Bi America: Myths, Truths, And Struggles Of An Invisible Community

I’ve said before, I try to stay away from reviewing non-fiction books that are more than a couple of years old. Things change so much in relation to the lesbian and gay communities over the course of a few years that many books become dated quickly. Some books though, especially books addressing bisexuality and the issues that surround it, are not quite so dated even if they are a half dozen years old.

Some would say the “T” portion of LGBT, the transgender ,are the most misunderstood among us. I have to say that I respectfully disagree. True, it’s hard for those of us who are not transgender to understand those who are but, frankly, no one really disputes their queerness or their inclusion in the overall community. It’s not so simple for our bisexual brothers and sisters.

Less research is done on bisexuality as opposed to things that are hetero-normative or homosexual. As a result, older research and older publications are still vehicles that are of some use for learning about bisexuality. Today’s review of the book, Bi America: Myths, Truths, And Struggles Of An Invisible Community, by William Burleson is a 2005 publication that still has considerable relevance almost 7 years after publication.

The publisher’s description of this book is extensive. Here’s a telling excerpt:

There are at least five million bisexual people in America, generally invisible to straight society, the gay community, and even to each other. While the vast majority of these five million live within the straight or gay world, there are a few who have formed a community of their own. Bi America: Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community offers an inside look at the American bisexual community and gives an understanding of the special circumstances unique to being bisexual. The book takes the reader to bi community events from picnics, to conferences, to support groups, to performances in order to expose the everyday trials of the bisexual community…

and:

Get the answers to these questions in Bi America:

• What is bisexuality?
• Is there a bisexual community?
• What is the culture of the bisexual community?
• What are commonalities and differences between the experiences of bi men and bi women?
• What is the special relationship between the bisexual and the transgender community?
• How have bisexuals and the bi community been affected by HIV/AIDS?
• What is the future of bisexual activism, if any?

There’s quite a bit here to discover. Do I agree with all of it? No. Does most of it make sense or strike a chord? Yes. This is a very useful reference for those trying to understand what really is the most misunderstood part of our community.