Great post on Erika Lynae’s tumblr about bisexual activist Brenda Howard and the importance of bisexuals in the history of queer pride:
Let’s talk about Brenda Howard for a sec because I feel like all of the people shouting that “het”-partnered bisexuals don’t belong at Pride are missing a good chunk of their Pride history.
Brenda was:
- A bisexual, polyamorous woman and activist
- In a “het” relationship with partner Larry Nelson
- Known as the Mother of Pride for her work in organizing the first LGBT Pride events
- A participant in the Stonewall Riots
- An active member of the Gay Liberation Front, Gay Activists Alliance, Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, BiPAC, and BiNET USA, among others
- Co-founder of the New York Area Bisexual Network
- Founder of the first Alcoholics Anonymous chapter for bisexuals
- An incredibly important figure in the LGBT community, who paved the way for Pride and LGBT activism as we know it today
“Het”-partnered bisexuals don’t just belong at Pride, they were integral to its creation.
(Bonus facts: Brenda was also Jewish, a sex worker, and an outspoken feminist. I highly recommend learning about her because she was seriously an amazing woman.)
You can see photos and reblog at Let’s Talk About Brenda Howard for a Sec