LGBT Culture - Bisexual Culture

Bisexual Culture

Bisexual culture emphasizes opposition to, or disregard of, fixed sexual and gender identity called monosexism (discrimination against bisexual, fluid, pansexual and queer-identified people), bisexual erasure, and biphobia/panphobia (hatred and/or distrust of people who do not adhere to monosexual behavior). Biphobia is common (although lessening) in both the gay and lesbian community and the straight community.

Many bisexual, fluid, and pansexual people consider themselves to be part of the LGBT or Queer community, despite any discrimination they face. Contemporary western bisexual/pansexual and fluid culture also has its own touchstones such as the books Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out, edited by Lani Ka'ahumanu and Loraine Hutchins, and Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World edited by Robyn Ochs, the British science fiction television series Torchwood, and icons including British singer and activist Tom Robinson, The Black Eyed Peas member Fergie, Scottish actor Alan Cumming, and American performance artist and activist Lady Gaga.

The bisexual pride flag flag was designed by Michael Page in 1998 in order to give the community its own symbol comparable to the Gay pride flag of the mainstream LGBT community. The deep pink or rose stripe at the top of the flag represents the possibility of same gender attraction; the royal blue stripe at the bottom of the flag represents the possibility of different gender attraction and the stripes overlap in the central fifth of the flag to form a deep shade of lavender or purple, which represents the possibility of attraction anywhere along the entire gender spectrum.

Additionally, Celebrate Bisexuality Day has been observed on September 23 by members of the bisexual community and their allies since 1999.