Design by Kate Estrop
#BiHealthMonth Social Media Share Kit
Thank you for supporting #BiHealthMonth!
About #BiHealthMonth:
Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month (#BiHealthMonth), led annually by the Bisexual Resource Center (BRC), raises awareness about the bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, queer, etc.) community’s social, economic and health disparities; advocates for resources; and inspires actions to improve bi+ people’s well-being.
“Connection” Theme:
Now in its 37th year, the Bisexual Resource Center proudly presents the 9th annual #BiHealthMonth campaign. Lasting throughout the month of March, this year’s #BiHealthMonth theme is “Connection.” This theme has been chosen to highlight the importance of connecting bisexual+ people to each other, to supportive communities and to health care resources that are affirming of their identities.
While there are many different ways that bi+ people can connect, the goal of connection is to build safe, inclusive spaces — in-person and online, locally and globally — for bi+ people to share their experiences and create meaningful relationships. When bi+ people are connected, it greatly improves their physical, mental and social health, particularly for bi+ people living in historically oppressed, marginalized or isolated communities.
How to Participate:
You can participate by:
- Posting one or more resources or infographics with the hashtag #BiHealthMonth.
- Hosting a virtual community event for bisexual+ people.
- Donating to the Bisexual Resource Center, the Visibility Impact Fund or another bisexual+ community organization.
Want your materials included in this share kit, to be added to the list of official #BiHealthMonth partners, ask questions or write a guest post? E-mail bham@biresource.org.
Bisexual Resource Center social media handles and websites:
- #BiHealthMonth landing page @ www.bihealthmonth.org
- Twitter – @BRC_Central
- Facebook – @BiResource
- Instagram – @BisexualResourceCenter
- Tumblr – @BiResourceCenter
- BRC homepage @ www.biresource.org
Key facts & talking points:
- This year’s #BiHealthMonth theme is “Connection.” This theme has been chosen to highlight the importance of connecting bisexual+ people to each other, to supportive communities and to health care resources that are affirming of their identities.
While there are many different ways that bi+ people can connect, the goal of connection is to build safe, inclusive spaces — in-person and online, locally and globally — for bi+ people to share their experiences and create meaningful relationships. When bi+ people are connected, it greatly improves their physical, mental and social health, particularly for bi+ people living in historically oppressed, marginalized or isolated communities.
- 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. For more information, check out this pamphlet on Mental Health In the Bisexual Community.
- The bisexual+ community includes a wide variety and many intersections of identities. Our community is at its healthiest when we are inclusive and affirming of everyone under the bi+ umbrella, and discrimination against BIPOC, transgender and those living with disabilities within the bi+ community has been eliminated.
- 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.
- 44% bisexual youth reported being bullied about physical appearance one or more times during past month, and a report by the Human Rights Campaign found that 37% of gender-expansive youth were verbally harassed at school. In addition, 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. Therefore, it is important to build safer, more inclusive school environments for bisexual+ youth and to connect these youth with interpersonal violence services, resources and prevention programs that can support and protect them.
Resources for talking about bisexuality+:
- BRC’s “What Is Bisexuality?”
- BRC’s “FAQ”
- In Focus: Reporting on the Bisexual Community
- HRC’s “Brief guide to getting bisexual coverage right”
Suggested social media copy (please feel free to create original, edit the below copy, and/or reach out for messaging assistance):
- It’s #BiHealthMonth! Join us and @BRC_Central all month long to celebrate bisexual+ connection and commit to creating spaces where bi+ people can share their experiences and create meaningful relationships: bihealthmonth.org [“#BiHealthMonth 2022” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- This year’s #BiHealthMonth is all about connection because when bi+ people are connected to each other, it greatly improves our physical, mental and social health. [“#BiHealthMonth 2022” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- This #BiHealthMonth, we’re helping @BRC_Central celebrate #bisexual+ connection, because when bi+ people are connected to each other, it greatly improves their physical, mental and social health. [“#BiHealthMonth 2022” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- The past two years of the pandemic have shown the value of finding new, creative ways to connect and build #bisexual+ spaces. We’re partnering with @BRC_Central for #BiHealthMonth to celebrate the power of bi+ connection! Join us and our partners as we celebrate bi+ connection and commit to creating and maintaining spaces where bi+ people can connect, communicate and build healthy communities.
