“…if bisexual people want to have their own board, the City should do that, but that it would not be serving bisexual people well to have their issues combined with others.”
“…spoke against having a separate board, because younger people are moving toward not defining themselves in these ways…”
“…the Board could ask the City Council to begin a Bisexual Task Force.”
ED. NOTE. The LA Bi Task Force regularly holds events and meetings in West Hollywood.
“…the Board is barely able to get through the agenda it already has, without adding an additional subject.”
“…moved to ask the City Council to consider whether there is a need to form a Bisexual Task Force to do a needs assessment of the bisexual community.”
“…supports the idea of asking the City Council to consider a Bisexual Task Force, but that she had joined a Lesbian and Gay board.”
“…talk to their own Councilmembers to see if there is a need for this in the community, and if so, to possibly come back with it in the future.
”…said the Board spends a large majority of its time on gay issues, and that people of all orientations might be better served by having one large board.“
”…said members were appointed to represent their particular identity as gay or lesbian, and that he didn’t want to presume to speak on someone else’s identity.“
“said that we are moving toward having one voice as a community, and would like to help people form an LGBT task force, seeing the changing nature of the community…”
[USA]:It’sLGBTQ Enrollment Week of Action-open enrollment means open for everyone, including ALL bisexuals+ their families and friends! So we are getting the word out to the Entire Bisexual Community this holiday season! Get Medical Coverage, then Get That Check-Up and Be Healthy!
And it helps that it’s cheaper and easier than ever before to get financial help and Get Covered for 2017. So CLICK THE LINK and give yourself and your loved ones the Gift of Health Care this Holiday Season.
Note:Bisexual+(Bi+ for short) is just *shorthand* for ALL Non-Monosexual people inclusive of but not limited to: Bisexual & Biromantic as well as Ambisexual, Flexisexual, Fluid, Heteroflexible & Homoflexible, Multisexual, No Labels, Omnisexual, Pansexual, Polysexual, Pomosexual, SGL (Same-gender Loving), Sapiosexual, Queer-identified, Questioning et al.
Additionally the Bisexual+ Community has always/will always include people of ALL genders/gender identification including but not limited to: Androgynous, Cis, Genderqueer, Gender-Nonconforming, Non-binary, Trans, et al.
In the past eight years, BiNet USAandother bisexual+ advocates have fought hard for increased visibility in national politics and social justice movements…
As the most LGBT-friendly presidential administration in American history comes to an end, and an openly hostile administration takes over, our fight for equality and justice may look different, but it certainly won’t stop … it has already become clear that the fight for social justice will require more support than ever in the next four years.
We are a volunteer-run organization, and while we will continue to donate our own time and resources, our programmatic work does cost money. Moreover, the bi+ community faces disproportionate levels of poverty compared to the gay and lesbian community, so we recognize how important it is to support each other and enlist help from our allies.
August 2nd is Give OUT Day in the USA, the annual online fundraising day for the LGBTQ community. We hope you’ll consider donatingtoBiNet USA, to help fund our work with and for the bisexual+ community.
Thebi+ communityfacesmajor disparities when it comes to mental and physical health, poverty, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. Despite these needs, groups that serve the bisexual+ community receive on average less than 1% of the annual funding allotted to LGBTQ groups.
So we/ve just have to do it ourselves! Like pretty much everything by and for the B in LGBT, BiNet USA is a volunteer-run DYI project. We depend on your volunteer hoursandyour donations to make all of this continue to work.
It doesn’t matter how much you give, or what you give, only that you give. By continuing to work together we can and we are making life better for all of us.
NOTE:Bisexual+(Bi+) refers to ALL Bisexual/Biromantic Non-Monosexual (androgynous, cis, gender-expansive, trans et al.) People who see themselves as not monosexual – ie not straight (aka hetrosexual) and not gay/lesbian (aka homosexual) – including but not limited to everyone who also use Personal Identity Labels such as Ambisexual, Flexisexual, Fluid, Heteroflexible, Homoflexible, Multisexual, No Labels, Omnisexual, Pansexual, Polysexual, PoMosexual, Sapiosexual, Queer, etc.
Almost every LGBT person, no matter how out and well-adjusted we may be, has turned to an LGBT nonprofit at some point in our lives … None of these organizations … can survive on good will and worthy missions alone. They need support to open their doors; to litigate and advocate and organize; to keep dedicated staff — even to keep the lights on. And for that, they need us — all of us.
