“Many people aren’t quite sure how the ‘B’ fits into LGBT,” says Bruce Anderson, the current Executive Director of New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center “as a result, mention of bisexual people often goes missing from discussion of LGBT rights issues like marriage equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and ENDA in press releases, media coverage and political speeches.”
“We want to marry our same-sex partners, want to stop getting kicked out of the military, need non-discrimination protection at work and hate crimes laws on the street . . . these issues are very important to the bisexual community,” says Sheela Lambert, of the Bi Writers Association. “Accuracy of reporting on LGBT issues is compromised when bisexual people are left out of the equation,”
By holding the summit, organizers hope to develop a consensus between LGBT rights organizations, journalists and political officials that inclusion of bisexual people in the discussion of LGBT issues is necessary. “This summit aims to give people the tools to understand and include the bisexual community more fully,” Lambert explains.
Some of the speakers who are currently scheduled to appear include:
Program
11AM-12PM Registration, Free Continental Breakfast & Shmooze
12PM-1PM Opening Plenary Putting the "B" in LGBT
Keynote Speaker: Robyn Ochs
Ms. Ochs is a long-time Bi-identified LGBT Activist. She is the editor of the Bisexual Resource Guide, the anthology Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and of the quarterly Bi Women's Newsletter. Most recently Ochs was the 2009 winner of the Susan J. Hyde Activism Award. Ms. Ochs who is also on the Board of MassEquality and her spouse Peg Preble reside in Massachusetts where they were among the first same-sex couples to get legally married in the United States. Ironically, in an example of exactly the type of Bisexual Erasure she has spent much of her life fighting against and this event is designed to address, Ochs was publicly misidentified throughout article about her wedding as a lesbian.
1:15PM - 2PM Bisexuality: Exploding the Myths
Panel of experts will explode myths and stereotypes about bisexuality and explain the realities. Don't be afraid to ask questions!
2PM - 2:30PM
Lunch Inexpensive & healthy lunches will be available for purchase.
2:30PM - 3:45PM Bi Community Panel: Telling Our Stories
Panel of bisexual speakers discuss how LGBT rights issues such as Marriage Equality, Military Discrimination and Job Discrimination impact their lives. Q&A following presentation.
4PM - 4:45PM Crafting the Message: How to Put the "B" in LGBT
Practicum on putting the "B" in LGBT in a press release, news story, policy paper, speech or interview on LGBT rights issues. How to report more accurately on bisexuality.
5PM - 6:30PM Closing Plenary Discussion Putting the "B" in LGBT: How can we do a better job?
Roundtable discussion by distinguished LGBT rights activists, media professionals, political office holders and bisexual community activists. Audience participation welcomed.
This Event is Free but Reservations Are Requested to get an approximate headcount, though Not Required.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 6:30PM
The Bi Writers Association is hosting a post-Summit dinner.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 8:30PM
Bi Lines II: A Celebration of Bisexual Writing in Reading, Music and Theater
Event organized by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in conjunction with Bi Writers Association and and co-sponsored by The New York Times Company GLBT & Allies Affinity Group and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
“ It was nice to sit and listen and be part of the audience. ”
“ There were a broad range of fascinating speakers. Robin Ochs, as always, was very moving. I am embarrassed to say that I was not aware that we have an out bisexual New York Assembly member, Micah. Z. Kellner (how many out bisexual politicians are there?), and it was moving to hear how often even the three out gay Assembly members act as though he's not there. There were several transgender speakers, and I was relieved to hear from the other side that the transgender community also realizes that there is a natural alliance between the B's and the T's, as all too often in mainstream gay and Lesbian organizations it is really LG(b)(t), with the B and the T thrown in as an afterthought. ”
“ Great! Fantastic! Stupendous! Let's start planning now to do something like it again next year. ”
Sheela (+3 guests)
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