(Summary at the bottom)

Bisexual Visibility Day is an annual celebration of bisexuality as well as a day to raise awareness of bi erasure and biphobia. It’s celebrated on the 23rd of September and was founded in 1999.

What is bisexuality?
Bisexuality is often defined as an attraction to two or more genders, attraction to the person's own gender and other gender(s), or as an attraction to any/all/multiple genders. The definition might overlap with other multisexualities for some bisexual people. Bisexuality is often described as fluid, inclusive and diverse.

The bisexual flag
The flag was created in 1998 by Michael Page, based on a color palette (biangles) that was created by Liz Nania. The pink represents the same or similar genders, blue the different gender(s), and the purple stripe represents the mix or overlap of these attractions — as pink and blue mixed together creates purple, representing attraction to all genders or attraction regardless of gender. Other symbols of bisexuality include the double/twin (crescent) moon and "bisexual lighting" that has earned a meme status.

Misconceptions, discrimination and erasure

• A common misconception about bisexuality is that it includes only men and women, or only cisgender people. This is not the case, as bisexuality can be as inclusive as any sexuality and people of any gender can be bisexual.
• Bisexuality isn't half gay or half straight but a whole, complete sexuality by itself.
• While bisexuals can be polyamorous, it is a harmful stereotype to assume so simply based on who the person is attracted to. Bisexuals aren't any more likely to be polyamorous than anyone else.
• Bisexuals are most likely to experience domestic violence from the LGB, specifically bisexual women.
• Invalidation of bisexuality includes, for example, not being believed when one identifies as bisexual, being told to "choose a side", or being told they just want attention or that they're secretly just straight or gay instead. This also counts as erasure of bisexuality.
• Erasure includes not being portrayed in the media, which further leads to bisexuals seeming invisible, which then further worsens the awareness of bisexuality and the resources that can be provided to those in need.
• The stigma against bisexuality also holds a lot of assumptions: that your sexuality changes depending on the gender of your partner, or that bisexuals cheat more or aren't faithful or satisfied when with just one gender. Seeing bisexuals as more unsuitable for relationships than gays or heterosexuals is a form of bi erasure as well.
• Bisexual erasure contributes to the mental and physical health struggles of bisexuals. Discrimination can cause low self-esteem, depression and suicidality, as well as high-risk behavior in cases where a person has to live a double life due to a need to hide their true self. People hiding their sexuality can be at an increased risk to contract STDs and not treat them, as disclosing your sexual life to a doctor can be difficult because of the fear of discrimination.

Summary
★ Bisexual Visibility Day is celebrated on September 23rd and was founded in 1999
★ Bisexuality is an attraction to two or more genders, and is a whole, complete sexuality by itself
★ In the bisexual flag, the color pink represents attraction to same or similar genders, blue to different gender(s) and purple the mix or overlap of these attractions
★ Common misconceptions include assumptions about polyamory, infidelity and who bisexuality "includes"
★ Bi erasure — not being believed, being told to "choose a side", lack of media representation — has real mental and physical health consequences

With love,
The Inclusivity Group