1 in 20: We Can Do Better:The Horizons Foundation’s research shows that not even 5 percent of LGBT people give direct financial support to LGBT organizations. That’s just one in 20.
Ifevery one of the 8 million+ LGBT people in the United States woke uponGive Out Dayand gave $10 — just $10 — that would mean $80 million to take care of our elders, to fuel the fight for full equality, to make sure that queer youth can navigate this still-tough world, to support all those with medical and mental health issues,substance use, violence, poverty, discrimination, and dozens of other challenges.
Give Out Day is a chance for all of us to be part of something much bigger than any of us.
We hope All Bisexual/Non-monosexual, SGL + Queer identified people will consider donating to helpfundyour ownBisexual+ Community.It doesn’t matter how much you give, or what you give, only that you give:
I’m honored to join a cadre of fabulous bi activists, critics, and content creators at San Diego Comic Con for Bisexuality and Beyond: New Frontiers in Popular Culture – a SDCC panel that highlights the B in LGBT pop culture!
From movies to television to comics to YouTube, beloved characters have emerged whose lives and loves place them outside traditional notions of straight and gay. What does this burgeoning representation mean for the bi, pan, fluid, queer (bi+) community? Are the lives of bi people and the discrimination they face represented in popular science fiction, fantasy, and superhero genres? What’s life like for bisexual creators in popular media?
The panel is supported by the Bi Stories Project, which collects stories of the lives and challenges faced by bisexual people. Share your story at http://www.binetusa.org/bistories.
Honestly? As a bisexual person of color, I have many questions for President Trump. And, I have questions for the bi+ community and our allies too––questions about who we are, what we stand for, how we’re surviving, and how we can hold each other, our leadership, and the President accountable.
Are you, like me, terrified for the present and futures of bi+ youth, trans youth, people of color (POC) youth, and bi+ trans POC youth? For all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people? …
Is mainstream and LGBT media amplifying misinformation about bisexual people when they incorrectly report on bi+ celebs like Mel B, Angelina Jolie and Amber Heard and their very real experiences of violence? Is it that better or worse than when they neglect to report on our experiences at all? …
Once again, is our collective experience being used to sell records and films, to generate donations to organizations, and be silently consumed without a single whisper of “our letter” or an acknowledgment of our very existence? …
“Kudos to the dreamers, the fighters, rule breakers and boundary makers. Keep on letter writers! Keep strong and carry on.”
Shout out to the bisexuals out here slutting it up. Shout out to the bisexuals who enjoy threesomes (or foursomes+) and take advantage of those opportunities. Much love to the polyamorous bisexuals and the bisexuals who say they’re bi-curious and those who don’t like sex at all.
Glory be to the trans, gender non-conforming and nonbinary bisexuals. Y'all foine AF.
Hugs to the bisexual+ women/femmes who leave their lesbian partners and eventually end up with male partners and vice versa. Relationships of all orientations end and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for getting out or for moving forward with whomever you please. It’s your life. Fuck their judgment.
Bowing deep to all my black and brown bisexuals who have been shining in every way since humanity was a thing. Sending prayers of protection to all my immigrant and refugee bisexuals, restorative justice to my indigenous bisexuals and two-spirit folks, profound respect and recognition to all the elder bisexuals who got us here, and access to every single differently-abled bisexual on this planet.
Protection and healing to all the closeted bisexuals who feel like they have to use gay, lesbian or straight labels to survive. We’re here for you when and if ever you decide to take the glorious and terrifying leap.
Love to the bisexual+/pansexual/polysexual/omnisexual/asexual/biromantic/aro/fluid/no label/queer/questioning/OMG-I-don’t-know-sexuals just trying to find their way. Shout out to all the bisexuals under the vast bi+ umbrella who feel like a more specific label suits them a little better.
Love and light to the bisexuals who will hold onto their bi+ label and you’ll have to pry it from their cold dead hands. Bi+ is not binary (or transphobic) and pan is not sanctimonious (or transphobic). We are a community and we had better act like one because we can’t win without each other.
Eternal love, familial bonds and transformative wisdom to all the bisexuals out here trying to live our best lives, whether we fit their dusty and falsely monolithic stereotypes at times, or nah. We are more of the queer community than anyone else and our expressions of bisexuality are not always going to look or be the same. That’s ok. Just know that when the bi+ bat signal goes up and the bat phones ring, whatever your label, or lack thereof, we had better show up and show out. For all of us.
