Setting back the cause of bisexual activism ten years

[lovingboth]

Let's see, ten years ago...

Nottingham BiCon had the same number of attendees as this year's. It also had several thousand quid in sponsorship from a government health promotion body.

There was a weekly mixed bi social/discussion/activism night in London: a vibrant LBG attracting forty or more people a week.

There was a weekly mixed social night in London: the popular Bisexuals at Partners.

There was a weekly women-only night in London: the LBWG.

There were a couple of other groups in London, including BiONIC, the group into direct action - SM-Bis was just about to start (Jan 94) - and probably more groups around the rest of the UK than now.

There was a national newsletter that published monthly and had a higher number of subscribers than BCN does now.

There was a London newsletter.

There were two bisexual phonelines, between them covering three nights a week.

There was an community organisation on sexual health for bisexuals.

The government-funded body charged with health promotion published Bisexuality and HIV prevention: a working document on needs and provision.

We saw one of the best books on the subject published, Women and Bisexuality, actually get into general bookshops, along with the almost as good Dual Attraction: Bisexuality in the Age of AIDS.

... and probably a pile of stuff I've forgotten, including a couple of other things that came out of the 1991 conference.

Yep, I could live with that.

Absolutely yay that this year is looking better than it did at the start, for the things we have now that we didn't then, and for the people who've made both of those happen... but in some senses, we're still not back at where we were ten years ago, are we?

Comments

[djm4]

FWIW, I did know a lot of this when I made the comment. I get quite a lot of ear-bending by sgloomi on the subject. ;-)

[mankylarry.livejournal.com]

Interesting point, but you forgot to compare, how many internet users and also newsgroups and resources there were ten years ago compared with today. If people are getting their needs met online, in terms of coming out, exploring their sexuality, etc etc then that's a success in itself, also there are many groups online which are part of UK Bisexulaity TM : ) to add into the equation, so in that sense, it's not necessarily bad, just different. As for the funding streams, for health promotion etc, they were specific and have changed due to a shift in policy due to the effect of combination therapy.

I guess it weather you see the glass as half full or half empty really : )

Laurence

[apel.livejournal.com]

I loved Women and Bisexuality. Lots of stuff in there that I identified with. One of the things that still stick with me, four years plus after having read it, was the discussion about why bi women tend to end up with men as primary partners more often than with women. Maybe I should re-read it. I'm re-reading The Ethical Slut right now. Thanks for making me think about these things.

[softfruit.livejournal.com]

Something derived from that'd make a good "looking back" item in BCN. We tend to have this discussion in the privacy of LJs rather than in print (one of the reasons BCN has struggled for material -- along with the general lower level of community activity your post reflects).