It's Bisexual Health Awareness Month, brought to you by the Bisexual Resource Center (BRC). GLAAD is participating in #BiHealthMonth for the second year to spread awareness about important issues in the bisexual community.
#BiHealthMonth is back & this year's theme is Mental Health! Find out more about BHAM at http://t.co/tgQrTb9Fj2pic.twitter.com/syu3m3Hyo7
— Bi Resource Center (@BRC_Central) February 23, 2015
Each year, the BRC – the nation's oldest national bi organization - dedicates the month of March to addressing the mental and physical health difficulties that the bisexual community faces. This year's #BiHealthMonth theme is Mental Health, focusing on the emotional and mental well-being of people who are bi.
BRC Board President, Julia Canfield, emphasized the need for this campaign, stating:
“Bisexual people have long been impacted by the negative effects of biphobia and bisexual erasure from both LGBTQ and straight communities.They have also been denied access to critical services and resources that can enhance their mental and emotional well-being. Therefore, Bisexual Health Awareness Month aims to increase awareness about these issues and feature ways we can effectively address them.”
BRC aims to integrate the roles of intersecting identities, support, and advocacy into this year's campaign by exploring a different topic each week.The first week focused on statistics – current statistics and research data about mental and physical health issues facing the bi community.
This week, BRC is focusing on intersectionality, exploring how factors including one's race, gender, ethnicity, class, age, ability, and other identites can influence one's emotional and mental well-being. On social media and its website, BRC provides insights and sharable graphics of statistics on substance abuse, relationship violence, poverty, and disability within the bisexual community. BRC has been actively updating its Tumblr page with sharable information.
Recently, #BiHealthMonth focused specifically on disabled members of the bisexual community, as current research illustrates the severe lack of visibility and adequate resources:
"One report from New Mexico found that bisexual adults are more likely to have a disability compared to heterosexual adults, and another study discovered that 40% of bisexual men live with a disability compared to 26% of gay men and 22% of straight men."
Ultimately, the goal of Bisexual Health Awareness Month is to inform bi people and their allies, both within and outside of the LGBT community, about the everyday experiences of the bisexual community. Raising awareness is crucial for improving and expanding resources for the bi community, as well as fostering acceptance and support for bisexual people.
How will you get involved during Bisexual Health Awareness Month?
Learn more about the bisexual community by following the Bisexual Resource Center's twitter account, @BRC_Central. You can contribute to the conversation all month long using #bihealthmonth and by following updates on Facebook. Visit the #BiHeatlhMonth campaign site for regular updates, and share informative images like the ones below:
