Book

Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World

📖 Overview

Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World is an anthology of personal essays, poetry, and interviews from bisexual individuals across continents and cultures. Editor Robyn Ochs has compiled over 200 contributions that represent experiences from more than 40 countries. The collection presents firsthand accounts of coming out, relationships, discrimination, community building, and identity formation. Contributors discuss navigating both straight and LGBTQ+ spaces, challenging assumptions about bisexuality, and finding acceptance in various cultural contexts. The anthology includes perspectives from people of different ages, religions, ethnicities, and gender identities. Writers share their experiences in both urban and rural settings, addressing the intersections of bisexuality with other aspects of their lives and identities. This compilation stands as a record of bisexual experiences in the early 21st century, highlighting both common themes and diverse realities across geographical and cultural boundaries. The work centers voices that have historically been underrepresented in LGBTQ+ literature and discourse.

👀 Reviews

Readers appreciate the diversity of perspectives from bisexual people across different cultures, ages, and backgrounds. Many note the book helps them feel less alone in their experiences. The anthology format makes it accessible for reading in short segments. Positive reviews highlight: - Personal stories that validate bi+ experiences - International scope beyond Western perspectives - Clear explanations of bi identity and challenges - Usefulness for both bi people and allies Critical reviews mention: - Some repetitive content between essays - Uneven writing quality across contributors - Limited exploration of certain topics/regions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (327 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (21 ratings) One reader notes: "The variety of voices and experiences helped me understand myself better." Another states: "Would have benefited from more content from Africa and Asia."

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🤔 Interesting facts

🔹 Robyn Ochs coined one of the most widely cited definitions of bisexuality: "the potential to be attracted – romantically and/or sexually – to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree." 🔹 Getting Bi features contributions from over 200 people across 42 countries, making it one of the most globally diverse collections of bisexual voices ever published. 🔹 The book was first published in 2005 and was updated with a second edition in 2009 to include more international perspectives and address evolving discussions around gender identity. 🔹 Robyn Ochs has been an activist for bisexual visibility for over 40 years and served as the first woman to come out in Newsweek magazine as bisexual (1988). 🔹 The anthology addresses intersections of bisexuality with race, class, nationality, gender identity, and disability - themes that were rarely discussed in LGBTQ+ literature when the book was first published.