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[Chicago]: LGBT suicide prevention symposium held The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) hosted an LGBT suicide prevention symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago IL on April 20. About 100 people gathered to hear leaders in the field of mental health and the LGBT community present information on suicide prevention and survivor support within the LGBT community… Brother Michael Oboza, Orthodox Catholic Eastern Rite monastic, a founder of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago and the first bisexual liaison to the Center on Halsted, spoke about bisexual equality and suicide prevention. Many people don’t understand or won’t accept that bisexuals exist within and outside of the LGBT community, noted Oboza. Studies show that bisexuals struggle at a higher percentage than their gay, lesbian and straight counterparts, Oboza remarked. Then Oboza talked about his suicide attempt at the age of 31. He also shared the stories of four bisexual individuals (Bill Clayton, August Provost, Anthony Stubbs and Kitty McGuire) who committed suicide. As Oboza told their stories, he held up their picture and then ripped the picture in half, symbolizing their deaths … The day also featured a number of panel discussions: Panel on LGBT throughout Life; Panel on Law; Panel on LGBT in the Media, including Bi Social Network’s Adrienne Williams a bisexual editor, writer and activist. Ms. Williams also represented the AFSP Media Watchers Group; and the Panel on LGBT Community Resources
[Chicago]: LGBT suicide prevention symposium held The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) hosted an LGBT suicide prevention symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago IL on April 20. About 100 people gathered to hear leaders in the field of mental health and the LGBT community present information on suicide prevention and survivor support within the LGBT community… Brother Michael Oboza, Orthodox Catholic Eastern Rite monastic, a founder of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago and the first bisexual liaison to the Center on Halsted, spoke about bisexual equality and suicide prevention. Many people don’t understand or won’t accept that bisexuals exist within and outside of the LGBT community, noted Oboza. Studies show that bisexuals struggle at a higher percentage than their gay, lesbian and straight counterparts, Oboza remarked. Then Oboza talked about his suicide attempt at the age of 31. He also shared the stories of four bisexual individuals (Bill Clayton, August Provost, Anthony Stubbs and Kitty McGuire) who committed suicide. As Oboza told their stories, he held up their picture and then ripped the picture in half, symbolizing their deaths … The day also featured a number of panel discussions: Panel on LGBT throughout Life; Panel on Law; Panel on LGBT in the Media, including Bi Social Network’s Adrienne Williams a bisexual editor, writer and activist. Ms. Williams also represented the AFSP Media Watchers Group; and the Panel on LGBT Community Resources

[Chicago]: LGBT suicide prevention symposium held

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) hosted an LGBT suicide prevention symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago IL on April 20. About 100 people gathered to hear leaders in the field of mental health and the LGBT community present information on suicide prevention and survivor support within the LGBT community…

Brother Michael Oboza, Orthodox Catholic Eastern Rite monastic, a founder of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago and the first bisexual liaison to the Center on Halsted, spoke about bisexual equality and suicide prevention. Many people don’t understand or won’t accept that bisexuals exist within and outside of the LGBT community, noted Oboza. Studies show that bisexuals struggle at a higher percentage than their gay, lesbian and straight counterparts, Oboza remarked.

Then Oboza talked about his suicide attempt at the age of 31. He also shared the stories of four bisexual individuals (Bill Clayton, August Provost, Anthony Stubbs and Kitty McGuire) who committed suicide. As Oboza told their stories, he held up their picture and then ripped the picture in half, symbolizing their deaths …

The day also featured a number of panel discussions: Panel on LGBT throughout Life; Panel on Law; Panel on LGBT in the Media, including Bi Social Network’s Adrienne Williams a bisexual editor, writer and activist. Ms. Williams also represented the AFSP Media Watchers Group; and the Panel on LGBT Community Resources

Gay Chicago TV Tackles Bisexuality, Biphobia, and Bi Erasure: Nationally known Bisexual/LGBTQ activist Br. Michael C. Oboza of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago appears on Critical Thinking hosted by Waymon Hudson to discuss the issues of biphobia, bisexual erasure and bisexual history in the LGBT movement.

