Steppin' Out

 Image compliments of Michelle Arena, Kaleidoscope Studio

The following is a statement that has been a long time coming.  For the curious, an introduction to a me you maybe didn't know.  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my best bud, Gordon, and to my family, for the love and support that have made this possible.  Not everybody has a squad behind them, so I know how fortunate I am.  First a bit of poetry.

BI-cause

I'm steppin' out at last

Bi-cause the shadows do not suit me

Will not dwell there anymore

I've shown the pink, blue, purple door

To my confusion, to my shame

'Cause BI is me, one and the same

And I need you to see I'm REAL

In every way that I define it

Love or hate me 

That's your choice

But have no doubt 'bout what you're getting

When I speak, when I do

My words, my deeds never regretting

Bi-cause from this day ever on

I live to see my tribe arise

With leveled eyes on our future

Our truth prevailing over lies

And myths that fuel our bi-erasure

For my brothers of the silence

My sisters of shadow too

My champion stood up before me

Now I will stand for you

Let deniers see our numbers

Gate keepers greet our flag

We, your kindred in the rainbow

Will not fly an orphan rag

We don't follow your bandwagon

Our legit path is our own

This box you built for Nature

Is a box that She's outgrown

I confess that men intrigue me

I know that women do

I can delight in their beauties

Might connect with their souls

Would not deny one or the other

If we felt that chemistry

True magic is rare enough

In our emotional histories

Brothers, sisters who embody this

Living lives misunderstood

Under the branding and the judgment

Yearn to cast them off for good

My open hand become your lifeline

Fear receding in our wake

All my hope for our tomorrows

In this small step I take

Today is my day, another step in a journey I've been walking for years, an important step in my efforts to claim personal authenticity and to use my voice as I and others feel I should.  I belong to a special community of beautiful souls who possess a unique, and I believe valuable, perspective on human relationships.  Bisexual folks are as individual and varied as anyone who identifies with any other "color" on the sexuality spectrum, but we are misunderstood and misjudged from seemingly all directions, and we are far more numerous among the human race than most people realize.  Some call us the "silent majority" in the LGBTQ+ community.  True or not, we demand nothing more than the acceptance and legitimacy that everyone else claims, and freedom from the prejudice and stereotyping that persist against us. 

So I stand up today, with the support of those closest to me, and I hope to inspire as many as possible of my kindred in the "alphabet" to step out of the shadows until we reach whatever critical mass is necessary to see meaningful progress.  I do this most of all for all the young people who live in shame, confusion, fear and loneliness due to the senseless ignorance and intolerance which persist among their families, their faiths, their peers and communities.  You are not alone.  You are loved and respected.  Your futures are wide open, and they can hold happiness and wholeness for you.  Don't forsake them.  There is only one direction: forward.