BY CHUCK KRAMER
Thirty-six Chicago area bisexuals and their supporters, participating in an international event, met at the Center on Halsted Sept. 23 to raise the profile of bisexuality and applaud the diversity of the community.
A panel discussion, organized by Br. Michael C. Oboza of the Chicago Bisexual / Queer Community (www.meetup.com/chicago-bisexual-queer-meetup/), discussed the history of bisexuals in the LGBT movement. The discussion also considered gender and sexual identity and the effects of using labels to describe and define people. Members of the panel included Paige Listerud, Wendy Bostwick, Ph.D., Karen McReady, Eliot M. Scott, Adrienne Williams and Ed Negron.
The speakers called for increasing bi visibility and urged bisexuals to self-define and “come out” to their friends in the LGBT community to bring attention to the uniqueness of their lives.
A Q&A session followed and the event ended with socializing and networking to foster community and communication.