[A square image in overlapping shades of the pink, purple, and blue of the bi flag, with a joyful Black woman centered on it, arms outstretched and face upraised. Text reads: “Prepare your posts. Spread the word. May 2021 is the second annual Bi+ History Month.”]
[Image transcription: Be part of Bi+ History! None of it is common knowledge. We’re all learning and sharing together. Checkbihistorymonth.org for resources. Share your discoveries: A zine. A song. A person. An idea. A moment. A memory. If you like, add your own thoughts; make a video; create art. Tag it with #BiHistoryMonth. Share what others tag.]
Pass it on!
Me: “I want to bring up time travel. I know! I’ll find a good TARDIS gif.” Tumblr’s GIF search: “I GOT THIS”
get in, loser user, we’re going shopping time traveling
come visit amazing historical bi+ spaces! guaranteed absolutely zero alien attacks!
first, we land in Mexico City, 1947, where bisexual, polyamorous, socialist/Communist, disabled, Indigenous,brilliant artist Frida Kahlo is painting in her garden. Enjoy the sounds of brushstrokes, birdsong, the occasional organ-grinder, and eventually, some record albums playing in the background.
Then we pop just a quarter-century ahead, to New York City, 1971.
Five years before, bi activist Stephen Donaldson started the world’s first gay student organization: the Student Homophile League, at Columbia University. Last year, it became “Gay People at Columbia-Barnard.” And now it’s taken over this unused utility closet, in the basement of Furnald Hall, to create its very own lounge.
Kick back with a few of your fellow students to read, work, or just soak up the space. You’ll hear them turning pages, writing, flipping through books and papers, and at one point, eating a bag of chips. Later, someone comes in and turns on the college radio station, WCKR, which is playing some free jazz, followed by a live interview with Abbie Hoffman.