Honestly? As a bisexual person of color, I have many questions for President Trump. And, I have questions for the bi+ community and our allies too––questions about who we are, what we stand for, how we’re surviving, and how we can hold each other, our leadership, and the President accountable.
Are you, like me, terrified for the present and futures of bi+ youth, trans youth, people of color (POC) youth, and bi+ trans POC youth? For all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people? …
Is mainstream and LGBT media amplifying misinformation about bisexual people when they incorrectly report on bi+ celebs like Mel B, Angelina Jolie and Amber Heard and their very real experiences of violence? Is it that better or worse than when they neglect to report on our experiences at all? …
Once again, is our collective experience being used to sell records and films, to generate donations to organizations, and be silently consumed without a single whisper of “our letter” or an acknowledgment of our very existence? …
“Kudos to the dreamers, the fighters, rule breakers and boundary makers. Keep on letter writers! Keep strong and carry on.”
Honestly? As a bisexual person of color, I have many questions for President Trump. And, I have questions for the bi+ community and our allies too––questions about who we are, what we stand for, how we’re surviving, and how we can hold each other, our leadership, and the President accountable.
Are you, like me, terrified for the present and futures of bi+ youth, trans youth, people of color (POC) youth, and bi+ trans POC youth? For all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people? …
Is mainstream and LGBT media amplifying misinformation about bisexual people when they incorrectly report on bi+ celebs like Mel B, Angelina Jolie and Amber Heard and their very real experiences of violence? Is it that better or worse than when they neglect to report on our experiences at all? …
Once again, is our collective experience being used to sell records and films, to generate donations to organizations, and be silently consumed without a single whisper of “our letter” or an acknowledgment of our very existence? …
“Kudos to the dreamers, the fighters, rule breakers and boundary makers. Keep on letter writers! Keep strong and carry on.”
Shout out to the bisexuals out here slutting it up. Shout out to the bisexuals who enjoy threesomes (or foursomes+) and take advantage of those opportunities. Much love to the polyamorous bisexuals and the bisexuals who say they’re bi-curious and those who don’t like sex at all.
Glory be to the trans, gender non-conforming and nonbinary bisexuals. Y'all foine AF.
Hugs to the bisexual+ women/femmes who leave their lesbian partners and eventually end up with male partners and vice versa. Relationships of all orientations end and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for getting out or for moving forward with whomever you please. It’s your life. Fuck their judgment.
Bowing deep to all my black and brown bisexuals who have been shining in every way since humanity was a thing. Sending prayers of protection to all my immigrant and refugee bisexuals, restorative justice to my indigenous bisexuals and two-spirit folks, profound respect and recognition to all the elder bisexuals who got us here, and access to every single differently-abled bisexual on this planet.
Protection and healing to all the closeted bisexuals who feel like they have to use gay, lesbian or straight labels to survive. We’re here for you when and if ever you decide to take the glorious and terrifying leap.
Love to the bisexual+/pansexual/polysexual/omnisexual/asexual/biromantic/aro/fluid/no label/queer/questioning/OMG-I-don’t-know-sexuals just trying to find their way. Shout out to all the bisexuals under the vast bi+ umbrella who feel like a more specific label suits them a little better.
Love and light to the bisexuals who will hold onto their bi+ label and you’ll have to pry it from their cold dead hands. Bi+ is not binary (or transphobic) and pan is not sanctimonious (or transphobic). We are a community and we had better act like one because we can’t win without each other.
Eternal love, familial bonds and transformative wisdom to all the bisexuals out here trying to live our best lives, whether we fit their dusty and falsely monolithic stereotypes at times, or nah. We are more of the queer community than anyone else and our expressions of bisexuality are not always going to look or be the same. That’s ok. Just know that when the bi+ bat signal goes up and the bat phones ring, whatever your label, or lack thereof, we had better show up and show out. For all of us.
In the past eight years, BiNet USAandother bisexual+ advocates have fought hard for increased visibility in national politics and social justice movements…
As the most LGBT-friendly presidential administration in American history comes to an end, and an openly hostile administration takes over, our fight for equality and justice may look different, but it certainly won’t stop … it has already become clear that the fight for social justice will require more support than ever in the next four years.
We are a volunteer-run organization, and while we will continue to donate our own time and resources, our programmatic work does cost money. Moreover, the bi+ community faces disproportionate levels of poverty compared to the gay and lesbian community, so we recognize how important it is to support each other and enlist help from our allies.
August 2nd is Give OUT Day in the USA, the annual online fundraising day for the LGBTQ community. We hope you’ll consider donatingtoBiNet USA, to help fund our work with and for the bisexual+ community.
Thebi+ communityfacesmajor disparities when it comes to mental and physical health, poverty, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. Despite these needs, groups that serve the bisexual+ community receive on average less than 1% of the annual funding allotted to LGBTQ groups.
So we/ve just have to do it ourselves! Like pretty much everything by and for the B in LGBT, BiNet USA is a volunteer-run DYI project. We depend on your volunteer hoursandyour donations to make all of this continue to work.
It doesn’t matter how much you give, or what you give, only that you give. By continuing to work together we can and we are making life better for all of us.
NOTE:Bisexual+(Bi+) refers to ALL Bisexual/Biromantic Non-Monosexual (androgynous, cis, gender-expansive, trans et al.) People who see themselves as not monosexual – ie not straight (aka hetrosexual) and not gay/lesbian (aka homosexual) – including but not limited to everyone who also use Personal Identity Labels such as Ambisexual, Flexisexual, Fluid, Heteroflexible, Homoflexible, Multisexual, No Labels, Omnisexual, Pansexual, Polysexual, PoMosexual, Sapiosexual, Queer, etc.
Almost every LGBT person, no matter how out and well-adjusted we may be, has turned to an LGBT nonprofit at some point in our lives … None of these organizations … can survive on good will and worthy missions alone. They need support to open their doors; to litigate and advocate and organize; to keep dedicated staff — even to keep the lights on. And for that, they need us — all of us.
1 in 20: We Can Do Better:The Horizons Foundation’s research shows that not even 5 percent of LGBT people give direct financial support to LGBT organizations. That’s just one in 20.
Ifevery one of the 8 million+ LGBT people in the United States woke uponGive Out Dayand gave $10 — just $10 — that would mean $80 million to take care of our elders, to fuel the fight for full equality, to make sure that queer youth can navigate this still-tough world, to support all those with medical and mental health issues,substance use, violence, poverty, discrimination, and dozens of other challenges.
Give Out Day is a chance for all of us to be part of something much bigger than any of us.
We hope All Bisexual/Non-monosexual, SGL + Queer identified people will consider donating to helpfundyour ownBisexual+ Community.It doesn’t matter how much you give, or what you give, only that you give:
Elizabeth and Amy discuss LGBTQ+ legal protections with Nicholas Breiner, a Kentucky teacher who was fired when he came out as Bi; and Jennifer Nwachukwu and Aunna Dennis of the Lawyers’ Committe for Civil Rights Under Law.
Elizabeth speaks about the NYC Feminist Film Week program Vivid Glances with Patricia Silva, Guest Programmer; Film-maker Shelby Zoe Coley; performance artist, Edith Woolley, a.k.a. Manly Stanley, and Lynnette McFadzen, President of BiNet USA. Proceeds from the Vivid Glances screening will benefit BiNet USA.
Bi Net USA Vice President Faith Cheltenham speaks to Dr. Tangela Roberts, Professor of Psychology at Western Michigan University about the intersectionality of sociology, psychology, and black bi+ lives.
In celebration of Black History Month, Faith Cheltenham, Vice President of BiNet USA, hosts David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition.
I found my place in the LGBTQA community a long time ago, and while it isn’t uncommon for threats to emerge from the outside, it appears one has reared its head from within with dollars signs in their eyes.
In 1998, bi activist Michael Page created and unveiled the bisexual flag. He wrote, “The intent and purpose of the flag is to maximize bisexual pride and visibility. This bi flag is for free public and commercial use. As a result of volunteer work I was doing for BiNet USA, it occurred to me that if bi people were going to be visible at home, pride events and political rallies, we needed a Bi Pride Flag!”
While BiNet USA has previously done tons of great work for the bisexual community, something appears to have happened that’s caused quite a stir.
Days ago, without consulting board members, BiNet USA’s president, Faith Cheltenham, tweeted out to a small creator who sold pride merch about their usage of the bi flag. (From my research, this creator uses the funds for activism)
They then went out to tweet this:
And then encouraged people to send them messages if they saw an unauthorized person using the flag:
There were also tweets like this, where the president called out others:
And then this:
As expected, the backlash on Twitter was loud, large, fierce and immediate, so much so that Bi Net USA deleted their Twitter page (which had around 13k+ followers). Their remaining account is a newly made one called the binetcollective, while the president continues tweeting on her personal Twitter, thefayth.
