Why Does Bisexual+ History Matter?

Host Mel Reeve explores the significance of bisexual+ history and its role in validating identity and fostering community connections. She unpacks the challenges faced in documenting bi+ stories and the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in heritage work.

Personal stories from community members showcase the impact of understanding bi+ history on individual identities and collective empowerment.

Instagram: @BiHistory
TikTok: @BiHistory
Website: bihistory.com

This is an independently recorded and produced podcast. Hosted, written, and produced by Mel Reeve. Music by Mel Reeve.

Transcript

Welcome to Bi History, the podcast where we explore how we handle the rich, complex, and often overlooked stories of the bisexual plus community. I'm your host, Mel Reeve . Whether you're here because you're curious about bisexual plus history, looking for a deeper connection to your own identity, or simply love learning about the diverse tapestry of human experiences, you're in the right place. Before we begin today's episode, here's just a bit of background.

I'm the founder of the By History Project. I'm a writer, copywriter, and experienced archivist. I have an MSc in information management and preservation from the University of Glasgow and have spent many years working in Heritage. I've been fortunate to collaborate on a range of amazing archive projects, including the Glasgow Women's Library Stride with Pride LGBTQ plus Heritage Trail and the National Library of Scotland and British Library Project, Unlocking Our Sound Heritage.

I created the Bi History Project to celebrate, preserve and promote the history of the Bi Plus community. I do this through a range of different routes, including training and workshops designed for heritage professionals, community groups and other organisations. I also consult on heritage projects to ensure inclusivity and provide advice and guidance to those looking to make their work more representative. Today, we're exploring a question that gets to the heart of why this podcast even exists. Why care about bisexual plus history?

History is powerful. It's how we make sense of the world and our place in it. It helps us understand who we are, where we've come from, and where we might go. But history isn't neutral. It's shaped by those who tell it, those who record it, and those who have the power to preserve it. Far too often, that can mean the stories of marginalised communities, like the bisexual plus community and wider LGBTQ plus community, get lost, overlooked, or erased.

For Biplus people, the stakes are high. We face some unique challenges, including exclusion from both mainstream spaces and some parts of the wider LGBTQ plus community. We can get told directly or indirectly that our stories do not matter. This erasure can leave us feeling isolated and disconnected, but history has the power to change that. When we uncover and celebrate Biplus history, we're doing more than just filling in the blanks of the past.

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We're validating our existence in the present and building a foundation for a more inclusive future. We're challenging stereotypes, reclaiming narratives, and creating spaces where bi plus people can see themselves reflected and celebrated. This episode is about exploring why that work matters, not just for bi plus people, but for everyone. Because when we create a fuller, more inclusive picture of the past, we all benefit.

We'll talk about the importance of seeing ourselves in history, the challenges of preserving Biplus stories, and the incredible power of reclaiming our place in the narrative. We'll also look at how this history can help us confront biphobia, build stronger communities, and imagine a better future for Biplus people and the wider LGBTQ community that we're also a part of. So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let's get started. This is Bi History, and today we're talking about why Biplus history

deserves our care, attention, and celebration. The way we perceive the world and our place in it is deeply shaped by the histories that precede us. Our understanding of who we are is influenced not only by our personal experiences, but also by the legacies of the families we're part of, or perhaps disconnected from, the communities we belong to, the places we inhabit, and whether we call them home or merely pass through. These layers of history

combined to form the foundation upon which we build our identities, helping us imagine who we can become and where we might go. But this process of self-creation becomes profoundly easier when we can see ourselves reflected in the histories that are told. When the narratives we encounter contain stories of people like us, it validates our experiences and provides a sense of continuity. It's often said that history is written by the winners, and unfortunately that's often true.

The version of history that dominates is controlled by those in power, those whose voices have traditionally been amplified, recorded, and preserved. For individuals whose identities align with the dominant culture, often cisgender, heterosexual, white, and male, finding those reflections can be easy. But for anyone who exists outside that dominant narrative, it can feel as though history has left us behind, making it more challenging to understand ourselves fully.

