The History of the Bisexual Movement in America

Review by Charlie Bear, Founder MMA2OM.com. Based on Bi America, Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community.   William E. Burleson, Harrington Park Press


In his book, MMA2OM member, Bill Burleson tells us that the bisexual movement started in the 1970s.  Think if it!  The movement is only three decades old.  We are pioneers.  Is it any wonder that I received messages almost every week saying, “I thought I was the only one”?

We discussed in our forums that up until two centuries ago sexual orientation was not thought about.  There were no such thing as homosexuals, heterosexuals, and bisexuality was almost the norm in many societies—as it is to this day in some primitive societies.

Stephen Donaldson is given credit for establishing this movement in 1972.  He had as a partner a bisexual female.  Both had been active in homophile organizations.  But it was much to the chagrin of other gay and lesbian activists when they would arrive at meetings arm in arm.  

In 1972 Donaldson organized a workshop on bisexuality at the Friends (Friends) General Conference in Ithaca, New York.  Out of that came “The Ithaca Statement on Bisexuality,” the first public statement on Bisexuality.  The bi-friendly position paper was not only published by the Quakers in their newsletter, it was picked up by the Advocate and got national attention.

Bill says, “The document was revolutionary.  It must be remembered that the Stonewall Riot had happened only three years earlier, and acceptance by gay and lesbians was only a dream then.  Within that climate discussion of bisexual issues was unheard of.  As MerlStorr reports in the journal Sexuality, ‘It is easy to forget in the present climate just how hostile academia in general, and lesbian and gay studies in particular, were to the very idea that bisexuality might be a serious topic of discussion.’”

In 1975 the New York psychiatrist, Fritz Kline, started the Bi Forum.  Kline says he wanted to write an article on bisexuality but there was nothing around.  He started and advertised the Bi Forum, and in 1978 published The Bisexual Option” the first book on bisexuality published in the United States.  That was only 27 years ago.  In the second edition published in 1993, Kline added his grid of sexual orientation (discussed in other posts here) which laid out 27 various orientations.  In 2002, Kline established the Bisexual Foundation to fund bisexual studies.

To quickly wrap up the past quarter century:  The 70s was the age of free love, wild sex, and wild drugs.  Bi groups were generally social-support groups organized by married men.  But something began to happen as the wild 70s drew to a close.  Bisexual men began to die of some strange malady, as did gay men.  AIDS wiped out most of the gains of the 70 and drove many of the bi-men back far into the closet. Those who remained active joined with gay men and lesbians to promote AIDS prevention.

The 80s saw the start of new trends.  It was a “new beginning” with the election of Ronald Reagan. People were tired of the malaise of the Ford-Carter years; the country moved to the right, a move that continues to this day.

About that time the movement saw the emergence of a bi-feminist community.  For some women bi-activism was a reaction against ostracism from the feminist and lesbian communities.  Many straight women saw bisexuals as tainting the movement; while lesbians saw them as sellouts.  So the bi-women began to organize themselves. 

The 1987 march on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights was another turning point.  Bisexuals were not included.  Bi-activists were enraged.  However it did sensitize some in the movement to the fact that bisexuals had rights too.

In 1993 the Bisexual Resource Center (BRC) opened in Boston, and it has become known world-wide for its support of the bi community.  Its scope is not limited to Boston, as its website http://www.biresource.net reaches out to all.  A Google search on “bisexual” will pop up dozens of references to BRC, usually at the top of the list.

In his book, Bi America…., Burleson, who was active in the establishment of centers and conferences, highlights the advances made in these areas in the 90s.  If I have a problem with the book, it is his emphasis on these and the people who founded and run them to the exclusion of the (I would say) millions of bisexuals, especially married men, who are still in the closet.

The development of the Internet in the 90s offered at last an opportunity for bisexuals to feel “I am not the only one.”  In 1998 Michael Page introduced the bisexual flag design, much like the rainbow flag for gay rights, and made it available without copyright.  You will find it on the front page of my website http://www.mma2om.com  Also finally in the 90s books on bisexuality began to be published.

“Clearly the bi community has made steady gains over the past 30 years, and especially over the past 15,” Burleson concludes.  He sees continued development of support communities and a shift to the college campuses where young people are more receptive to the idea of bisexuality than were their parents.

Review by Charlie Bear.  Quotes from Bi America, Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community. Used with permisison.