Bisexual group’s slur warning

Bisexual group’s slur warning

Bisexuals have issued a plea ahead of this weekend’s Pride March for an end to biphobic comments as they march down Fitzroy St, St Kilda.

Bisexual support group Bisexual Alliance Victoria (BAV) says it will not tolerate biphobic jeers from the crowd.

BAV president James Dominguez stressed that most people gathered to watch the LGBTI pride march are supportive, however, in the past some people along the route have yelled out hurtful remarks.

“It’s quite disappointing that it happens because it turns what is supposed to be a day of unity and celebration for everyone in the broader queer community into a stressful and alienating experience for our members,” Dominguez said.

“We will keep taking part though because this is one of the rare chances for us to remind everyone that we exist.

“Bisexuals tend to be invisible in the community as we are typically assumed to be either heterosexual or homosexual, based on the gender of our partner.”

Last year the Star Observer reported BAV members were sprayed with biphobic abuse while participating in Pride March.

Dominguez — who this month will march in Pride March for the fifth time — said he was aware of abuse every time the group marched.

“The things we hear every year are ‘make up your mind’, ‘you’re greedy’, ‘finish coming out’, ‘bisexuals don’t exist’, ‘get off the fence’ — negative things like that,” Dominguez said in 2011.

“We really want to let people know it’s unacceptable.”

Pride March is on Sunday, February 5, starting at the top of Fitzroy St and ending at Catani Gardens.

INFO: BAV is a non-profit support group for bisexual people and aims to promote acceptance of bisexuals in the LGBTI and mainstream communities. The group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. More at www.bi-alliance.org

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