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We construct and understand history through records, documents, photographs, oral accounts, and artifacts. These are some of the tools that help us navigate the murky waters of the past. Yet the creation and preservation of such records are not free from bias. The stories that are captured and given prominence are usually those deemed important by the power structures of their time. And that leads us to a critical question. Who gets left behind? There is a systematic bias in what is preserved.

as an authoritative historical record. The institutions responsible for collecting and safeguarding our histories, archives, museums, and historical societies, often require significant resource to operate. Because these institutions are also frequently tied to larger dominant structures, they can overlook or undervalue marginalized voices. This exclusion can be intentional, rooted in prejudice, or unintentional, a byproduct of a system that prioritizes certain narratives

over others. Even when marginalised communities create records of their own histories, there's often some understandable resistance to engaging with traditional archive practices. This can stem from a distrust of institutions that have historically ignored or harmed them, or from differing cultural values around memory and preservation. For many, the idea of caring for living members of a community can feel more important than preserving records for future generations.

These factors mean that many voices, many experiences, historically have remained absent from the archive, and by extension, from our understanding of history. This imbalance is particularly pronounced when we consider LGBTQ plus history. It's not just about remembering what happened, but also about understanding who gets to be remembered. For bi plus people, this can be particularly pronounced. Bi plus individuals can face biphobia from both some LGBTQ plus spaces,

and the wider world. The misconception that bisexual plus people are not quote unquote queer enough or that they need to prove their place within the LGBTQ plus community can lead to isolation and feelings of invisibility. To me, this is why bi plus history matters. Knowing about the struggles and triumphs of bi plus individuals throughout history can help combat this erasure. It can provide validation and connection

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showing BiPlus people that they've always been a part of the LGBTQ community and the broader tapestry of human history. Access to this history doesn't just help us understand where we've come from. It empowers us to confront misconceptions and challenge the biphobia that continues to persist from both within and outside the LGBTQ community. Knowing this history gives us the tools to move past the same tired arguments and instead focus on creating inclusive spaces that address the unique needs of BiPlus people.

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Talking about LGBTQ plus history is about more than just understanding the experiences of all those that came before. It's also about the lives of people living now. Learning about and having access to information about your community's history can have a real impact on daily life, wellbeing, and even safety. Bi plus people can face negative treatment and exclusion from both heterosexual people and the LGBTQ plus community.

A common biphobic misconception is that bi plus people do not have a right to be in LGBTQ plus spaces or that they have to be in a relationship with someone of the same gender to qualify. For a bi plus person, this can increase isolation and result in a loss of community and a lack of access to resources and understanding about their own identity. Additionally, work around LGBTQ plus history can be reduced to simply lesbian and gay history, despite the fact that this erases the existence and work of bisexual and transgender people.

Naming the existence of BiPlus history can be a radical act, although there is no clean divide between the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people because these are all relatively new Western identifiers that not everyone throughout history had access to. Talking specifically about the history of the BiPlus community means that we are reclaiming some space as part of the wider LGBTQ Plus community for BiPlus identity and community. When we celebrate BiPlus history,

We're not only helping Biplus people feel less alone or more understood. We're also contributing to a broader effort to make the world a more inclusive and equitable place. For me personally, exploring Biplus history has been a journey of self-discovery and connection. It's helped me understand my own identity and given me the tools to support others in their own journeys. This is why Biplus history matters. It's not just about the past. It's about building a future where everyone

can see themselves reflected, valued, and celebrated. The answer to why we should care about Biplus history then is clearly as complex and multifaceted as the history itself. It's not just about preserving stories from the past, it's about understanding who we are today and shaping the kind of world we want to create. Biplus history matters because it validates identities that have been overlooked, challenges exclusionary narratives, and provides a roadmap for building a more inclusive LGBTQ plus community.

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While it is important to identify that there is a rich and powerful history to the Biplus community, it's also impossible to fully separate it from the history of the wider LGBTQ community, and nor should we want to. By exploring Biplus history and LGBTQ history, we honour the contributions of those who came before us, the activists, writers, thinkers, and everyday people who dared to live authentically. We acknowledge the struggles they faced and the triumphs they achieved.

ensuring that their stories are not lost to time. But this isn't just about remembrance. When we see ourselves reflected in history, it reminds us that we belong, that we have always belonged. It gives us the confidence to push back against misconceptions, fight for inclusion, and claim our rightful place within the broader LGBTQ plus community and society as a whole. Queer history is a rich and vibrant tapestry, woven from countless lives and experiences

that defies simple definitions or neat categories. It's a reminder that our identities are not new or fleeting, but part of the vast enduring complexity of human existence. By learning about this history, we not only deepen our understanding of ourselves and our communities, but we also help to create a brighter, more inclusive future. It was important to me when creating this podcast that I center the range of voices within the bi plus and queer community. After all,

The richness of queer history isn't just found in major milestones or historical figures, it's woven into the everyday lives and experiences of those who have lived it. That's why I'm thrilled to share your stories as part of this exploration. In every episode, I'm going to feature stories submitted by you, our listeners, fellow Biplus folks, and community members. History can be thought of as a static thing, recorded and told by a few, but we know it's something far more dynamic.