Among his many credits Br. Michael is the 2011 Michael Page Lifetime Award winner from the Marin Foundation; is a member of the Legacy Walk Selection Committee of the Legacy Project; and founded the New Liaison for Bisexual Programs at the Center on Halsted in Chicago. The discussion looks at the issues that face the bisexual community from both anti-equality forces and from within the gay and lesbian communities.

Says Gay Chicago TV news presenter & columnist Waymon Hudson,

The very concept of bisexuality often finds itself trapped in a position of both invisibility and hypervisibility — despite the fact that bisexuals constitute the largest population within the LGBT community. Can you imagine the pain caused by not only being rejected and demeaned by anti-equality forces who call you “sinful” or “sick,” but also being rejected or told you don’t exist by the very community you are supposed to be part of?

In truth, how are these claims by some in the gay community any different than the homophobic rhetoric we fight against from the far-right about gays being a perversion or something than can be changed or prayed away. The truth is, they aren’t. Comments like “bisexuality is just a stop on the way to gay” can be as demeaning and damaging as calls of fag and dyke. These facts are underscored by the groundbreaking report from the San Francisco Human Rights Commission called “Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations.”

We cannot, as a community, be part of erasing a vital and thriving part of our movement and history. In the same fashion, simply throwing a “B” into the acronym LGBT isn’t enough— we have to celebrate, educate, and support bisexual people in our movement with true inclusion and visibility in all areas of our community. Having frank and honest discussions amongst ourselves like on this episode can help that process along.

Ignorance, close-mindedness, and refusal to accept others is what we are fighting AGAINST as LGBT people — we have to demand better of ourselves and be examples for others of what true acceptance looks like.

FRIEND? Yes! Lots in Chicagoland 4 Bisexual/Bi-friendly people

bisexual-community:

noe6633:

I WISH I HAD A GAY/BI FRIEND THATS LIKES ONE DIRECTION AND THAT LIVE BY ME(CHICAGO)  BECAUSE I WOULD HANGOUT WITH HIM ALL DAY LONG.ME AND MY CUSING REALLY WANT TO MEET SOMEONE LIKE THAT. MAYBE I WILL ONE DAY.

You Are In Luck! Chicagoland has a welcoming, vibrant and very active Bisexual Community! Join these groups here:

(1) Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago: Facebook, Yahoo Group
(2) Chicago Bisexual Queer Meetup: Meetup, Facebook, Twitter

So go join up, make friends and have fun.

Attacks on Bisexuals in Media, ‘Captain Bisexual’ singled out at Chicago Pride By anti-LGBTQ Nuts

bisocialnetwork:


Captain Bisexual | ChicagoCHICAGO - June 29, 2012—You can’t imagine my surprise when I received an email late Friday night from Bro Michael Oboza—long time Bisexual activist in Chicago in distress, “Bisexuals Are Under Attack Now!” Regarding a very curious and biphobic article written by “Free Republic” called “’Captain Bisexual’ Marches in Chicago Pride Parade as Young Children Watch.”

Captain Bisexual a.k.a. Noel Spain, Founder of Bisexual Queer Meetup in Chicago Activist, and has started the very famous bisexual visibility superhero, with cape and passion for justice about four years ago at the Chicago Pride Parade.

Are Bisexuals Harmful to Kids as Role Models?

The Article goes on to say:

 ”Talk about marketing perversion and unhealthy behavior to kids: take a look at these photos of “Captain Bisexual” marching in Sunday’s Chicago homosexual “pride” parade. He is the child-friendly face of a group called Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago/ Click on the photos to enlarge them and notice the youth in the background.”

The Bisexual contingent started with Mr. Spain in Chicago, trying to make visibility for bisexuals possible.

