23 September - “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”

http://ilga-europe.org/home/news/for_media/media_releases/23_september_celebrate_bisexuality_day2


ILGA-Europe statement on the occassion of the “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”. 

Since 1999, 23 September is a “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”. This occasion is an opportunity to address the particular issues bisexual people face and also to raise the awareness about bisexuality and to celebrate the diversity of and differences within the LGBTI communities. 

 

Prejudice, discrimination and violence against bisexual people continues to be a significant concerns. In May 2013, the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights revealed the finding of the largest ever Survey of experiences by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, which provided an insight to bisexual people’s experiences and shows that bisexual people experience significant degree of prejudice, discrimination and violence due to their sexual orientation.

The results make it clear that more specific and targeted legal, policy and social changes need to be initiated by European and national decision makers to protect people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. 

In addition to discrimination and violence, the bisexual community often experiences lack of understanding and acceptance by society in general and also lesbian and gay communities. 

ILGA-Europe reiterates its full commitment to full equality and respect of the human rights of bisexual people. Bisexual people are entitled to the same dignity and deserve the same opportunity to live their lives without prejudice and discrimination, develop and fully enjoy their identities and form relationships. 

On this occasion, ILGA-Europe calls on the LGBTI communities to take a leading role in tackling prejudice against bisexual people and challenge normative approach to identity and sexuality.

ILGA-Europe
Brussels, 20 September 2013

 http://ilga-europe.org/home/news/for_media/media_releases/23_september_celebrate_bisexuality_day2

Clive Davis reveals bisexuality in new memoir

in: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/19/clive-davis-reveals-bisexuality-in-new-memoir/?hpt=hp_t2

Industry legend Clive Davis is recounting both his personal and professional life in a new memoir called "The Soundtrack of My Life."

The exec, who helped form the careers of artists like Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Alicia Keys, focuses mainly on his work with such varied and marquee stars over the past five decades, Rolling Stone reports.

But it wouldn't be a memoir if Davis didn't get personal.

Toward the end of his tome, the 80-year-old record exec goes into detail about his sexuality. Davis, who's twice-divorced, reportedly explains that he began to explore relationships with men during "the era of Studio 54."

On one particular evening, Davis writes that he was "open to responding to [the] sexual overtures" of a gentleman admirer.

"Was I nervous? Absolutely," Davis writes, according to Entertainment Weekly. "Did the heavens open up? No. But it was satisfying."

Through subsequent years, Davis writes, he held relationships with both men and women. He's been in a monogamous relationship with a man for the past seven years.

Timed in conjunction with his book's February 19 release, Davis will also appear on Katie Couric's daytime show "Katie" to discuss the stories he's chosen to share.

In a preview clip of their Tuesday chat, the exec explains to Couric, as he reportedly does in the book, that he considers himself to be bisexual.

"I'm still attracted to women. You don't have to be only one thing or another," Davis says. "For me it's the person. I'm in a monogamous relationship, [and] I respect monogamy. And I hope that this is understood."

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/19/clive-davis-reveals-bisexuality-in-new-memoir/?hpt=hp_t2

Gay and Transgender Discrimination: Protecting Employee Rights

in: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/06/lgbt_discrimination.html

Every day far too many gay and transgender Americans are forced out of their jobs and into the ranks of the unemployed at a time when all families are struggling to stay afloat. Until Congress passes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, it will remain perfectly legal to fire someone based simply on their sexual orientation or gender identity in a majority of states in this country.








http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/06/lgbt_discrimination.html

'Bisexuality is a fact': Cynthia Nixon seeks to clarify her comments after causing outrage by saying she is 'gay by choice'

in: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2094099/Cynthia-Nixon-gay-choice-Actress-seeks-clarify-comments-causing-outrage.html

Image change: Shaven-headed Cynthia is currently appearing in the play wit on Broadway

She recently caused controversy among the gay community when she told The New York Times that homosexuality was a personal choice for her.

But now, Cynthia Nixon has sought to clarify her comments further in a statement to The Advocate, telling them that bisexuality is not a choice, but her decision to be in a homosexual relationship is.

The Sex and the City actress has been in a relationship with education activist Christine Marinoni since 2004, and the couple had a baby son together last year.

She said today: 'My recent comments in The New York Times were about me and my personal story of being gay.

'I believe we all have different ways we came to the gay community and we can't and shouldn't be pigeon-holed into one cultural narrative which can be uninclusive and disempowering,' she said.

