ju s t o u t ▼ m arch 2 1 , 1 9 9 7 ▼ 13
Depression-Drugs-Anxiety
Now, There's Light at the End of the Tunnel
Too grand
A Portland group seeks to mobilize
at least 2,000 bisexuals by the millennium
V
by Inga Sorensen
ven Bonnichsen wants to help usher
bisexuals out of the closet and into Pio
neer Courthouse Square.
Two thousand bisexuals, to be exact.
“That’s the goal—more would be
even better,” says the enthusiastic political direc
tor of the Portland Bisexual Alliance, a year-and-
a-half old support and advocacy group for bi
sexuals.
On March 28, PBA will hold a planning
meeting to discuss its vision—“Bi 2000”—a pun
of sorts about gathering 2,000 bisexuals to cel
ebrate and rally at the Rose City’s most public
spot sometime in the year 2000.
Bonnichsen, 25, acknowledges that the task
of transforming this vision into reality will likely
be laced with challenges.
At the same time, he may be the person to pull
it off, given his desire and flair for theatrics.
(During his graduation ceremony at Reed Col
lege last year, he wore a “tasteful” pink prom
meetings of the [Portland Police Bureau’s] Sexual
Minority Roundtable, the Rose Court, and Pride
Northwest.”
PBA has also launched “Bisexuality 101,” a
workshop designed to educate people about bi
sexuality. Phoenix Rising Foundation and Par
ents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
are among the organizations that have recently
requested a “Bisexuality 101” session.
“There are still so many myths out there about
bisexuality,” says Bonnichsen, “like the belief
that bisexuality doesn’t exist. When you actually
see and hear bisexual people, it’s hard to say
we’re not for real.”
PBA, which Bonnichsen says has an esti
mated 35 dues-paying members, is making a
concerted effort to be heard.
The group is sponsoring ongoing public dem
onstrations against Willamette Week’s personals
ad policy. PBA is unhappy that the weekly
newspaper’s policy calls for bisexuals’ personals
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gown—not to mock women, but rather to make a
point about sexist societal rules that dictate how
the genders dress themselves. He also cops to
being happiest when he has a picket sign in his
hand.)
“The bi community is a relatively young one.
It seems that we haven’t had any long-term, big
visions of where we want to go nationally or
locally,” he explains.
“I started thinking that at least locally we
could hold a summer rally, then I thought perhaps
we should make it an annual event, and then I
thought, ‘Why not aim for something really big?’
That’s how Bi 2000 came about,” continues
Bonnichsen. "I just think it would be incredible to
have this kind of large-scale event. Just imagine
a speakout of bisexual men and women. Maybe
we could connect an international [bisexual] con
ference with it. That’s all very exciting to me.”
Among PBA’s top concerns are violence
against sexual minorities, the ostracism often
experienced by bisexuals both within the gay and
lesbian community and heterosexual society, and
visibility issues.
"One of our primary missions is advocacy,”
says Bonnichsen. “We’re making a real effort to
establish a bi voice at various forums, like at
to be placed under the category “Other,” regard
less of where they would like their ads to run.
PBA held a protest during Willamette Week's
“Cupid, Culture & Cocktails Bash” on Valentine’s
Day.
Eleven demonstrators handed out flyers, held
up signs and spoke to people attending the [het
erosexual-oriented] dance. Members of the Les
bian Avengers and Bradley-Angle House Bi
Women’s Caucus showed up to support PBA’s
cause. A similar demonstration occurred during
a same-sex event sponsored by Willamette Week
on March 3.
"We’ll keep doing this until they change their
policy,” vows Bonnichsen, adding it’s simply
part of PBA’s goal to work toward equity and
fairness for bisexuals.
The Portland Bisexual Alliance is sponsoring a
March 21 discussion entitled “Men and
Bisexuality. ” It will be held at 7 pm at
Laughing Horse Books, 3625 SE Division in
Portland. The first Bi 2000 planning meeting is
slated for March 28 at 7 pm at Common
Grounds Coffee House, 4321 SE Hawthorne
Blvd., in Portland. For further information,
contact PBA at 232-9275.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square, site o f the proposed gathering