Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out, published by Riverdale Avenue Books, is an anthology edited by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaʻahumanu, and is one of the seminal books[1][2] in the history of the modern bisexual rights movement. It holds a place that is in many ways comparable to that held by Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique in the feminist movement.[3]
 Cover of the paperback edition of Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out | |
| Author | Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaʻahumanu |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Bisexuality |
| Publisher | Alyson Publications |
Publication date | 1991 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 1-55583-174-5 |
The book comprises fiction and nonfiction pieces, poetry and art created by a diverse group of over seventy bisexual people speaking about their lives.[4]
This book helped spark at least ten other books (many by its own contributors), was named one of Lambda Book Report's Top 100 Queer Books of the 20th century, has been reprinted three times since 1991, has over 40,000 copies in circulation, and was translated and published in Taiwan in June 2007.[5] It also frequently appears on numerous LGBT reading lists, from assistance in coming out[6] to queer studies curriculum guides.[7]
In 1992, despite requests from the bisexual community for a more appropriate and inclusive category, Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out[8] was forced to compete (and lose) in the category "Lesbian Anthology" at the Lambda Literary Awards.[9] Additionally, in 2005, Directed by Desire: Collected Poems,[10] a posthumous collection of the bisexual Jamaican American writer June Jordan's work, had to compete (and win) in the category "Lesbian Poetry".[11] Led by BiNet USA,[12] and assisted by other bisexual organizations including the American Institute of Bisexuality, BiPOL, and Bialogue, the bisexual community launched a multi-year struggle that eventually culminated in 2006 with the addition of a Bisexual category at the Lambda Literary Awards.
A 25th anniversary edition of the book was released in 2015 during Bi Awareness Week.[13]
References
edit- ^ Bisexual Movements Archived 2007-08-14 at the Wayback Machine glbtq.com.
- ^ A Brief History of the Bisexual Movement by Liz A. Highleyman Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Blessed Bi Spirit: Bisexual People of Faith by Debra Kolodny
- ^ HRC Reading List Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bisexuality". Lanikaahumanu.com. n.d.
- ^ PFLAG-Metro DC Recommended Reading List Archived August 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Studies Guide - Library & Learning Resources - City College of San Francisco". Archived from the original on July 21, 2012.
- ^ "Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out Review". International Gay & Lesbian Review. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ "1991 Lambda Literary Awards Recipients". Lambda Literary Foundation. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ "Directed by Desire: Collected Poems". Copper Canyon Press. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
- ^ "2005 Lambda Literary Awards Recipients". Lambda Literary Foundation. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
- ^ Curry, Wendy (2007). "What makes a book bisexual?". Curried Spam. BiNet USA. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ Hutchins, Loraine (2015). "25 Years of Bi Life". Advocate.com. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
Further reading
edit- Westbrook, Robyn Marie (n.d.). "Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out: by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaahumanu". International Gay & Lesbian Review. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
External links
edit- Bi Any Other Name on Facebook
- Publisher's website at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-07-07)
- Bi Any Other Name on Open Library at the Internet Archive
- Loraine Hutchins (editor)
- Lani Kaʻahumanu (editor)