Many users have taken care to screenshot her posts as evidence.
Not only is she doubling down, but she has taken to doxxing/outing members who have stood up against her.
Here is one example. (A user who screenshot her post as evidence took the liberty to block out the name to protect the emailer’s identity, so as not to potentially out them):
I’m not entirely sure what she means by white bisexual supremacy, as race has nothing to do with why people are upset with her, and the subject of race does not come up in the email, which is a copy and paste email multiple people are sending:
That little black line is something Faith underlined herself.
Here is a statement from one of the board members:
Now, all that being said, can you copyright the bi flag?
According to copyright guidelines: no.
A simple, geometric design with three colors is not eligible for copyright.
Trademarks are another matter, but thus far there is no record of a copyright or trademark on the bisexual flag, so if the President is sending out C&D’s to stop people from using it, they could get themselves into a world of legal trouble and open themselves up to lawsuits.
While she claims to have been contact with Michael Page, saying he has given her the okay to do this, no one has heard from the man himself in years.
My take? Many small creators create pride merch, and that’s totally alright! It increases visibility. The bi flag, or any like flag, should not belong to any one person. It belongs to all it represents! One should not have to ask for permission to use it.
The narrative BiNet’s president is creating is dangerous, and there needs to be a serious conversation about what they are trying to do.
UPDATE:
President Faith Cheltenham has doubled down, and board member Lauren Beach has resigned. There has been no apology thus far, not even for the doxxing. Not entirely sure why the confederate flag was brought up, since it really hasn’t much to do with the whole situation:
Another board member has resigned, though the word ‘amicable’ implies it was not on bad terms:
Update: Faith Cheltenham is stepping down as president, and being replaced by Juba Kalamka. The organization has seemed to have retracted their claim on the bisexual flag.
I found my place in the LGBTQA community a long time ago, and while it isn’t uncommon for threats to emerge from the outside, it appears one has reared its head from within with dollars signs in their eyes.
In 1998, bi activist Michael Page created and unveiled the bisexual flag. He wrote, “The intent and purpose of the flag is to maximize bisexual pride and visibility. This bi flag is for free public and commercial use. As a result of volunteer work I was doing for BiNet USA, it occurred to me that if bi people were going to be visible at home, pride events and political rallies, we needed a Bi Pride Flag!”
While BiNet USA has previously done tons of great work for the bisexual community, something appears to have happened that’s caused quite a stir.
Days ago, without consulting board members, BiNet USA’s president, Faith Cheltenham, tweeted out to a small creator who sold pride merch about their usage of the bi flag. (From my research, this creator uses the funds for activism)
They then went out to tweet this:
And then encouraged people to send them messages if they saw an unauthorized person using the flag:
There were also tweets like this, where the president called out others:
And then this:
As expected, the backlash on Twitter was loud, large, fierce and immediate, so much so that Bi Net USA deleted their Twitter page (which had around 13k+ followers). Their remaining account is a newly made one called the binetcollective, while the president continues tweeting on her personal Twitter, thefayth.
Many users have taken care to screenshot her posts as evidence.
Not only is she doubling down, but she has taken to doxxing/outing members who have stood up against her.
Here is one example. (A user who screenshot her post as evidence took the liberty to block out the name to protect the emailer’s identity, so as not to potentially out them):
I’m not entirely sure what she means by white bisexual supremacy, as race has nothing to do with why people are upset with her, and the subject of race does not come up in the email, which is a copy and paste email multiple people are sending:
That little black line is something Faith underlined herself.
Here is a statement from one of the board members:
Now, all that being said, can you copyright the bi flag?
According to copyright guidelines: no.
A simple, geometric design with three colors is not eligible for copyright.
Trademarks are another matter, but thus far there is no record of a copyright or trademark on the bisexual flag, so if the President is sending out C&D’s to stop people from using it, they could get themselves into a world of legal trouble and open themselves up to lawsuits.
While she claims to have been contact with Michael Page, saying he has given her the okay to do this, no one has heard from the man himself in years.
My take? Many small creators create pride merch, and that’s totally alright! It increases visibility. The bi flag, or any like flag, should not belong to any one person. It belongs to all it represents! One should not have to ask for permission to use it.
