About us
We are a safe, friendly, social environment for bisexual, biromantic, pansexual/romantic, polysexual, queer, fluid or other non-monosexual people (aka. m-spec, bi+). Bi-curious / questioning people and supportive partners, friends, allies also welcome: but please learn & understand (at least) the basics - don't ask the same biphobic questions we get outside this safer space or make equivalent assumptions of anyone here.
Come make bi+ friends, hang out, chat, have fun; see, learn and take part in some bi / LGBT+ culture, history, and activism; and feel part of a community in a (usually) free-to-attend, casual informal environment.
🟣 What do we do?
* Hosted Events
Most are social informal chatty hangouts on weekday evenings. We've always had monthly pub drinks evening in Soho on the same fourth Thursday (18+ age limit). In summer, picnics and walks, and we want to do dinners again.
Online events replace in-person when necessary (via Zoom/our Discord) without the age limit; the link is set as the location (sometimes in the event description).
Turnout is strong - pre-covid was 40+ in-person for monthly bar socials, now usually 25-ish; and 10-30 for other official meets, our online socials smaller.
* Attend External Events as a Group
Including things like clubbing, comedy, cabaret, plays, talks, and of course Prides.
Several regular events are shared here from other London bi groups/organisers, e.g. Bi Underground, Bi Coffee, Bi+ Brixton, Opening Doors' Bi the Way meets, and (yearly/occasional) CaBiRet, BiFest.
Members can suggest events too (but we'll remove+ban spammers of irrelevant commercial events; ask first) - either you can run them or an organiser may help if they have time/motivation. We prefer hosts to have previously attended our own events, so we've met you and each know what to expect.
We also publicise, attend, and/or run groups or sessions at the largest local/national bi events and Prides like Bi Pride, BiCon, Pride in London, London BiFest, BiCamp, Croydon and other local Prides (10 of them in 2019 including London, Croydon, Para Pride, Black Pride and Trans Pride).
We now have a Discord server under the group's name for text chat/updates between events (the Discord invite link is in your introduction email when you join, sometimes in event descriptions, or ask the organisers).
* Merch!
We support bi creators through our/their merch in our online shop.
🟣 Join in / Support Us!
Join and RSVP to try us out!
Besides our meetups, we invite you to follow and engage with our social network accounts for other discussions and what the organiser gets up to outside the group, plus wider community things (if you partake)!
See links page (bottom of): https://campsite.bio/londonbi
* Shop
Consider buying bi+/trans/pride/intersecting-identity supporting products (merch) or donating at our shop (still somewhat of a work in progress after a change in provider).
Organiser John produces the high quality, well-loved bi & trans pride full-size umbrellas ☂ (limited stock, currently awaiting enough pre-order interest for a production run); via shop (above).
* Donations
Organiser John covers Meetup/other service fees out-of-pocket (can afford to); but appreciates help for extra costs (e.g. pride stalls often need insurance, travel/material/equipment/volunteer costs) – donate via cash/card at our pub socials/some other events, via ko-fi online; or even PayPal directly, by request.
🟣 Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility
People of all abilities, religions, sexualities, ethnicities and genders welcome as long as you respect other members, their identities, and appearance. Some regular events require ability to use stairs and will have background music/noise.
🟣 Rules
• Keep your main profile picture for this group 'family-friendly' or you will be removed or (for repeated/unfixed offences) banned; we are not a swingers or nudists group. You get one warning ever (by private message), ~ 1 week to fix it (and offers of help if needed).
• Don't be a dick! ie. Respect others, especially their privacy, at all times. e.g. get permission for photos, & what you'll do with them; don't "out" anyone without permission; try to assume good intent – you don't know what (else) is going on in people's lives. Disabilities & mental health struggles are not always visible/obvious.
• Abuse at events or via Meetup messages/actions will not be tolerated (organisers may need to be notified, they cannot see your private messages). Infractions will lead to the perpetrator's removal from the event+group, possibly a ban; reports presumed honest until evidence otherwise. Trivial first instances (level decided by target of abuse or representative if available) may be warned instead. Meetup also has ways to block/report users in messages or via profiles.
🟣 Final Notes & Conventions
80% of getting anything out of being a member is about showing up and taking part, so turn up to a few events (or offer to run one - anything social, the main organiser John/others may offer help). You're sure to have fun! No need to be nervous about anything sexual, as its a regular social group; report and block anyone who is behaving inappropriately.
* Commercial event to advertise? - talk to the organiser first. Spam not tolerated - we block & remove it a.s.a.p.
* Show/researcher/casting agent wanting people? We have a Discord channel for that, or discuss with the organiser / post to our FB page.
* Member stars! Some members have 1-2 star(s) '★' under their name (in their title), they celebrate our best contributing and reliable members (who've run great events/are an activist here or externally); or a black mark '∎' hints of a failure to respect the group - e.g. not turning up for a limited-space ticketed event without letting us know or apologies, and shouldn't be relied on as much. Black marked members will not have guaranteed space at any limited-ticket event until they redeem themselves (getting the mark removed) by showing up enough, and would not be trusted to run events.
Upcoming events
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![International Bisexual+ Research Conference (online) [by Bi Research Group] £](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/f/3/f/highres_535973055.jpeg)
International Bisexual+ Research Conference (online) [by Bi Research Group] £
·OnlineOnlineInternational Bi Conference Online is a two-day conference by researchers from the Bisexual Research Group for anyone who wants to learn more about bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, plurisexual, queer, fluid, and unlabelled experiences through research. Tickets via Eventbrite (see below).
It features works from over 50 scholars, activists, artists, and community organizations, with keynote talks, roundtable discussions, presentations, interactive workshops, poetry, comedy and more!
There will also be "coffee and chat" type sessions for all.
Once released, we expect free tickets (donations welcome) available; RSVPs here do not provide access, but might help with reminders and seeing who else local to look out for in the sessions/workshops (or that you already know).
It is now run every 2 years. There will be sessions at different times to support many timezones. I expect keynote opening sessions, in-depth sessions, and groups of 5 minute lightning talks again (each typically followed by half-hour breakout rooms for questions and further discussion).
🟣 Tickets:
Not yet open to obtain tickets. In previous years you could register online for CA $7.75 (approx. £5+fee) or CA $17.73 (~£10+fee, super supporter ticket) using Eventbrite.
The ticket usually points to the Zoom used to host online sessions.Session details are emailed nearer the date; we expect again that all will be held via Zoom conferencing features (ensure your Zoom app is up to date before you wish to join).
If tickets are available but this page isn't updated, please tell us!
🟣 Schedule:
The talks schedule will be listed in the Zoom page for the conference online or in the app (will have any updates). Sessions this year may be into tracks or streams, with each headed up by a keynote as usual.Expect to see talks, workshops, roundtables, readings, and other more social/wellbeing-related sessions - eg. meditation, comedy, or other more interactive social options.
The Keynote speakers this year:
- ???? (TBC)
Expect an introduction from the founder/organisers (specifically, Dr. Julia Shaw - author of Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality), and a closing session summarising and thanking everyone.
🟣 Organisers:
This conference is organised by Bisexual Research Group. Historically Dr Julia Shaw founded it. In 2023, it ran with consultation from Dr Emiel Maliepaard (previously helped organise EuroBiReCon), Dr Helen Bowes-Catton (helped organise BiCon for many years) and with thanks to Dr Noemi Dreksler.🟣 Submissions (deadline extended to August):
Submissions were via the website, for research into social sciences, history, cultural and media studies, health, and science from independent or university-based scholars, activists, artists, and community members.
Entries for sessions of various lengths/formats, and in the form of other media such as poetry, literary reflection, creative non-fiction, fiction, and visual arts are also accepted - they endeavour to provide opportunities for everyone to share their work regardless of discipline/stage of educational journey. Abstracts peer-reviewed, should be up to 400 words, usually maximum one per researcher in order to ensure diversity.
