#BiWeek: GLAAD Shows Support with Twitter Chat Featuring Out Bisexual+ Elected Officials and Victory Institute

New York – GLAAD, the world’s leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today announced its participation in the fourth annual Bisexual+ Awareness Week (#BiWeek) in partnership with BiNet USA, America’s oldest advocacy organization for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified, and unlabeled people. #BiWeek takes place from September 17 – 24 with September 23 as the official “Celebrate Bisexuality+ Day.”

In 2014, GLAAD co-founded and co-led the first #BiWeek with BiNet USA to draw attention to the issues faced by the bi+ community (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified, and unlabeled people), including erasure and visibility. This year, #BiWeek’s theme is “Past, Present, and Future” – highlighting the strong contributions of the bi+ community throughout history, current bi+ advocates, and what the future holds for the largest subset of the LGBTQ community.

#BiWeek will include a Twitter chat on Thursday, September 21 at 2pm ET with bi+ politicians including Oregon Governor Kate Brown, State Representative Mary González (TX), and State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (WI) with GLAAD and Victory Institute moderating a discussion on the current political climate and its implications for the bi+ community as well as the importance of bi+ people running for office.

“At a time when bi+ people are often erased from entertainment media, news, and even LGBTQ advocacy, Bisexual+ Awareness Week is a crucial initiative that brings much-need awareness to bi+ people and issues,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO. “GLAAD is proud to have co-founded #BiWeek and to continue to give platforms to stories of bi+ people that accelerate acceptance.”

Throughout the week GLAAD will also feature:

• A guest post on GLAAD.org from the first known bi+ person to granted asylum in the U.S. because of her orientation
• An Instagram portrait series of bi+ people who are 50 and older
• A video of bi+ people discussing unique issues facing their community in partnership with Planned Parenthood and BiNet USA.

Additionally, GLAAD will debut a video with bi+ celebrities offering words of support to bi+ youth including Alan Cumming, Nico Tortorella (Younger), Daniel Newman (The Walking Dead), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Keiynan Lonsdale (The Flash), Marina Watanabe (YouTube), Lane Moore (Tinder Live, comedian, musician, writer, GO Mag's 100 Women We Love), and Jen Richards (activist, Her Story, I Am Cait).

"BiNet USA is excited to partner with GLAAD for #BiWeek. By working together, we have created great change for our community,” said Lynnette McFadzen, President of BiNet USA. “We anticipate making further strides in improving our community’s issues and concerns."

“Once again, #BiWeek provides a rare opportunity for bisexual+ people to see the community represented and respected in a national conversation,” said Alexandra Bolles, GLAAD’s Associate Director of Campaigns and co-founder of the campaign. “#BiWeek amplifies diverse experiences fairly and accurately and is a time for bi+ people to be visible and our allies to show support.”

Those looking to get involved can participate in #BiWeek by showing support on social media using #BiWeek and learning more about the celebration at glaad.org/biweek. GLAAD also offers a bevy of resources on bisexuality+ at glaad.org/bisexual as part of the organization's year-round commitment to bisexual+ issues including a guide for journalists reporting on the bi+ community.

GLAAD and BiNet USA will be posting additional content and amplifying bi+ voices throughout the week.