered taboo and is so invisible, despite us making up the largest demographic within the LGBT+ community”.
Libby Baxter-Williams, a longtime advocate for the bisexual community and Director of Biscuit, spearheaded the project. She said, “With a big in-person celebration off the cards this year, we’re thrilled that OPEN Media have partnered with us to make such a huge statement.
“Bisexuality shouldn’t be taboo in 2020. That’s why we’re promoting this simple message: Bi Visible, Bi Proud. We exist, we’re not ashamed, and we’re not going anywhere”.
Marcus Morgan, Director of The Bisexual Index said; “Visibility is essential for all minorities – especially bi+ people. It shows people that we can be anyone and everywhere. For bisexual people the greatest thing about increasing visibility is it gives people a chance to spot the most important bisexual of us all – the one in the mirror.
“These billboards will give countless bisexual people a chance to glimpse that, and reflect on how they themselves identify. I’m excited to see them on the streets and with proud bi+ people grabbing bi pride selfies all over social media”.
The four organisations are encouraging bisexual+ people to take selfies with the billboards and use the hashtags #BiVisibleBiProud and #BiVisibilityDay to help raise awareness of the bi+ community.
