Safety By Miranda I used to feel like I was cheating the LGBTQ+ communityby being bisexual. You tend to hear a lot of, “It’s just aphase,” “You’re just being greedy,” “You’re not reallyqueer—you’re just experimenting,” etc. I felt like anoutcast; I didn’t even belong where I was supposed tobe able to belong. It took a…
Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, The theme of this issue is “Growing Older.”Folks were asked: “What are the challenges/opportunities of being an older bi+ person? Howhas aging transformed you—in mind, body, spirit,or sexuality? How have you stayed the same?What have been the most significant moments ortransitions in your life?” We present to you the writing of women &…
Climbing (Sort of) into the 21st Century
By Jane Barnes I got my first cellphone around the turn of the century: a silvershell phone, which I snapped shut with a flourish on the 14thstreet bus. At first, I hung it from a homemade lanyard (a redsatin ribbon, half-inch), but when I got used to it, I just carriedit in my pocket like…
October 5, 1999—on turning 56
Actual remarks made during my birthday celebration week. By Lani Ka’ahumanu “Oh, but you don’t look 56! I would have never guessed. Luckyyou.” As if looking 56 [whatever that means] is a negative. “You’re so young, no one would ever have to know.”As if people knowing I am 56 is not a positive. “Don’t worry…
Advice from A. Rose Bi
A. Rose Bi lives in New England with her cats who love to sleep on her lap while she spends most of her time watching TV and playing video games while her partner cooks amazing food. In addition to being anout and proud bi+ woman, A. has a degree in Cognitive Science, has completed trainings…
Mistaken Identity, Or Birth Versus Transition
By Sharla “Skyspirit” Shotwell While there are many groups which have rules against allowinganyone not “naturally-born female” into events such as lesbianbars, music festivals, rituals, or sacred rites, I have made progressin changing at least a few minds in this regard. In one case, a friend of my late husband’s—and now a goodfriend of mine—had…
Allies On All Levels
By Miriam Katz Over the past year, I have come to identify as a genderfluid personwho uses they/them pronouns. I was assigned female at birth,but I don’t know if I ever really felt like a girl or woman. I knowthat I’m attracted to women, and I practice polyamory; however,most of my relationships, whether platonic or…
Separatism Sacred Space
By Loraine Hutchins As a young woman in high school the Student Non-violentCoordinating Committee (SNCC) taught me about resistingracism (black and white relations) and how people can uniteinterracially in struggle around justice and identity. A basic lessonwas that we must craft our truths from separate touchstones andfind common will and common good to work for…
A safe place in space // for those who feel marginalized // empowered misfits
By Martine Mussies One of my best friends is a true activist. He stands on the barricadesfor equality, for better wages for workers, for a basic income, to solvethe climate crisis and more. I admire that enormously. Because ofmy autism, I am scared to death of large crowds of people. The onlymoments that I dare…
A Festie Virgin No Longer
By Kristen G. Wednesday, September 18, 2019. I’m heading to my friend’shouse to pick her up and start our trip to the Ohio Lesbian Festival!I’m super excited because this is my first women’s festival.Even though I have been out as bisexual since my twenties, I hadonly recently plunged into the lesbian scene in the last…