'However, to the extent that anyone wishes to interpret my words in a strictly legal context I would like to clarify: While I don't often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual.

'I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have "chosen" is to be in a gay relationship.'

Cynthia's interview with the newspaper caused controversy last month when she told the newspaper: 'I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line "I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better."'

'And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice.'

Controversial: Cynthia Nixon, pictured with her partner Christine Marinoni, says she is bisexual

Members of the LGBT community hit back following Cynthia's comments, as most believe sexual orientation is inherited at birth and is not a choice.

However, today she said: 'I understand that for many people it's not, but for me it's a choice, and you don't get to define my gayness for me.

'A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it's a choice, then we could opt out.'

Cynthia continued to say in her statement: 'As I said in the Times and will say again here, I do, however, believe that most members of our community - as well as the majority of heterosexuals - cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships because, unlike me, they are only attracted to one sex.'

Image change: Shaven-headed Cynthia is currently appearing in the play Wit on Broadway

She added: 'Our community is not a monolith, thank goodness, any more than America itself is. I look forward to and will continue to work toward the day when America recognises all of us as full and equal citizens.'

The 45-year-old actress recently told The Daily Beast: 'In terms of sexual orientation, I don't really feel I've changed...I'm just a woman in love with another woman.'

When The Daily Beast writer suggested she was 'fudging' the issue, Cynthia said: 'It's so not fudging. It's so not.

'I think for gay people who feel 100 percent gay, it doesn't make any sense. And for straight people who feel 100 percent straight, it doesn't make any sense.

Happy family: Cynthia and Christine had their first child Max together last year

'I don't pull out the "bisexual" word because nobody likes the bisexuals. Everybody likes to dump on the bisexuals.We get no respect.'

When asked if she identifies herself as being bisexual, the Sex and the City actress said: 'I just don't like to pull out that word.

'But I do completely feel that when I was in relationships with men, I was in love and in lust with those men.

'And then I met Christine and I fell in love and lust with her. I am completely the same person and I was not walking around in some kind of fog. I just responded to the people in front of me the way I truly felt.'

Sex and the City: Cynthia with her cast mates from the hit TV show, Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis

Old flame: Cynthia with her previous partner Danny Mozes

Cynthia, who has two children with her former boyfriend of 15 years Danny Mozes also said in her New York Times interview that she finds it 'offensive' that people assume she has 'always been gay.

Cynthia said she hasn't always been gay and finds it 'offensive' that people say she has.

She continued: 'Why can't it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate? It seems we're just ceding this point to bigots who are demanding it, and I don't think that they should define the terms of the debate.'

'I also feel like people think I was walking around in a cloud and didn't realise I was gay, which I find really offensive. I find it offensive to me, but I also find it offensive to all the men I've been out with.'

Cynthia went public with her romance with redhead Christine, 44, just a year after her relationship college sweetheart Danny ended in 2003.

Christine gave birth to the couple’s first child together last February, a baby boy they gave the colourful moniker Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni.

Influential gay blogger and activist John Aravosis was one of those displeased by her choice of words.

Getting on swimmingly: Christine seems to get on well with Cynthia's other children

He said: 'It's not a "choice", unless you consider my opting to date a guy with brown hair versus a guy with blonde hair a "choice".

'It's only a choice among flavours I already like.'

And he claimed she was just giving people peddling anti-gay views extra ammunition.

He said: 'Every religious right hate monger is now going to quote this woman every single time they want to deny us our civil rights.'

Gay blogger, Perez Hilton weighed in too, saying: 'We totally hear her out and true, we cannot define her "gayness", but it wasn’t a choice for us.

'We were BORN gay. And millions of gay people around the world feel the same way.'

The actress is currently sporting a shaved head for her role in new Broadway play Wit in which she plays a professor stricken with ovarian cancer.

Comemoração do Dia da Bissexualidade | 23 Set, 21h30 @ Centro LGBT

23 de Setembro é... o Dia de Celebração da Bissexualidade!

Comemorado em vários países do mundo, pretende-se com este dia alertar a sociedade para as particularidades da discriminação e do preconceito de que são alvo as pessoas bissexuais e celebrar a diversidade.

Convidamos-te a vir festejar connosco no Centro LGBT, em Lisboa, a partir das 21h30. Haverá projecção de filmes, debate, karaoke e muitas outras formas de animação! A entrada são 2€.