Graphic design by Casira Copes
#BiHealthMonth Social Media Share Kit
The share kit is a living document that will be updated throughout the month with additional partners, resources, and other shareable information. Click this link for the most updated version.
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.
“Equity” Theme:
Now in its 36th year, the Bisexual Resource Center proudly presents the 8th annual #BiHealthMonth campaign. Lasting throughout the month of March, the theme for this year’s #BiHealthMonth is equity. The bisexual+ community makes up the majority of the LGBTQ+ community and experiences significantly higher rates of physical, sexual, social and emotional violence and disparities than gay and straight people, as well as worse physical, mental and social health. These health disparities are even worse for bi+ people of color and trans people. Equity is achieved when the unique needs of our diverse bi+ community have been met and discrimination against BIPOC, transgender, and disabled members of the bi+ community has been eliminated.
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:
- Equity means recognizing the specific social, educational and health care needs of our diverse bisexual+ community and directing resources and support to meet those needs. It’s about centering the voices of those who carry multiple marginalized identities. By centering the unique needs of the bi+ community, we can fight back against bi-antagonism in media, health care, research, and education, and improve the physical, sexual, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of bi+ people. Equity is achieved when the unique needs of our diverse bi+ community have been met and discrimination against BIPOC, transgender, and disabled members of the bi+ community has been eliminated.
- 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.
- Healthy social connections that affirm all parts of a person’s core identity are vital components of bisexual+ equity. 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 disabled members of 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 understanding 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 & 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 LGBT 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 “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 in calling for #bisexual+ equity in social, educational, and healthcare spaces: bihealthmonth.org [“#BiHealthMonth 2021” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- This #BiHealthMonth, we’re helping @BRC_Central spotlight the need for #bisexual+ equity in social, educational, and healthcare spaces. Learn more about the bisexual+ community’s well-being here: [link to any of the blog posts/articles in shareable resources/content section]
- #Bisexual+ people make up more than half of the LGBTQ community, but receive minimal funding to tackle the major physical, emotional & social health disparities they face at higher rates than their gay peers. Help us & @BRC_Central raise awareness this #BiHealthMonth. [“#BiHealthMonth 2021” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- By centering the unique needs of the bi+ community, we can fight back against bi-antagonism in media, health care, research and education, and 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]
- Equity is only achieved when discrimination against BIPOC, transgender, and disabled members of the bi+ community has been eliminated. Learn more during #BiHealthMonth via @BRC_Central. [#BiHealthMonth 2021” graphic (find in Google Drive)]
- 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]
- Equity means recognizing the specific social, educational and health care needs of our diverse bisexual+ community and directing resources and support to meet those needs. Learn how to support bisexual+ equity this #BiHealthMonth [bihealthmonth.org or link to any of the resources in the shareable resources/content section]
- 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. https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/ #VisibilityImpactFund #BiHealthMonth
- 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! https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/ #VisibilityImpactFund #BiHealthMonth
- Bisexuals comprise over half of the lesbian, gay, & bisexual community in the US, but receive less than 1% of LGBTQ funding. To meet bisexual+ people’s unique needs, we need our own dedicated research and resources. We won’t have equity until then. Learn more at https://www.visibilityimpactfund.org/ #VisibilityImpactFund #BiHealthMonth
Shareable resources and content:
Graphics:
- Logos, graphics, & brochures Google Drive
- Includes CRUISElab’s “What Gay and Bi Guys Should Know About HPV” infographics