The narrative BiNet’s president is creating is dangerous, and there needs to be a serious conversation about what they are trying to do.
UPDATE:
President Faith Cheltenham has doubled down, and board member Lauren Beach has resigned. There has been no apology thus far, not even for the doxxing. Not entirely sure why the confederate flag was brought up, since it really hasn’t much to do with the whole situation:
I found my place in the LGBTQA community a long time ago, and while it isn’t uncommon for threats to emerge from the outside, it appears one has reared its head from within with dollars signs in their eyes.
In 1998, bi activist Michael Page created and unveiled the bisexual flag. He wrote, “The intent and purpose of the flag is to maximize bisexual pride and visibility. This bi flag is for free public and commercial use. As a result of volunteer work I was doing for BiNet USA, it occurred to me that if bi people were going to be visible at home, pride events and political rallies, we needed a Bi Pride Flag!”
While BiNet USA has previously done tons of great work for the bisexual community, something appears to have happened that’s caused quite a stir.
Days ago, without consulting board members, BiNet USA’s president, Faith Cheltenham, tweeted out to a small creator who sold pride merch about their usage of the bi flag. (From my research, this creator uses the funds for activism)
They then went out to tweet this:
And then encouraged people to send them messages if they saw an unauthorized person using the flag:
There were also tweets like this, where the president called out others:
And then this:
As expected, the backlash on Twitter was loud, large, fierce and immediate, so much so that Bi Net USA deleted their Twitter page (which had around 13k+ followers). Their remaining account is a newly made one called the binetcollective, while the president continues tweeting on her personal Twitter, thefayth.
Many users have taken care to screenshot her posts as evidence.
Not only is she doubling down, but she has taken to doxxing/outing members who have stood up against her.
Here is one example. (A user who screenshot her post as evidence took the liberty to block out the name to protect the emailer’s identity, so as not to potentially out them):
I’m not entirely sure what she means by white bisexual supremacy, as race has nothing to do with why people are upset with her, and the subject of race does not come up in the email, which is a copy and paste email multiple people are sending:
That little black line is something Faith underlined herself.
Here is a statement from one of the board members:
Now, all that being said, can you copyright the bi flag?
According to copyright guidelines: no.
A simple, geometric design with three colors is not eligible for copyright.
Trademarks are another matter, but thus far there is no record of a copyright or trademark on the bisexual flag, so if the President is sending out C&D’s to stop people from using it, they could get themselves into a world of legal trouble and open themselves up to lawsuits.
While she claims to have been contact with Michael Page, saying he has given her the okay to do this, no one has heard from the man himself in years.
My take? Many small creators create pride merch, and that’s totally alright! It increases visibility. The bi flag, or any like flag, should not belong to any one person. It belongs to all it represents! One should not have to ask for permission to use it.
The narrative BiNet’s president is creating is dangerous, and there needs to be a serious conversation about what they are trying to do.
UPDATE:
President Faith Cheltenham has doubled down, and board member Lauren Beach has resigned. There has been no apology thus far, not even for the doxxing. Not entirely sure why the confederate flag was brought up, since it really hasn’t much to do with the whole situation:
I found my place in the LGBTQA community a long time ago, and while it isn’t uncommon for threats to emerge from the outside, it appears one has reared its head from within with dollars signs in their eyes.
In 1998, bi activist Michael Page created and unveiled the bisexual flag. He wrote, “The intent and purpose of the flag is to maximize bisexual pride and visibility. This bi flag is for free public and commercial use. As a result of volunteer work I was doing for BiNet USA, it occurred to me that if bi people were going to be visible at home, pride events and political rallies, we needed a Bi Pride Flag!”
While BiNet USA has previously done tons of great work for the bisexual community, something appears to have happened that’s caused quite a stir.
Days ago, without consulting board members, BiNet USA’s president, Faith Cheltenham, tweeted out to a small creator who sold pride merch about their usage of the bi flag. (From my research, this creator uses the funds for activism)
They then went out to tweet this:
And then encouraged people to send them messages if they saw an unauthorized person using the flag:
There were also tweets like this, where the president called out others:
And then this:
As expected, the backlash on Twitter was loud, large, fierce and immediate, so much so that Bi Net USA deleted their Twitter page (which had around 13k+ followers). Their remaining account is a newly made one called the binetcollective, while the president continues tweeting on her personal Twitter, thefayth.
