Ask A Pro Live: Bi-Visibility
Join Us!
I’m excited to announce that we’ll be doing our very first Ask A Pro for 2020.
In the spirit of Mardi Gras we’ll be shining a light on the “B” in LGBTIQA+. We will be talking about all things Bi Pride & Visibility.
For this Ask A Pro we’ll be chatting with Anthony who has played a crucial role in creating awareness for the bisexual community. I personally feel so honoured that we’ll have some time with him on the forums and I’m sure you all will too once you read this bio below.
“Anthony is a registered counsellor and social worker and his work spans over 15 years of working in the not-for-profit community health sector and more recently in private practice. Anthony provides individual and relationship counselling, as well as family violence services in mainstream and LGBTIQ spaces, including men’s behaviour change programs for heterosexual and same-sex attracted men.
Anthony is the founder of the Melbourne Bisexual Network, a volunteer-based community group made up of mental health and advocacy professionals working to improve and promote bisexual+ inclusivity in LGBTQIA+ and mainstream programs and services. Anthony also co-founded, co-hosted and co-produced JOY FM’s only current radio show dedicated to the bisexual community, The Triple Bi-Pass show, exploring everything about the B in LGBTI.”
Join us live on the 4th of March from 7:00pm - 9:00 pm (AEDT).
Send us your questions! We can’t wait to chat through them with you
It is so important for bi+ people to have Bi+ spaces away from the broader LGBTIQA+ community. Tish is not to segregate but to allow time for bi+ connections to occur without the fear of biphobia. We know that Bi+ people experience biphobia in queer spaces just as often as they can in mainstream or 'straight' spaces.
I should also say that we also have allies in both spaces too
But there is something really special when Bi/ pan/ Multi-gender attracted people come together in a bi+ community space, it feels different, its amazing!!!
Hopefully, this thread can serve as a place for bi+ people to connect without fear of biphobia! As I mentioned before I will post some resources on how you can connect with bi support and community 
@scared01 touched on this question before and we thought this was a great one to hash out a little further if you have anything else to say on this @AnthonyBisexual
What's the difference between bisexuality and pansexuality?
That totally makes sense but for anyone who wants more context, we touched on the last question at the beginning of the live chat 🙂
@AnthonyBisexual I think I speak for everyone who has been involved tonight, that your insights have been so invaluable. I think we are so lucky to have had you online with us this evening! And thank you for sharing those wonderful resources with us as well
To wrap it up we have one last question:
How to be a good ally?
So, how to be a good ally?....believe a bi+ person when they tell you they are bi, always refer to them as bisexual regardless of the gender of their partner, and most of all, allies please go out and talk to other non-bi people about biphobia and how important it is for the bi-community that you help us feel more welcomed and affirmed.
You are all amazing thanks again!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts @AnthonyBisexual. I've loved reading through this chat. 🙂
Sydney Bi+ Network
https://sydneybiplusnetwork.org/
Brisbiane Bi+ Network
https://m.facebook.com/BrisbaneBiNetwork/
Perth Bisexual Community Group
https://m.facebook.com/groups/bicommperth/?ref=group_header&view=group
Victorian Bisexual/ pansexual/ multi-gender attracted (Bi+) community stuff:
Bi Alliance Victoria run monthly support groups for Bi people, their partners, friends, family members and allies: You can find them at http://www.bi-alliance.org/
The Melbourne Bisexual Network (MBN) is a professional peer volunteer network and we have a number of projects that we work on at any given time. You can contact them to find out more about their 40+ Bisexual social group. MBN can be found at www.melbournebisexualnetwork.com
Monthly social gatherings and community connection for bisexual/ pansexual people is something MBN advocate for and support, we have a FB page that many of our members use, this is facilitated by the MBN president Ruby. Online conversations occur on this Facebook page regarding bisexual people, family, friends and allies. You are most welcome to join to connect with others. You can check out the Bisexual Community Facebook group where these social events and other things are discussed:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/melbourne.bi.community
Melbourne's LGBTI radio JOY 94.9 FM you can listen to the Triple Bi-Pass show every Tuesday night at 9pm for more information on our bi+ community. You can check out the podcasts at joy.org.au/triplebipass
Thorne Harbour Health will be offering an 8 week therapeutic group for Bisexual/ Pansexual/ multi-gender attracted people later this year. The group is called Bi+ & Mighty and details can be found at https://thorneharbour.org/lgbti-health/mental-health/therapeutic-groups/
Australia wide:
Another great Australian resource is Bi+ Australia where you can find a range of information and resources all aimed to support people who identify as bi+ and their families. They also provide bi-inclusive online counselling and other supports. Go to https://www.biplusaustralia.org/
@AnthonyBisexual I think you've taught us so much tonight and made our bisexual members feel really valid and valued. Thank you so much!
