This year’s #BiHealthMonth theme is “The Power of Bi+ Community”. This theme highlights the important role of bi+ community in our health — from the mental health benefits of interpersonal connection and caring for one another, to the ability to educate and advocate for healthy changes in our society. Community is power, and through the power of bi+ community, we can improve bisexual+ health outcomes and create lasting social change for bi+ people everywhere.
You can join the campaign for bi+ health equity by pledging to post to social media about bi+ health and wellness during the month of March. Don’t know what to post? That’s okay! Use our free resources, talking points, and graphics!
Key Facts & Talking Points:
- Bisexual+ people make up the majority of the LGBTQ community, but receive less than 1% of all funding that supports LGBTQ advocacy, and they experience significantly higher rates of physical, sexual, social and emotional violence and disparities than gay and straight people, as well as poorer physical, mental and social health.
- Bisexual+ people often experience higher levels of mental health distress than their gay and straight peers, including suicidality, substance use disorders, depression and anxiety. It’s important to connect with bisexual-specific and -inclusive resources, programs and services that can best serve bi+ people’s mental health needs.
- Despite bisexual+ people comprising over half of the LGBTQ community, only 29% of people report personally knowing a bisexual+ person, compared to 73% of people who report knowing a gay or lesbian person. As a result, media representation of bisexuality+, which is often harmful and reductive, heavily shapes the general public’s perception of who bisexual+ people are and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes.
- Bisexual+ youth are less likely than their gay peers to be out to their loved ones, but account for 8% of 18-34 year olds; whereas gay and lesbians only account for 3% of that age bracket. They’re also less likely to attend queer youth groups. It’s vital for schools and youth spaces to be bi+ affirming and welcoming in order to best serve LGBTQ young people.
- 37% of gender-expansive youth are verbally harassed at school, and another report found 44% of bisexual youth were bullied about their weight or physical appearance one or more times during the past month. A report by the GSA Network chronicles harsh discipline and school push-out often faced by LGBTQ youth of color. It’s important to build safer, more inclusive and accepting environments for bisexual+ (e.g. bisexual, pansexual, queer, fluid, no label) youth in schools.
- Among youth, bisexuality was associated with a history of forced or unwanted sex among female high school students, and compared with gay male youth, bisexual male youth were 5.4 times as likely to have been threatened with outing by a date or partner.
Suggested Social Media Copy:
- This year’s #BiHealthMonth is about going Beyond Visibility, because visibility is only the first step towards a happier, healthier bisexual+ community. Learn more at bihealthmonth.org
- This #BiHealthMonth, we’re helping @BRC_Central go Beyond Visibility, because #bisexual+ visibility is not enough. It’s the first step on our path to ensuring better care, more inclusive resources and healthier community spaces for bisexual+ people everywhere. We must continue to demand what we need and deserve to thrive.
- #Bisexual+ people make up more than half of the LGBTQ community, but receive minimal funding to tackle the major physical, emotional and social health disparities they face at higher rates than their gay peers. Help us and @BRC_Central raise awareness this #BiHealthMonth.
- When we move beyond visibility and into action, we can fight back against bi-antagonism in media, health care, research and education, and we can improve the physical, sexual, mental, emotional and spiritual health of bi+ people. Learn more about the bisexual+ community’s well-being at bihealthmonth.org
- Want to learn more about supporting the #bisexual+ community this #BiHealthMonth? Check out the free resources available at bihealthmonth.org
- Health is physical, as well as social, emotional, social, sexual and spiritual. This #BiHealthMonth, we’re helping @BRC_Central spotlight all aspects of #bisexual+ people’s well-being. Visit bihealthmonth.org for more information and free health resources for bisexual+ people!
- Bisexual+ people are the majority of the LGBTQ community, but we don’t get the same research and resources and attention as our gay and straight peers. You can help support bi+ programs and research by joining the Visibility Impact Fund! #VisibilityImpactFund #BiHealthMonth https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/
Graphics to Share:
