What we’re about
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?
* 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). 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 - reliably 40 or more for the in-person monthly bar socials pre-pandemic, usually 10-30ish for most other official meets, online socials tend to be smaller.
Others include clubbing nights, or regular cultural events (usually run by others but listed here for us to go to as a group) - e.g. cabaret/comedy/plays. In summer, picnics and walks, and we want to get back to the occasional dinner out too.
Several regular events are shared here from other London bi groups/organisers, e.g. Bi Underground, Bi Coffee, Opening Doors' Bi the Way meets, and (less-regular) the BiCHE dance club night & CaBiRet.
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 you've previously attended our own events, so we both know what to expect.
We also publicise, attend, and run groups / sessions at the largest local/national bi events and Prides like BiCon, Pride in London, London BiFest, 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: https://londonbisexualsmeetup.sumup.link/
Organiser John produces the high quality, well-loved bi & trans pride full-size umbrellas ☂ (limited stock, no bi ones for now); 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 (4+)
See all- Bi Visibility Day Speed MatingGeorge & Monkey, London
Welcome to Bi Visibility Day Speed Mating!
Event Details:
Date: Monday 23 September 2024
Time: arrive from 6pm. Event begins at 6.30pm.
Location: The George and Monkey, Angel.
Address: 68 Amwell Street, EC1R 1UU.**
What's Speed Mating? Well, you could say it's Speed Dating without the D...**Unlike traditional speed dating, speed mating is all about finding new friends, so instead of meeting half the room based on your gender, you’ll have the opportunity to meet every single other attendee, a few at a time. Want to take it further? It's entirely in your hands! If you'd like to meet up again, maybe at another event you're attending, or for a coffee after work, just say so! If you'd like to take it slower, simply exchange social media profiles and see what blossoms. You are in charge of the personal information you give out at all times.
Since we're just as shy and awkward as everyone else, we know that wanting to meet up and actually doing it are different things, we'll also be at the George and Monkey on 27th September for an informal Friday night drink. If you'd like to meet up with some of your new mates in a really relaxed setting, come and join us!
You MUST be registered for this event. See the eventbrite page. You can register until 21st September.
**
What to expect.**This is subject to change based on ticket sales, but we expect the evening to go something like this:
6.00 - 6.30
Arrive, pick up your name tag, room map and contact slips and order a drink from the bar if you'd like.
6.30 - 6.40
A group icebreaker to get your headspace right. Don't worry, we won't ask for your most embarrassing memory.
6.40- 8.30
Speed mating begins! Find a seat at your starting table (don't worry, we'll give you a map) and meet your first group! When ten minutes are up we'll let you know, and you'll move on to your next table.
We've built in two 5 minute comfort breaks and one 20 minute longer break into the schedule.
8.30pm
The structured part of the evening ends. If you don't want to head home just yet you can stick around and get a bit more socialising in as we wind down.
This is a Pay What You Can event. We strongly encourage you to pay absolutely nothing if that removes a barrier to attending. Equally, if you’re in a position to help us offset our costs, that's very welcome too. If you have any issues registering, drop us a message.
- Bi The Way Group (50+ yrs) [other group]London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, London
Bi the Way is a regular social group for bi and pan people (or other bi+ identities) who are over 50. It has been run by Opening Doors London, an LGBT charity for this age group, for many years until February 2024. Sadly ODL have now closed due a lack of funding (reference the announcement / archived versions), but fortunately Bi the Way is continuing independently!
It is currently on the FOURTH Monday 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? Unknown at this point.
⚫ More Info:
To keep up to date with what's happening with the group, please email: sophiebtwgroup@gmail.comThe 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