@Bre-RO - I love that gif, I am jealous that bi people get all the fun puns. 
Thanks so much @AnthonyBisexual! I loved being a part of this chat and hearing your insights, and thanks again for all the resources! Seriously, I never knew of any bi-specific resources before now. I'm glad I'd know where to direct someone should they need it, now! 
Thank you so much @AnthonyBisexual for coming onto RO to have this discussion! It was really informative and just plain awesome! 😄
What an absolute cracker of a discussion!!! I am a proud member of the queer community and after reading this discussion I feel even prouder and more importantly I have some really good insights around the bi community and how I can be a better ally!!! Thank you to everyone who participated, @Bre-RO for facilitating, and a massive thank you to @AnthonyBisexual 🌈❤🙌
Personally, I think there's so much debate over the difference between pan/bisexuality so I really think it's up to personal interpretation. For example, some people think you can only like two genders if you're bi (e.g. woman and non-binary people). The way I see it though and the definition I most like is that it's a different kind of attraction? For example, bi people can be attracted to men in a different way to their attraction to women, whereas pan people are 'gender-blind' and are attracted to all people in the same way. I'm not bi or pan though, so I don't know how valid this definition is!
The bottom line is -- if a label fits you, go for it!
@AnthonyBisexual Thanks for explaining that! I was wondering about the difference too. Good question 🙂
One of the reasons I especially love going to pride is seeing all the different flags i.e. the unique bi, trans, asexual, etc flags. A brilliant reminder of separate micro-communities coming together into one and showing solitary! I wish there were more resources for people that don't quite identify as either gay or straight, though.
@WheresMySquishy me too! Also, it's usually funny as there's always about four different kinds of lesbian flags, haha.
@AnthonyBisexual of course! For most of my teenage life I thought I was ace, so I'm passionate about supporting those people (and the rest of the community) as it was a very lonely time for me. I emphasize with people struggling to find resources to help them through their journeys.
Wow, thank you for your great collection of resources!
@Hozzles I love seeing all the flags too! 🙂 I always try to see if each micro-community is represented and get annoyed when they leave ones out.
This has been a really cool chat to read through! Loved hearing your insights so far @AnthonyBisexual 😄
Sydney Bi+ Network
https://sydneybiplusnetwork.org/
Brisbiane Bi+ Network
https://m.facebook.com/BrisbaneBiNetwork/
Perth Bisexual Community Group
https://m.facebook.com/groups/bicommperth/?ref=group_header&view=group
Victorian Bisexual/ pansexual/ multi-gender attracted (Bi+) community stuff:
Bi Alliance Victoria run monthly support groups for Bi people, their partners, friends, family members and allies: You can find them at http://www.bi-alliance.org/
The Melbourne Bisexual Network (MBN) is a professional peer volunteer network and we have a number of projects that we work on at any given time. You can contact them to find out more about their 40+ Bisexual social group. MBN can be found at www.melbournebisexualnetwork.com
Monthly social gatherings and community connection for bisexual/ pansexual people is something MBN advocate for and support, we have a FB page that many of our members use, this is facilitated by the MBN president Ruby. Online conversations occur on this Facebook page regarding bisexual people, family, friends and allies. You are most welcome to join to connect with others. You can check out the Bisexual Community Facebook group where these social events and other things are discussed:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/melbourne.bi.community
Melbourne's LGBTI radio JOY 94.9 FM you can listen to the Triple Bi-Pass show every Tuesday night at 9pm for more information on our bi+ community. You can check out the podcasts at joy.org.au/triplebipass
Thorne Harbour Health will be offering an 8 week therapeutic group for Bisexual/ Pansexual/ multi-gender attracted people later this year. The group is called Bi+ & Mighty and details can be found at https://thorneharbour.org/lgbti-health/mental-health/therapeutic-groups/
Australia wide:
Another great Australian resource is Bi+ Australia where you can find a range of information and resources all aimed to support people who identify as bi+ and their families. They also provide bi-inclusive online counselling and other supports. Go to https://www.biplusaustralia.org/
@AnthonyBisexual that made me think of another myth: that if you haven't been with either gender, then you can't be bi. You can be bi without having never been with the opposite gender to who you normally date! Some people feel like they should experiment with people of all genders, while others are happy with their one person. Like with all sexualities, both are valid and it has nothing to do with being bi!
But you make such a great point. A gay man or a lesbian women can be a virgin and no one would question their sexuality. A bisexual person may only have been with one gender and their sexuality is questioned and measured against how many people of different genders they have sex with.
Don't you hate the question: "what percentage gay are you and what percentage straight are you"??? soo annoying....of course the answer is 100% bisexual!!!