Free Republic goes on to add:

“Even though it appeared the organizers had dialed down the more raunchy floats…..spectacles like (Captain Bisexual) this that were utterly inappropriate for Children. And yet, as you can see, many children looked on from the sidelines.”

As we know Chicago Pride has been bringing many more families from all walks of life in recent years to watch the festival, events and floats. ABC 7 News was quoted as saying, 2012 Chicago Pride was in fact record breaking in attendance. Clearly, the masses are accepting people being themselves. What’s different now?

Bisexual Male Visibility!

Captain Bisexual is a very kid-friendly character and no way is this costume seen in any way as inappropriate to children of any form. Is the issue more to do with visibility for the bisexual community and educating the public that bi’s exist? Why did this publication only single out bisexuals and not the other gay, lesbian and transgender participants in the parade? What is so scary that a friendly superhero of visibility and human rights for all, needed to be connected to harming children, in this now friendly family event in Chicago?

This isn’t the only story that has hit the bisexual community this month! Adele’s ex bisexual boyfriend  and Johnny Depp Alleged new girlfriend has been highlighted all over the media with biphobia language—comments about bisexual men being liars, cheaters, bi women being whores and the like.

Here are some headlines in the media:

  • Depp’s bisexual costar behind Paradise love split?
  • Depp linked to bisexual actress
  • Adele’s bisexual lover left her for a gay friend caused the trauma and heartbreak behind her music new book claims
  • Adele Dumped By Bisexual Boyfriend - Biography Claims

 Sadly, no other LGBT media has really covered this story but Advocate.com, (That I know of) as they try to bring more bisexual content to their media outlet. Sadly, the comments on their website were very negative regarding, “Why did we need to know about this [Adele] story. One person even stated, “There are no bisexual men” on Advocate.com.

Bi Social Network has long known that bisexual males and celebrities that come out of the closet, are being attacked on all fronts, because many are finally speaking out on existing! We need more, but as with any movement, the first can get hit a bit when trying to change perceptions.

Bi Talk Radio, Thursday, July 5

Bi Social Network will have a special Bi Talk Radio show Thursday, July 5. Times TBD. Check back for interviews and news on this story and what if any, the Chicago bisexual community is going to do about it?

Thoughts? Should the bisexual community protest? Should we get GLAAD or BiNetUSA involved? Please comment below!

***This is a breaking news story. We will update your on information as it comes available.

Disclaimer Note: Noel Spain is a friend and partner Bi Social Network and a key player for bisexual visibility in Chicago and has worked tirelessly to make a difference in our community. Go Captain Bisexual!

PLEASE REPOST: Bi Interviews Needed ASAP - Ages 20s + 30s in Chicagoland Area

bisexual-community:

The bisexual media site I Am Visible says … .

A reporter for “Medill News Service” needs bisexual people ages 20s and 30s to do a short interview by THIS Friday May the 20th. Must live in Chicagoland Area.

Please email I Am Visible at visible (at) bisocialnetwork (dot) com with your name, telephone number and email. I will forward all info to the reporter. He doesn’t want his email out the net.

This will hit the wire for around 250,000 people for early next week.

Cheers,
I Am Visible


About the ‘I am Visible’ campaign:

* Mission: To showcase the true lives of bisexuals and bring to light, biphobia and bi-erasure—even if it’s within our own communities within the gay, lesbian and straight spectrum.

* Our goal is to: Share. Educate. Support. Organize. Show Community Pride.

* The ‘I am Visible’ campaign is about making a difference in the lives of the bisexual community.

Though we feel we are part of the gay, lesbian, transgender, and straight communities, we also know that there has been a high level of intolerance of late—particularly in our gay and lesbian communities in print, web, entertainment, politics and social media. We are here to tell our stories.

The ‘I am Visible’ campaign is run by Bi Social Network

help, help - People needed 4 Interviews by This Friday

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