1.
In The Middle Of The Rainbow
Examining Bias Against Fluidity

2.
Intro
Lawsuits and the census name categories of people
The media shapes our concept of what fluid relationships
look like.
Do we really make room for alternative sexual profiles?

3.
Terms
Bisexual - Of or relating to both sexes. – Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic.
- A person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.
Fluid - changing orientation – Some people’s orientation will change many times in their life.
Pansexual - Pansexual refers to someone who is attracted to other people regardless of their gender,
Polyamorous - pertaining to partipation in multiple and simultaneous loving or sexual relationships
Queer - Queer is an umbrella term for sexual minorities that are not heterosexual, ... place them outside the heterosexual-defined mainstream,

4.
Framework
Sex Positive Feminism
Radical Feminism
Bisexuality - Beyond the Binary

5.
Literature
Compulsory Heterosexuality
Social Construction of Sexuality
Bisexual Politics
Bisexual Reader: A Critical Reader

6.
Methods
4 Semi-Structured Interviews
Identified as Bi/Fluid/Queer/Pansexal
3 Womyn, 1 Man

7.
Findings
“As aforementioned, I have experienced some negative sentiments around my working process.
Sometimes, the personal comments of an audience can make it difficult to feel safe and energized
about educating them. Dealing and navigating through stigma and stereotypes can be difficult, but it
comes with the territory.” – D’andre
“I find it difficult fitting in, due to the partners I have chosen. Nothing really fits. As a partner of a
TransMan, we look “heterosexual”/married. And, I think a lot of G/L persons don’t quite understand
that we too are part of their community. Also, there is not a lot of ‘bi/queer/fluid’ groups/support or
otherwise to participate in, unless you go underground to the BDSM/Poly/Pan communities, who find
fluid sexuality a more appealing aspect of life.” – Tracey
“Bias? Yes the B in LGBTQ is kind of ignored, individuals who identify as strictly queer or gay, bi
tends to be something considered gay, or is ignored... There’s not anything really geared specifically
to the Bi population. It’s often ignored in any discipline and not addressed in trainings, even in groups
that consider themselves progressive. LGT gets covered, but not Bi...” – Miranda

8.
Findings
Our concept of Bi/Fluid folks comes from externally applied
definitions
May be difficult to have a group with goals if the group is
constantly redefining itself

9.
Analysis
Bi/Fluid/Queer folks don’t necessarily identify as feminist for a variety of
reasons
They identify some sort of bias from mostly outsider communities
The bias they identify within their social activist circles they believe is
approachable and malleable, and tend to embrace those as teaching and
learning moments
Is their sexuality radical?

10.
Conclusion
We can work to make activist circles inclusive, and naming
those communities will keep them sovereign in sexual
politics.
We can interrupt the cycle of oppression by addressing
microaggression