Follow on Instagram (or X) for updates (see below for links).See the website page about submissions.
🟣 More Info:
Social Media: Twitter(X) / InstagramRelatedly, this meetup group also has a X(Twitter) list of bi researchers and academics you can follow.
3 attendees![Bi Coffee [other group]](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/b/1/5/highres_497867893.jpeg)
Bi Coffee [other group]
Caffè Nero, 1a Central Saint Giles Piazza, Saint Giles High Street, London, GBHot Bi Beverages! The Bi Coffee group (a separate group) meets at 3–6.30pm on the first Saturday of every month. The old Leon venue is permanently closed, so the group now meets in a Caffè Nero near Tottenham Court Road/Shaftesbury Avenue.
The venue: Caffè Nero, the Central Saint Giles one; at the bottom (south end) of Earnshaw Street, at the corner with Shaftesbury Avenue (a big junction); round the corner from Tottenham Court Road Station.
Address: 1a St. Giles High St, London WC2H 8AGVicki is running Bi Coffee each month, come and go as you please. Find us by looking for our little purple unicorn and sign.
Respect each other. Newcomers and quiet people are most welcome. There are regulars from outside our group (but in the general London bi community) so even if there's no-one else listed from here you'll be in a friendly and safe group.But do please note this is a separate group from our meetup group and for most reliable updates check out the facebook page. Its run enthusiastically by upstanding bi community member(s) and heartily recommended if more relaxed and quiet hanging out in a café is more your thing.
🟣 Accessibility:
The cafe is ground floor and claims disabled toilet and access, baby changing facilities, wifi, and air conditioning (only one toilet though, which can occasionally mean a longer queue for that than for service).The cafe is opposite Tottenham Court Road bus stop S (busses 14, 176). It is on the junction so taxis will need to stop outside it.
From Tottenham Court Road station head south on Charing Cross Road, take the left on Denmark Street, and then keep straight. It's under the large bright yellow Lego building.
🟣 More Info:
Facebook group: facebook.com/bicoffeelondon/
Old Bi Coffee website (ignore the outdated location,map): bi.tocotox.org/bicoffeelondon/
Venue: website / tel:02072407412.1 attendeeBi The Way Group (50+ yrs) [other group]
London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, 60-62 Hopton Street, London, GBBi the Way is a regular social group for bi and pan people (or other bi+ identities) who are over 50. Once run by Opening Doors London, a 50+ LGBT charity, Bi the Way is now continues independently thanks to 2 lovely hosts.
UPDATE: It is now on the First Tuesday of each month at the London LGBTQ Community Centre. There is often a visiting speaker to talk on a relevant topic or a themed discussion planned for the first part.
⚫Accessibility:
*Closest station: Blackfriars (southeast exit of mainline station) which is step-free - centre is next to the Tate-side exit
- Bus Routes: Blackfriars Road Stop SM - 381, N343, N381; Black Friars station South Entrance Stop D - 40, 63, N63, N89.
*Accessible Toilets: No - suggest using Tate Modern (until 6.00 pm) or the Founders arms pub opposite (if after 6.00 pm Mon-Thu) which has a ramp and disabled toilet - Disabled Car Parking: Yes, Blue badge parking space near venue; click here for more details
*Car Parking: Street parking on Hopton Street; max stay 2 hours £6.50 per hour - Induction Loop: No
*BSL service: No - Step Free access: Yes
*Wheel Chair Access: Yes
⚫ Tickets/Registration? There are Eventbrite events posted for it but signing up for these is not required.
⚫ More Info:
To keep up to date with what's happening with the group, please email: sophiebtwgroup@gmail.comSadly ODL had to close due a lack of funding (reference the announcement / archived versions). The old Bi the Way event details at Opening Doors London website (while the website is still up):
https://www.openingdoorslondon.org.uk/bi-the-way-meetupVenue website: londonlgbtqcentre.org
1 attendee- Bus Routes: Blackfriars Road Stop SM - 381, N343, N381; Black Friars station South Entrance Stop D - 40, 63, N63, N89.
Past events
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