By Robyn Ochs Robyn Ochs: Please tell us about yourself. Jacquelyn Applebee: I was born and raised in London, England. I’m currently a published writer of erotic fiction, although I work in an academic library too; sadly they only stock business books, so it’s not much use to me! I’m out at work as bisexual,…
Category: Around the World
Elena Marcos, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
By Robyn Ochs I met Elena in August at the International Conference on Bisexuality. In her 20s, friendly and with an easy smile, Elena combines enthusiasm and a strong sense of purpose with intelligence and calm attentiveness. Robyn Ochs: Elena, please tell us a little bit about your background. Elena Marcos: I was born in…
Around the World: Yossra Hamouda, Egypt
And a Few Years Later, I’m Still Meaningfully Alive By Yossra Hamouda A few years ago when I first wrote to you, I was young. I was experiencing, for the first time, the meaning of freedom and self-love. I wrote to you just three months after my own coming out. If you remember, I am…
Holly Hammond, Canberra, Australia
By Robyn Ochs Holly Hammond is a 35-year-old activist who has identified as bi since age 17. She’s based in Canberra, Australia’s capital city, where she lives with her partner Clare and their tiny dog, Pez. She works as an activist educator with the Change Agency (www.thechangeagency.org) and a labor union organizer. Robyn Ochs: How…
Shiri Eisner, Israel
By Robyn Ochs Robyn Ochs: Shiri, please tell us about yourself Shiri Eisner: I am a 27-year-old female gender queer. I am a feminist, anarchist, vegan, polyamorous, bisexual/ pansexual and a sex radical. I do a lot of stuff in general, such as grassroots organizing, academics, journalist writing, and art. I started (and currently organize)…
Yemisi Ilesanmi, (Abuja), Nigeria
By Robyn Ochs In July 2009 I attended a three-day LGBT human rights conference in Copenhagen associated with the World Out Games. There were over a thousand human rights activists present, from many countries. In an attempt by the organizers to insert some “B” into the program, I was invited to moderate a plenary panel…
“Paula”: the Portuguese Word for Bi Activist?
By Robyn Ochs From July 16 through August 4, 2009, I did a European book tour to promote the new second edition of Getting Bi. In Oporto, Portugal, I was warmly welcomed into the home of Paula Antunes, Sofia Fonseca and their daughter Mariana. Of the first three Portuguese bi activists I had met, two…
Hilde Vossen, The Hague, Netherlands
by Robyn Ochs It is an honor to feature Hilde Vossen, a long-time activist who has had a major impact on both the Dutch and international bi movements. Robyn: Please tell us about yourself. Hilde: Hallo! Ik heet Hilde Vossen… Hi! My name is Hilde Vossen and I live in The Hague. My twin brother…
Apphia K. in Pune, India
Apphia is one of the amazing individuals who responded to a call for writing for the second edition of Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World. If, after reading this interview, you are as impressed by Apphia as I am, you can read more about her in Getting Bi. Robyn Ochs: Apphia, please tell…
Eva Lee in Beijing, China
Robyn Ochs: Eva, what a pleasure it is to speak with you! Please tell us about yourself. Eva Lee: I was born and raised in Macau, a former colony of Portugal in eastern China that was returned to China in 1999. It’s a small town with a population of only 200,000. In 2000, when I…