Pronouncing The Silent 'B' (In GLBTTIQ)
In the same issue of the Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review (December 2005) by the Australian Psychological Society as my previous entry, I came across a second article which also caught my eye.
This one talks about the marginalisation of bisexuals within the queer community (as exemplified by GLBTTIQ - Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersex and queer). It is a matter dear to my heart as I identify with the bisexual community almost as much as with the transgender community.
Although this article concentrates on health and policy issues, it does touch upon the controversial topic of discrimination of bisexuals by the dominant queer subgroups - the gay and lesbian community.
That's right, I'll repeat it again: discrimination of bisexuals by the gay and lesbian community. Within society, queer people are a minority. Within the queer populace, bisexuals are a further minority - with the associated negative characteristics of being a minority.
Unfortunately, there are divisions within the queer community between the dominant gay and lesbian group and the "rest" of the queer people. These are usually quite subtle and hidden to the general straight populace - to be visible would discredit the gay and lesbian movement - but it does happen. To those who are directly affected, it is very real indeed. I have heard anecdotes from bisexual friends of discrimination, or at least, marginalisation from gay and lesbian people.
Granted, it happens infrequently, and in general, gays and lesbians are still much more tolerant than society as a whole. I have some great friends who are gay and lesbian, so I'm sorry if they and all the other truly tolerant persons get caught in the crossfire. However, this marginalisation of queer subgroups by the queer dominant groups needs to be addressed - and in order to be addressed, it has to made visible.
If you are interested in the article, the abstract for the article is below, and you can read more in the Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review December 2005 edition at the Australian Psychological Society website.
PRONOUNCING THE SILENT ‘B’ (IN GLBTTIQ)
MARY HEATH
Abstract
The available evidence suggests that both self identifying bisexuals and people with bisexual desire or experience are more numerous than many researchers and service providers have assumed. However, the assumption that bisexuals can pass as heterosexual and exercise heterosexual privilege has produced profound silence about the violence, discrimination and illness people who identify as bisexual experience. This paper brings together evidence which suggests selfidentified bisexuals experience violence, discrimination and illness at similar or greater rates to self-identified lesbians and gay men. It goes on to argue that declining to pronounce the silent ‘B’ in ‘GLBTTIQ’ has costs which extend well beyond further marginalising bisexual people. The continuing silencing and exclusion of bisexuality also risks producing poor research and limiting the richness of the wider queer community.