- Panel: The Landscape of Bi+ Activism [by others] £5+/pwycQueer Britain, London
Come see a panel of respected community activists talk about the landscape of bi+ activism at the Queer Britain museum! Get your tickets via Eventbrite (£5/£10/set your price if you need to). Please mask!
Panelists: all bi+ activists of course!
- Lake Faith (also author of Bi The Way, as Lois Shearing, journalist, podcast host, and founder/organiser of Bi Survivors Network and other groups)
- Vaneet Mehta (also author of Bisexual Men Exist, speaker, writer)
- Ourania (Rania) Vamvaka-Tatsi (PhD in queer asylum policy at Cardiff Uni, and of Glitter Sisters)
- Felix Fanfaron Fern (founder of Trans Activism UK)
All are also contributors to the non-fiction anthology "It Ain't Over Til The Bisexual Speaks" published earlier this year.
🟣 Museum & Post-panel social option
The museum itself is open 12-6pm Wednesday-Sunday, with free entry, and the panel should finish near 4pm - aiming to start at 2, so allow extra time beforehand if you're unfamiliar with the building and try to arrive 10 minutes early for entrance/to be seated. I found it interesting to look round early in 2023, so will stay for a while after to see what's new; I also invite you to join us there for a while. If enough of us are open to it, we could socialise or go to eat somewhere after that too. Google says people typically spend ~40 minutes there. If you rather arrive much earlier and look around then? Let us know in the comments, others might too.🟣 Travel/Accessibility:
Nearest station: Kings Cross, Granary Square is accessible by public transport. They've shared a "route from Kings Cross" pdf document to help.
The museum building is shared with ArtFund and is between Waitrose and the Central Saint Martin's building. The public entrance is on the Waitrose side of the building.The event space (downstairs) is wheelchair accessible with a lift. If you have other accessibility questions or needs please contact them via email at hello@queerbritain.org.uk.
They are asking attendees to mask up during this event. This is to help prevent the spread of airborne diseases (such as Covid-19) and to create a safe space for vulnerable and immunocompromised people to attend. We encourage people to bring their own masks. For those who do not have a mask, one will be provided at the event. If you are medically exempt from wearing a mask, please let a member of staff and the hosts know.
🟣 Tickets:
Fuller panelist bios and ticket details via Eventbrite (£5/support access with £10/pay what you can if you need to): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/panel-the-landscape-of-bi-activism-tickets-976303168057🟣 More Info:
Venue, Links: QueerBritain.org.uk (X(Twitter)/Instagram/Vimeo) - winner of Best Small Museum Project category by the Museum Association
(website's menu in top right opened via three-line icon has "visit us" section and other pages).Address: 2 Granary Square, Kings Cross, London, N1C 4BH.
- 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
- Poetry Night at The Common Press bookshop (bi+ month) [by CommonPress] £4+The Common Press Bookshop, London
Listen to poetry by bisexual poets at a queer bookshop for Bi Visibility day (which is the day before, 23rd). Hosted by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, a queer disabled Tamil poet, there will be readings from the poets, as well as a Q&A session and space for open-mic applicants or on the evening. Tickets via OutSavvy.
To read your own poetry there, for the open-mic part, try messaging beforehand, or there will be spaces on the night; arrive early to sign up for that if you wish to, as most of the evening is dedicated to scheduled poets and they can't guarantee you a space.
This evening is BYOB, you may bring your own drinks. There will be lots of soft drinks and hot drinks to purchase from our bookshop (but no food; there are restaurants and bars with food nearby as the bookshop is at the top of Brick Lane, famous for curry restaurants).
⚫ Schedule:
7:00 pm - Doors open
7:15 pm - Poetry collection reading & discussion
7:45 pm - Break
7:50 pm - 8:45 pm - Open mic slotsGayathiri won the Disabled Poets Prize 2024, the Faber & Andlyn Publisher’s Prize 2022 and the Primadonna Fiction Prize 2021. Gayathiri also runs Queering Lit, a workshop series on the business of writing for queer writers of colour supported by the Royal Society of Literature. Their debut novel-in-verse is forthcoming with Faber.
⚫ Accessibility:
The ground floor bookshop area is fully accessible (entrance is 90cm wide); no steps or slopes. They are dog-friendly, and all service animals are welcome. Unfortunately their disabled toilets are not available due to some ongoing venue construction work.