- #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. [“#BiHealthMonth 2022” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- When we build bi+ community, 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 here. [link to any of the blog posts/articles in the shareable resources/content section]
- Want to learn more about supporting the #bisexual+ community this #BiHealthMonth? Check out this great resource from @BRC_Central. [link to/upload pics (in Google Drive) of any of the pamphlets listed below]
- One in three transgender people identify as bisexual or pansexual. Learn more about trans folks in the bi+ community here this #BiHealthMonth. https://biresource.org/bi-info/trans-folks-in-the-bi-community/
- 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. Check this out, for starters: [link to any of the resources in the shareable resources/content section]
- Comparte esta infográfico en español para #BiHealthMonth: población #bisexual en los Estados Unidos. ¡Lee y comparte! www.lgbtmap.org/bisexual-espanol
- Directly improve the future of bi+ health: Join the Visibility Impact Fund and help build the capacity of bi+ movements to improve the visibility, health and well-being of bi+ communities. #VisibilityImpactFund #BiHealthMonth https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/
- 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/ - Bisexual+ people comprise over half of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in the U.S., but receive less than 1% of LGBTQ funding. Learn more from the #VisibilityImpactFund this #BiHealthMonth at https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/
Shareable resources and content:
Graphics:
- Logos, graphics, & brochures Google Drive
- Includes CRUISElab’s “What Gay and Bi Guys Should Know About HPV” infographics
Podcasts:
Digital pamphlets:
- “Growing a bi+ community: a resource for facilitators” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Starting or growing your bisexual support group” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “How to Support Bisexual Youth” – The Trevor Project
- “Mental health in the bisexual+ community: biphobia, bi erasure, & getting help” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Sexual Health Tips for the Bi+ Community & Best Practices for Providers” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Coming out as bisexual to your doctor” – Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- “10 tips on having bi-inclusive elder programs & services” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bi+ intersections: bisexuality & disability” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “How to be an ally to a bi+ person” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bi+ 101” – Bisexual Resource Center
- ”Sexual and Gender Diversity & Cancer: A Guide to Resources in the Community” – University Health Network
- “Protego Residentum: Making Your Dorm a Safe Space” – Harry Potter Alliance
- “Protego: Spells & actions to make the world better for the trans community” – Harry Potter Alliance
Blog posts & articles:
- “Bi+ youth: bullying & interpersonal violence” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bi+ youth: mental health” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bisexual+ & transgender youth” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bisexual+ youth of color” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bisexual+ youth with disabilities” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bisexuals and mental health” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Trans Folks in the Bi+ Community” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “The Affirming Power of Research for Bi+ People – CRUISELab
- “Bisexual Microagressions in Medical Contexts” – Heather Stewart
- “POV: What about the ‘B’ in LGBT+?” – BU Today
- “Can you see us now? New research publication helps to shed scientific light on bisexual health” – Indiana University Communications / Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health
- “The Changing Tide: My Experiences with Conducting Bisexual Health Research” – Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health
- “Functional and living, with anxiety” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “My life, my labels” (disability & bisexuality) – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Claiming my labels” (ADHD & bisexuality) – Bi Women Quarterly
- “How bi+ people can take control of their sexual health” – Denarii Grace, GO Mag, Bisexual Resource Center
- “Society giveth, society taketh away, and maybe society giveth again” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Bisexuality & disability: some connections” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Advice from A. Rose Bi” (CW: advice on recovering from sexual assault) – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Violence & recovery resources” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “The things they don’t see” (chronic illness & bisexuality) – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Worth it” (CW: suicidality) – Bi Women Quarterly
- “On being a full-time part of the solution” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “Health and Wellbeing on the Margins: Exploring the Intersections of Biracial and Bisexual Identities” – Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health
- “Why Bi+ Representation On-Screen Matters When Thinking About Intimate Partner Violence” – DOVE, Inc.
- “Other LGBT+ athletes will support you” – Sports Media LGBT+
- “Lessons from the Field: What We Are Learning About Representation from Black Bi+ Men”- H. “Herukhuti” Sharif Williams and David J. Cork
- “Openly Bi Ryan Russell Could Forever Change the NFL” – Athlete Ally
- “Overlapping Flags: Loving Beyond the Gay/Straight Binary” – Ellyn Ruthstrom
- “It’s #BiHealthMonth and We Need Paid Leave!” – Family Values @ Work
- “Finding Queer Identity Through TV Representation” – Charmee Taylor/Polygone
- “Bisexual and Biracial: The Challenges of Dating While Fetishized” – Cleo Falvey
- “For Families of Bi+ Youth” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “What is bisexuality+?” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Coming out for bi+ youth” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Resources for youth” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Boosting bisexual+ competency for healthcare providers” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Supporting bisexual+ youth at home” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Don’t just get by – get bi-affirmative therapy” – Los Angeles Bi Task Force for Bisexual Resource Center
- “5 reasons why oversexualizing bisexuality is not supportive” – Codi Coday, PAVES, Bisexual Resource Center
- “5 tips for when coming out as bi+ goes badly” – Cody Coday, PAVES, Bisexual Resource Center
Reports:
- Research Brief: Bisexual Youth Experience – The Trevor Project
- Bi+ Youth Report – Human Rights Campaign
- “Invisible majority: The disparities facing bisexual people and how to remedy them” – MAP
- “A closer look: Bisexual older adults” – MAP
- “A closer look: Bisexual transgender people” – MAP
- “Infografia: La bisexualidad en cifras” – MAP
- Invisibility: Talking about Bisexuality and Aging – SAGE
- Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans – SAGE
Additional resources:
- (web page) Make your faith community bisexually healthy – Religious Institute
- (web page) HPV Resources for Guys into Guys – CRUISELab
- (web page) Bi+ Bi Social Network Project – Step Up For Mental Health
- (Tumblr blog) “How to give emotional support to bi women of color” – Bisexual Resource Center
- (Tumblr blog) “Improving mental health for bisexual people of color” – Bisexual Resource Center
- (YouTube video) “A Bisexuality Q&A” – What’s My Body Doing
- (publication) Bi Women Quarterly (current and back issues available free digitally)
Virtual Events:
Please join BRC on meetup.com to register for the following events:
- March 1, 8PM Eastern – Treacle Screening and Q&A
- March 2, 7PM Eastern – BLiSS Bisexual Social & Support Group
- March 6, 2PM Eastern – Bi+ Crafternoon
- March 23, 6:30PM Eastern – Bi/Pan+ Guyz Social Night (IN PERSON)
Partner Events Include:
- March 10, 2:30PM Eastern – PFLAG: Something to Talk About Live!
- March 19, 1PM Eastern – Bi+ Georgia: Healthy and Thriving 2022: A conversation about Bi+ identity and disability
- March 20, 3PM Eastern – BiRequest: Bi+ Health Palooza
- March 31, 7PM Eastern – North Shore Pride Community Forum