Many users have taken care to screenshot her posts as evidence.
Not only is she doubling down, but she has taken to doxxing/outing members who have stood up against her.
Here is one example. (A user who screenshot her post as evidence took the liberty to block out the name to protect the emailer’s identity, so as not to potentially out them):
I’m not entirely sure what she means by white bisexual supremacy, as race has nothing to do with why people are upset with her, and the subject of race does not come up in the email, which is a copy and paste email multiple people are sending:
That little black line is something Faith underlined herself.
Here is a statement from one of the board members:
Now, all that being said, can you copyright the bi flag?
According to copyright guidelines: no.
A simple, geometric design with three colors is not eligible for copyright.
Trademarks are another matter, but thus far there is no record of a copyright or trademark on the bisexual flag, so if the President is sending out C&D’s to stop people from using it, they could get themselves into a world of legal trouble and open themselves up to lawsuits.
While she claims to have been contact with Michael Page, saying he has given her the okay to do this, no one has heard from the man himself in years.
My take? Many small creators create pride merch, and that’s totally alright! It increases visibility. The bi flag, or any like flag, should not belong to any one person. It belongs to all it represents! One should not have to ask for permission to use it.
The narrative BiNet’s president is creating is dangerous, and there needs to be a serious conversation about what they are trying to do.
UPDATE:
President Faith Cheltenham has doubled down, and board member Lauren Beach has resigned. There has been no apology thus far, not even for the doxxing. Not entirely sure why the confederate flag was brought up, since it really hasn’t much to do with the whole situation:
I found my place in the LGBTQA community a long time ago, and while it isn’t uncommon for threats to emerge from the outside, it appears one has reared its head from within with dollars signs in their eyes.
In 1998, bi activist Michael Page created and unveiled the bisexual flag. He wrote, “The intent and purpose of the flag is to maximize bisexual pride and visibility. This bi flag is for free public and commercial use. As a result of volunteer work I was doing for BiNet USA, it occurred to me that if bi people were going to be visible at home, pride events and political rallies, we needed a Bi Pride Flag!”
While BiNet USA has previously done tons of great work for the bisexual community, something appears to have happened that’s caused quite a stir.
Days ago, without consulting board members, BiNet USA’s president, Faith Cheltenham, tweeted out to a small creator who sold pride merch about their usage of the bi flag. (From my research, this creator uses the funds for activism)
They then went out to tweet this:
And then encouraged people to send them messages if they saw an unauthorized person using the flag:
There were also tweets like this, where the president called out others:
And then this:
As expected, the backlash on Twitter was loud, large, fierce and immediate, so much so that Bi Net USA deleted their Twitter page (which had around 13k+ followers). Their remaining account is a newly made one called the binetcollective, while the president continues tweeting on her personal Twitter, thefayth.
Many users have taken care to screenshot her posts as evidence.
Not only is she doubling down, but she has taken to doxxing/outing members who have stood up against her.
Here is one example. (A user who screenshot her post as evidence took the liberty to block out the name to protect the emailer’s identity, so as not to potentially out them):
I’m not entirely sure what she means by white bisexual supremacy, as race has nothing to do with why people are upset with her, and the subject of race does not come up in the email, which is a copy and paste email multiple people are sending:
That little black line is something Faith underlined herself.
Here is a statement from one of the board members:
Now, all that being said, can you copyright the bi flag?
According to copyright guidelines: no.
A simple, geometric design with three colors is not eligible for copyright.
Trademarks are another matter, but thus far there is no record of a copyright or trademark on the bisexual flag, so if the President is sending out C&D’s to stop people from using it, they could get themselves into a world of legal trouble and open themselves up to lawsuits.
While she claims to have been contact with Michael Page, saying he has given her the okay to do this, no one has heard from the man himself in years.
My take? Many small creators create pride merch, and that’s totally alright! It increases visibility. The bi flag, or any like flag, should not belong to any one person. It belongs to all it represents! One should not have to ask for permission to use it.
The narrative BiNet’s president is creating is dangerous, and there needs to be a serious conversation about what they are trying to do.
![The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil [USA]: It’s LGBTQ Enrollment Week of Action - open enr](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ef3b0b7a0ccd1dbff19f402ec004e1f5/tumblr_ohst8uvo6w1tan22jo1_1280.jpg "The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil [USA]: It’s LGBTQ Enrollment Week of Action - open enr")
Published 2019-03-14
Published2019-02-28
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