The stories you share show that bi plus history and queer history is alive and breathing, carried forward in the voices and memories of those who've experienced it. By sharing your stories, we're not just looking back at the past, we're connecting it to our present and future, enriching our collective understanding and strengthening our community.

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Our first story today comes from E, whose pronouns are she, her. As a bi woman who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s, I've experienced both sexualisation and harassment related to my identity. I feel like both of those present obvious challenges, as do some of the bi stereotypes of the era. I've dated lots of men, to whom I never even came out, because people could be really awful about that in the 2000s. I've also encountered lots of people looking for women loving women relationships that won't date bi people.

which is why I think I have dated more men despite being more attracted to people that are not men. I feel like the gold star time period was particularly rough as there wasn't much bi acceptance or at least not where I was located. I work with college students now and I think there's more acceptance of bi people today within the queer community which brings me lots of joy. I think that compulsory heterosexuality presents a particular challenge for bi people that I've definitely struggled with but I'm so excited whenever people talk to me about their experiences and realise they're also bi+.

I feel like I know tons of late in life bi people, and I'm delighted for them. I hope people will continue to move towards respecting people's bi identities, even if they are in straight presenting relationships, or have only had sexual experiences with one gender, or even no sexual experiences. I'm a historian who works really hard to preserve and share queer history in general. I think there are so many challenges in documenting bi plus experiences. In collections I've worked with, bi identities are often seen as a stop on the way to a more complete queer identity. Sometimes this hides bi plus people.

and sometimes it makes it seem as if everyone is at some point. I think bisexual plus history could be anything documenting the experiences of bi plus people and their loved ones. I work with lots of oral histories and ephemera to fill in gaps, and I think realistically that's the path forward for a lot of this documentation. The challenge is probably finding bi-identified people to chat with and to share any material culture they may have. Steven, whose pronouns are he they, shared this. I felt comfortable, but I also knew I had to keep it a secret.

For many years I understood it was about feelings for the same or the other gender. Now I know I am part of a vibrant rich community and my personal identity has evolved where my bisexuality intertwines with my gender fluidity. F, whose pronouns are he, him, had this to say, I don't feel like I associate with the wider bisexual community, but I am just happy people are more accepting of it these days. I will probably continue to be in the closet and not act on those feelings as I'm in a monogamous relationship with a woman.

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but I will continue to support where I can. Claudia, whose pronouns are she her, told us this about her experiences. One of the biggest and most unexpected joys that I found is that it gives me a new perspective on myself and the expansiveness of love and self-acceptance, particularly when it comes to body image. As I began to realize that I was queer, I noticed how beautiful I found women and non-binary people of all ages and all body types. If I could see and love the beauty in other people with bodies like mine, how could I not celebrate it in myself?

The biggest challenge for me has come because I've been with my male partner for 10 years and he's been steadfastly at my side as I came into my own identity. It's helped him identify aspects of queerness in his own experiences of identity and attraction and it's been nothing but good for our own relationship. However, I struggle with the fact that many friends and family will only ever see me as straight because I have a male partner. Knowing too that we can feel like intruders in queer spaces or I think we would both find a strong sense of community,

and that he could make other queer folks feel unsafe because of that misconception really bothers me and I haven't yet found a solution to it. Every time I learn about bi plus history and read the wisdom of queer elders, it's a reminder from the past that we can get past hard things. I gain strength from the people who came before me and know that even when things feel difficult or impossible, such as the state of LGBTQIA plus rights in the US today, we are so much stronger than the forces of hate out there in the world.

This history teaches us that we are building a better world day after day by existing and by resisting.

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Thank you for joining me on this journey today. I hope this episode has inspired you to think about the importance of Bi Plus history. If you've enjoyed this episode, please do share it with others and you can find us on Instagram at bihistory, TikTok at bihistory and at our website bihistory.com. Together, we can ensure that queer history is preserved, celebrated and shared. Until next time, remember, history isn't just about the past. It's about how we create ourselves and our world.

Let's make it a story worth telling.

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Thanks for listening to the By History Podcast. This is an independently produced and recorded podcast.