Further information: location/access page⚫ Tickets:
Minimum £4 pay what you can (free tickets all gone now), plus fee via OutSavvy:
outsavvy.com/event/22152/the-common-press-pride-poetry-night-bisexuals-visibility⚫ More Info:
Common Press is a queer bookshop who've hosted several bi events before (mostly book launches but including Bi the Way ). They are currently fundraising to support their future which is at risk as existing investors can no longer support them.Website: commonpress.co.uk
Social media: @TheCommonPress (Instagram/X/TikTok/YouTube)
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thecommonpress - Discover: Bi Women Games, Snacks & Wine Night [other group] £Needs location
One of the newer London bi groups around is a weekly games and wine women's night, on a Wednesday/Thursday/Friday (depending on the week). We're posting it here too (but only once-monthly) to help you discover them - but RSVPs here aren't official. There is a £5 fee to cover costs (such as Meetup subscription, host-provided food) and you're asked to bring food/drink (e.g. snacks/wine) if you can to help out.
They're hosted personally by the group organiser, Francesca, so new attendees are vetted first by them (sign-up via her own Meetup group for it) and there is limited space. Some more details below to help you decide...
Its also posted on Eventbrite and elsewhere, the group has a presence on Facebook and Instagram and others too - check out the ways you can keep up via their (linktree) links page.
You only get the exact address once your RSVP is accepted on it's own meetup group and must be watching messages (DMs) about it from them/the group leading up to the event. Very limited spaces!
Location: on Bedford Avenue, London WC1B 3AD
(a 3-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station).
Time: every Thursday, 7.30pm
Reminder: RSVP (ON THEIR GROUP) is mandatory to attend. - International Bisexual+ Research Conference (online) [by Bi Research Group] £Link visible for attendees
Bi Conference Online is a two-day international conference by researchers from 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!
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:
Register online for CA $7.75 (approx. £5+fee) or CA $17.73 (~£10+fee, super supporter ticket) at Eventbrite:
eventbrite.ca/e/2024-international-bisexuality-research-conference-tickets-939507501227
Session details are emailed nearer the date; all held via Zoom conferencing features (ensure your Zoom app is up to date before you wish to join).Official website details (new page for 2024):
bisexualresearch.com/ibrcconference2024🟣 Schedule:
The talks schedule for previous year(s) was released as a Google Doc (so hopefully similarly this year, which can be updated automatically for any changes).The 2023 talks were split into pink purple and blue streams, with each block of talks and questions or workshops separated by a keynote (across all streams). I'll try to list the topic blocks here when I find out.
Check the website for latest updates.
2023's Keynote speakers (maybe some of them again for 2024):
- Shiri Eisner, Bisexual Activist
- Dr. Monica Ghabrial, Western University
- Mary Kenney, Author of Gamer Girls
- Dr. Christian Klesse, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Dr. Rosie Nelson, University of Bristol
- Hafsa Qureshi, Stonewall UK
There will likely be words from the founder/organisers at the start and closing of the event.
🟣 Organisers:
Bi Conference Online 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 (by July 22, were extended to August):
Submissions are open 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 will be peer-reviewed, should be up to 400 words.
Follow on Instagram (or X) for updates (see below for links).🟣 More Info:
Social Media: Twitter(X) / InstagramRelatedly, this meetup group also has a Twitter list of bi researchers and academics you can follow.
- Bi Coffee [other group]Caffè Nero, London
Hot 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. Findus 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. There's also a page here (bi.tocotox.org/bicoffeelondon/), a little out of date with the next event date but has a photo and map.
🟣 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.
🟣 More Info:
Facebook group: facebook.com/bicoffeelondon/
Bi Coffee website: bi.tocotox.org/bicoffeelondon/
Venue: website / tel:02072407412. - 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. Once run by Opening Doors London, an LGBT charity for 50+, the group now continues independently thanks to 2 lovely hosts.
This month's event has moved to Sunday 20th at the same time as usual, but note (past &) future events are usually 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? You can register at the eventbrite (I think optionally, but following the host there is another way to keep up with events):
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bi-the-way-over-50s-tickets-964878506587⚫ 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
![Panel: The Landscape of Bi+ Activism [by others] £5+/pwyc cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/9/e/3/event_523407107.webp "Panel: The Landscape of Bi+ Activism [by others] £5+/pwyc")
![Poetry Night at The Common Press bookshop (bi+ month) [by CommonPress] £4+ cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/0/a/c/event_523433420.webp "Poetry Night at The Common Press bookshop (bi+ month) [by CommonPress] £4+")
![Discover: Bi Women Games, Snacks & Wine Night [other group] £ cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/1/c/0/event_518373216.webp "Discover: Bi Women Games, Snacks & Wine Night [other group] £")
![International Bisexual+ Research Conference (online) [by Bi Research Group] £ cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/e/a/e/event_523408334.webp "International Bisexual+ Research Conference (online) [by Bi Research Group] £")
