By Ava Shaffer
RODNAE PRODUCTIONS / Pexels
Pink, purple and blue. These are the colors that make up the bisexual flag, a symbol that represents people who identify with being attracted to more than one gender. Oftentimes considered the “invisible” part of the LGBTQ+ community, bisexuality has been criticized by both straight and LGBTQ+ people alike. Myths such as: “It’s just a phase” or “It’s a pit-stop to being fully gay” have been used to belittle and diminish the experiences of bi people.
In response to this prejudice and marginalization of the bisexual community, The Berkeley City Council of California declared September 23 Bisexual Pride and Visibility Day. Today is a day to celebrate bisexuality, for all those out and all those still in the closet. As George Alabaster, Digital Officer of Stonewall explains, today is, “an opportunity to celebrate diverse bi identities, raise the voices of bi people, and call for positive change.”
Below is a list of some of your favorite celebrities discussing their bisexuality and why it is important for them to live their life authentically.
Stephanie Beatriz
Fans of the police procedural comedy show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” may recognize this actress as the bad-ass and sassy Detective Rosa Diaz. In an open letter to GQ, Beatriz writes, “I’m bi, and I'm getting married this fall. I’m excited, nervous, terrified, and so fucking happy. I’m choosing to get married because this particular person brings out the best in me. This person happens to be a man. I’m still bi.”
Stephanie Beatriz has been a proud member of the bi community, participating in DC’s Pride parade and GLAAD’s empowering video Out Celebs Have A #BiWeek Message for Bisexual Youth.
She even sat down in the writer’s room of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' to advocate for making her character bi. In a touching episode, Rosa Diaz comes out to her police precinct, in a heartwarming yet comedic manner. Beatriz’s advocacy and support for the bisexual community have lead her to becoming a celebrity face for bisexuality, as well as being called, endearingly, a “bi-con.”
Frank Ocean
On July 4th of 2012, Frank Ocean shocked the R&B community by posting a letter on his Tumblr, expressing that his first love was a man. This letter revealed that many songs on his latest album, “Channel Orange”, were about a boy. At the time, the hip-hop community was not the most supportive of the LGBTQ+ rights, yet Frank Ocean remained bold and unapologetic of his letter. According to TwitterCounter, he gained more than 15,000 followers the day he uploaded his letter. Fans and members of the LGBTQ+ community applauded Ocean for his openness and vulnerability, which is reflected in his successful and impactful music.
Chrissy Chlapecka
The TikTok comedian and social rights activist, Chrissy Chlapecka has been out on social media since she became a social media influencer in December of 2020. Overall, her comedic videos on feminism and LGBTQ rights have gained her close to 4 million followers. In response to a recent bi-phobic comment on her twitter, Chlapecka tweeted, “cmon let’s not pretend to be woke if we’re gonna forget i’m openly bi :)” Chlapecka’s frequently use of her popularity to bring awareness to LGBTQ and women’s rights issues has helped her establish a queer and inclusive culture amongst her viewers.
Other celebrities like Aubrey Plaza, Megan Fox, Halsey, and Willow Smith have also come out as bisexual in the past few years. With more and more people sharing their experiences with bisexuality, hopefully we can move closer to that positive change George Alabaster called for.
Happy Bisexual Visibility Day to all bi people- closeted, questioning, or out!
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