
Metropolitan Community Church of Richmond
YOU are loved by God...
...just the way YOU are.
Richmond Bi+ Resource Group
hosted by MCC Richmond
BiPlusGroup@mccrichmond.org





Group Information


When —
We currently meet by request (BiPlusGroup@mccrichmond.org).
Our meetings may take place on every other Thursday from 7:00 - 8:00.
See Our Current Meeting Schedule
Other Discussion Group Resources
Description —
Join us for…
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A confidential discussion and support group.
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Open especially to anyone who identifies as pansexual, polysexual, omnisexual, bi-curious, questioning, people attracted to more than one gender, and those who just don't like labels.
All friends and allies are welcome, regardless of orientation!
What Do We Talk About?
The discussion group covers an array of topics that are applicable to the Bi+ community, including: coming out, bi+ visibility and erasure, community, relationships, physical and mental health, etc. Conversation starter questions are provided, but discussions are informal and follow the flow of what group members feel the need to discuss. We always have time at the beginning of the meeting to share stuff about ourselves.
See some of our past topics and sample questions.
For more information, contact BiPlusGroup@mccrichmond.org
Questions
Q: What is the “Bi+ Umbrella”?
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Bi+ means an acceptance of many different labels and identifications.
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One older, now often rejected convention is the binary idea that all people are either straight or gay.
This binary ignores (bi+) people who may have attraction to more than one gender.
This binary also ignores (asexual) people who don’t have attraction to anyone.
Bi+ can be a spectrum, a space between a binary. -
The Bi+ Umbrella is particularly welcoming of people who may identify as….
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Pansexual
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Polysexual
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Omnisexual
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Bicurious
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Fluid
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Homoflexible
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Heteroflexible
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Questioning
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Non-monosexual
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Biromantic, Panromantic
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Abrosexual
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Grey-A
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Queer
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Pomosexual
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Or people who don't like labels.
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Q: Why invite friends and allies?
We acknowledge…
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that friends and allies are an important part of our community,
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that people learn from each other,
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that a cause for equity is stronger when those with privilege stand in support of those oppressed or diminished,
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that we use our voices together to bring better tolerance and inclusion to our world.
Q: Do I Have to be “Out of the Closet” to Join?
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We have many different members who may be at different levels of disclosure and comfort.
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Some may be working on affirming their own identity to themselves (personal),
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Some may have only told a small group of trusted people (private),
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Some may have told people on a more public scale.
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All group members are expected to respect the confidentiality of all other participants.
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While someone may decide to reveal their identity in our private and confidential group setting, what happens in group stays in group. If you see someone from group in public, don’t assume they are out in a public setting.
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We absolutely respect the right that each person gets to decide who, where, and when to come out (or not at all).
Q: What Kinds of Things Are Off-Limits for Group
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We are not a Counseling group, but encourage those who could find those services useful to seek them out.
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We do not endorse political parties or political candidates.
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We are respectful that people may come from a variety of religious backgrounds or spiritual perspectives.
Vision
People need community. It is important for human well-being to have connection with others and a place to belong. Community provides engagement and support, but also helps us question and grow. Bi+ people deserve a space to meet others like them and to identify issues that make a difference in our lives. We want the chance to find meaning and identity in life and to be our best selves.
Resources
Bi+ Organizations
People
Youth Resources
I Think I May Be Bisexual, Now What Do I Do?. Advocates for Youth.
Coming Out for Bi+ Youth, Bisexual Resource Center
Family Resources
Dear Caregiver (For Families of Bi Youth). Bisexual Resource Center.
What to Do (and Not Do) When Your Child Comes Out to You. Family Equality.
What My Parents Think About My Bisexuality. Blaize Stewart
Special Awareness Events
September is Bi+ Visibility Month, centered around Sept 23rd (Bi+ Visibility Day)
Bi+ Visibility Day, a history and calendar of worldwide events
Celebrate Bi+ Awareness Week #BiWeek (2018). GLAAD
Accelerating Bi+ Acceptance. GLAAD
March is Bisexual Health Awareness Month, Bisexual Resource Center
Living Into Equity This Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month, Human Rights Campaign.
Coming Out as Bisexual to Your Doctor (2019). Human Rights Campaign.
Research Sources
Among LGBT Americans, Bisexuals Stand Out When it Comes to Identity, Acceptance (2015 from 2013 study). Pew Research Center.
Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations (2011). San Fransisco Human Rights Commission.
How Many People are Lesbian Gay Bisexual or Transgender? (2011). Gates, Gary J. The Williams Institute at UCLA
A Third of Young Americans Day They Aren't 100% Heterosexual (2015). Peter Moore. YouGov.
23 % of Young Black Women Now Identify as Bisexual (2019). Bridges, Tristan and Moore, Mignon R. The Conversation.
Other Stuff
The CDC Still Isn’t Counting Bisexuals Correctly (2016). Arielle Duhaime-Ross. The Verge.
What is Pansexuality? 4 Pan Celebs Explain in Their Own Words (2015). Danielle Evans. GLAAD.
22 Things You should Read for Bisexual Awareness Week,(2018). Zachary Zane. Pride.
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The Epistemic Contract of Bisexual Erasure (2000). Kenji Yoshindo.
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Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet (2013). Emily Alpert. LA Times.
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Revealing Research of Why Bisexual Men Don't Come Out (2014). Zachary Zane.
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Here's What No One Ever Tells You About Bisexuality (2015). Camille Beredjick. Mic.
Q & A: Bisexual Activist Robyn Ochs on Visibility, Erasure, and the Future of the Bi+ Movement (2016). Zachary Zane. Huffington Post.
Pink News, Bisexual Articles