The Second EuroBiCon

Ode to Molly Bloom
I'd been wanting to go to Dublin for years, but had never got round to it. Both my parents had gone as children to see long lost relatives and had told me tales of the City, which had whetted my appetite. I wanted to explore the cultural capital of Ireland, famous for amongst other things, three giants of literature Joyce, Shaw and Beckett, Irish music, the book of Kells, Dublins Architectural heritage, history of Irish republicanism and last but not least Guiness.

It is often said that a day is a long time in politics, but where Bi activism is concerned, the opposite so often seems true, it only seemed yesterday, that an excited yet bewildered group of members from the Bi-Irish stood up at the closing plenary of the first European Bisexual Conference in Rotterdam in 2001 to be announced as the hosts of EBC2. Two years seems a long time, but in reality, it's a short time period, to organise the logistics of running a fledgling conference.

Since the announcement in the heady days of summer 2001, I was keen to hear any news of progress from the group, so I read BCN for updates, and occasionally popped my head through the door of Bi_Irish's mailing list, as well as contacting some of the members of the group. A web page was posted announcing the conference with associated links, but as time grew closer, it was uncertain that the event would take place at all. Having spoken to members of Bi-Irish, their originally date clashed with the Special Olympics, one of the largest events even held in Ireland, there were also problems with securing a venue, as well as changes in personal commitments from some of the original organising group. It's to Bi-Irish's credit and perseverance that EBC2 eventually took place, and on a personal note I would like to thank them for holding one of my favourite Bi conferences, and giving me the final excuse to visit Dublin.

On arrival to Shannon airport, I dutifully got a map of Dublin city centre, and went straight to Trinity College Dublin where I was staying. It's an impressive if not imposing and austere campus site, built to preserve Protestant learning and cultural dominance. Once I had dropped my bags off, I went off to locate the Out House, Dublin’s LGBTQ community centre. The irony of the name wasn't lost on this Northern boy either. As a community centre, the Outhouse is basically a large old town house, with about four floors. The upstairs rooms where the workshops took place are fairly bare, and the staircase is a bit wonky, however there has been a lot of renovation on the ground floor, with a snazzy front exterior and downstairs café area. It reminded me of an inbetween of a smart continental café and a squatted community space, it's a great space, and creates a lively and relaxed social environment for the conference.

Once I registered I met up a few familiar faces, and went for an impromtu walk around Dublin, before we went to the opening plenary at the Teachers bar, with Keynote speaker Robyn Ochs, editor of the Bi resource guide, from the USA, an update from the Heleen Rutgers from the EBC1 and an introduction to the EBC2 team, followed by a wine reception, and general socialising in the bar.

Saturday was the first day of sessions, and there was an variety to choose from, from fun and games (Free your mind theatre sports, Fun and games and introduction, TV idol) Academic (Dandyism, Queering Shrek, Intersex and Bisexuality, Queer theory, Keanu Reeves and the hetrosexual matrix, Biphobia on the Gay scene {a study}), Health (Bi men on the Internet (a French sexual health study of attitudes and behaviours of Bi men crusing for sex on the net), Challenges and Opportunites for Bisexuals in recovery from sexual health) relationships and sex (Analysis of relationships:loving, flexible, creative, hierachic, rhizomic ; Sacred sexualities, Polyamory) Activism ( Bi journalism, Bisexuals and our communites, Understanding and tackling Biphobia, looking at B in LGBT organisations, Burnout prevention for activists, Wither Bisexuality, on our way to happy bi memories) culture ( reel Bisexuals ). In addition to the sessions, was Bi Brother Diary room. The idea behind this is to video room, with the aim of recording views, on EBC2, Bisexuality or any topic. I think this is a great idea, and hope it takes on elsewhere, with the idea of documenting BiCons, culture ideas and history.

On Saturday afternoon there were no sessions planned as it was Dublin’s Pride march, and festival. There was quite a bi contingent with banners and flags on the march, also the Liffey was adorned with Rainbow flags, as the march is recognised by Dublin council, the march had a great atmosphere, and ended outside the Civic Offices where there was some performers and open air cabaret, the entertainment was mostly Drag artists, and a jazz/world music double act consisting of tapes, a singer and a saxophonist called Zrazy, not my type of music, so I made my excuses and went into Dublin. The Saturday Night entertainment was a Disco in the Basement of the Viva bar in Dublin organised by Bi-Irish which was fun, and relaxing.

As with most BiCons, by Sunday, people are quite tired, but relaxed, I went to Bisexual men on the Internet session, which had a really interesting analysis of notions of self identity and behaviour, and also went to a session on who's running EBC3. At this session a group of attendees from Germany said that they would be interested in running EBC3, but needed to contact the German Bi Network Conference organiser to see if they would agree to hold it in 2005.

Loving the Difference
EBC2's conference theme was "loving the difference" , as the organisers felt it was important to openly discuss and respect our differences, as a group of bisexual-identified, and bisexual allied people and within the wider queer and strtaght communites. On reflectioon, it's a great conference theme for a European Conference, as attendees come from different countires, with different cultures, social and political environments, and histories, not only of bi organising but also LGBT campaigning and legislative change. Using Ireland as an example, the conference was held on the same weekend as Dublin Pride which was celebrating the 10th anniversary of decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. I also spoke to one of the session presenters who is from Hungary, who reflected upon the very different position of LGBTQ people in former eastern bloc countries. While as an attendee from the UK, people asked about Section 28.

What I like about BiCons outside the UK, is they give you a very different flavour, although the content appears similar, there is a subtle difference, sometimes something which isn't obvious. I like this for a number of reasons. First it provides a prism from which to look at UK BiCon for good and bad points, secondly, it provides a space to chat to other bi's, to swop notes and to gain some new insights, and fresh ideas, third, to make new friends, or meet old friends who live outside the UK and can't get to UK BiCons, fourth it's a reminder that bi's and other sexual minorities are still discriminated against by wider society, and last but not least, they help re-energises the batteries with fresh ideas.

Laurence