- Includes Howard Brown Health’s “Invisible & Underserved: Improving the Health System’s Surveillance of HIV-Related Health Outcomes of Bisexual Patient Populations to End the HIV Epidemic in Chicago”
Podcasts:
Digital pamphlets:
- “How to Support Bisexual Youth” – The Trevor Project
- “Mental health in the bisexual+ community: bi+ antagonism, 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
- “Growing a bi+ community: a resource for facilitators” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bi+ intersections: bisexuality & disability” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “How to be an ally to a bi+ person” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Pan & bi: a handy guide” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Starting or growing your bisexual support group” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “Bi+ 101” – Bisexual Resource Center
- “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
- “Bisexuality and health: The cost of invisibility” – Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD (Harvard SOGIE)
- “Bisexuals and mental health” – Bi Women Quarterly
- “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
Additional resources:
- (web page) Make your faith community bisexually healthy – Religious Institute
- (web page) HPV Resources for Guys into Guys – CRUISELab
- (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:
- 3/1: BiRequest Virtual 1st Monday Bisexual+ Social & Discussion Group; topic Bisexual Health (Free RSVP on Meetup)
- 3/9: City College of San Francisco Queer Resource Center Bi/Trans Health Solidarity Workshop (Register free here)
- 3/15: Robyn Ochs Presents: Side Bi Side – Unpacking Biphobia and Bi Erasure and Creating a Culture of Inclusion, hosted by Ohio University LGBT Center (Register free here)
- 3/21: Virtual Yoga with Karli and the LA Bi+ Task Force (Purchase tickets here)
- 3/24: Robyn Ochs Presents: Beyond Binaries: Identity and Sexuality, hosted by Ohio University LGBT Center (Register free here)
- 3/25: Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago Trauma-Informed Chair Yoga (Free–find the link here)
- 3/27: Bi+ Georgia Healthy and Thriving: Navigating New Relationships (Register free here)
- 3/27: SpeakOUT Boston: Perspectives of Bi+ People of Color (Register free here)
- 3/30: Sydney Bi+ Network: Bi+ Community Consultation on HIV Prevention and Healthcare (Free–find the link here)
- 3/30: Chicago Bi Health Task Force: Bi Us, For Us: Synthesizing Research, Advocacy, and Community for Bi+ Health in Pandemic Times (Free–find the link here)
Please join the BRC on meetup.com to register for the following free events:
- 3/3: Bisexual Social and Support Group (BLiSS)
- 3/9: Bisexual and Bi-Curious Men’s Group
- 3/10: Bi+ Book Club: Vera Kelly is Not a Mystery
- 3/11: Young BliSS Social and Support Group
- 3/17: Bi/Pan+ Guyz Social Night
- 3/20: Biversity Brunch
- 3/21: Tea with Bisexual Women Partnered with Men (BWPM)
Partners:
Thank you to our partners #StillBisexual, AIDS United, the Ally Coalition, the Andrew Goodman Foundation, the American Psychological Association Bisexual Issues Committee Division 44: Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Athlete Ally, BAGLY, Bi+ Arts Festival, Bi+ Georgia, Bi+ Podcast, Bisexual Index UK, Bisexual+ Community Perth, Bisexual Organizing Project, Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago, BiRequest, BiSocial Network, Bi Women Quarterly, The Center, CenterLink, Choosing Our Roots, City College of San Francisco Queer Resource Center, CRUISELab, Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound, EDIT Program at Northwestern Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Equality Florida, Family Equality Council, Fenway Health, Gender Stories, GLAAD, the Harry Potter Alliance, Harvard SOGIE, Howard Brown Health, The Human Family, Human Rights Campaign, Idaho Falls Pride, Just Us at Oasis Center, Keshet: For LGBTQ Equality In Jewish Life, LOCS Collective, Los Angeles Bi Task Force, Montana Human Rights Network, Movement Advancement Project, NARAL, National Association of Social Workers – MA Chapter, North Idaho AIDS Coalition, Open Door Health, Out in the Open, OUT Maine, PFLAG National, PFLAG Sturgeon Bay/Door County, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, the PRIDE Study, Rainbow Support Group SC, SAGE, SpeakOUT Boston, TAIMI, the Task Force, Toronto Bi+ Network, Transvisible Montana, the Trevor Project, the University of Mississippi Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln LGBTQA+ Center, and the Utah Pride Center, for supporting the bisexual+ community and our well-being through #BiHealthMonth and beyond.
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.