Hi, I’m Catherine and I’m proudly bisexual! I also happen to be the LGBTQ+ Institutional Lead here at the University of Bath, I started in my role on 1st September this year.
I am writing today to mark Bi Visibility Day which, since 1999, has been raising awareness of the challenges bisexual people face such as bi-erasure and stereotyping.
Nowadays we refer to the ‘bi+ umbrella’ which encompasses pansexual, polysexual and omnisexual identities. People who identify with these labels often experience the same struggles, and fall victim to similar generalisations:
- Make your mind up, are you gay or straight?
- You’re greedy.
- It’s just a phase!
These harmful statements are not only made by heterosexual people. Bi people also face stereotyping and exclusion from within the LGBTQ+ community. For example, I’ve experienced ‘bi-erasure’ when I have a partner of the opposite sex and gay friends have asked whether I should still be offering training on LGBTQ+ issues – as if the queer part of my brain has turned off because of the gender of my partner.
Despite there being more Bi identified staff and students than there are lesbian or gay, bisexual people are far less likely to be out at work compared to lesbian and gay workers. And when experiencing harassment at work, bisexual people are much less likely to report 'remarks directed at them or made in their presence’ compared to lesbian or gay workers (17% vs 22%).
I will be writing these blogs regularly, in line with our Inclusion Calendar and to keep the University community up to date on our plans for LGBTQ+ inclusion here at Bath. Please subscribe to this blog and keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved with this work.
With best wishes,
Dr Catherine Butler
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