BiMedia
Apart from MPs and cowboys...
Ah, January 2006 - who’d have thought when it started that it would be the month when the UK was flooded (okay, so flooded might be a slight exaggeration) with bisexual MPs and cowboys? There has been other stuff going on, though…
Emmerdale
Emmerdale’s bisexual binman Ivan protects his gay lover Paul when he is attacked by homophobes in the soap, but it would appear that isn’t the only thing to worry about where the pair are concerned. “EMMERDALE producers could be in trouble over pre-watershed gay smooching. Viewers have protested to TV regulators over scenes on Monday where gay lovers Paul Blackstock and bisexual binman Ivan Jones locked lips.” (Daily Star, 4th January 2006)
Bisexuality to become grounds for divorce in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Representative Ma. Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa filed House Bill 4948, which seeks the expansion of grounds for legal separation, and also amends Articles 36 and 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines. “Among the grounds for legal separation that the bill seeks to include in the Family Code are bisexuality of the respondents, excessive gambling, and the act of forcing the petitioner to engage in sexual intercourse through violence and intimidation and affliction of a sexually transmitted disease regardless of its nature, whether or not passed on to the petitioner.” (Sun Star (Pampanga), 4th January 2006)
Dating when you’re bi
Appearing in Happen, the online magazine at Match.com, was Bree Coven’s article Dating when you’re bi (10th January 2006).
Despite most of it stating the obvious to some of us jaded bi hacks (for example, “…bi-phobia is often socially tolerated in the gay and lesbian community, and coming out can lead to annoying assumptions”), it was nice to see a pro-bi article out there. Also, it would probably be of some use to non-bisexuals and those new to the bi scene.
Bisexual dad sues lesbian couple
The UK’s High Court Family Division handed down a landmark court decision in the case of Mr B, a bisexual man who had fathered a child for a lesbian couple and then sued them for the right to parental responsibility. The couple have now increased Mr. B’s access to his daughter, after having originally considered him only as a sperm donor.
“[Mrs. Justice Black] appointed leading child psychiatrist Dr. Claire Sturge to interview the child who said she had two mothers: “Mummy and Ma” known as Ms A and Ms C. The judge said: “Dr Sturge did not find D muddled about her family. She told Dr Sturge that she is lucky because she has two mummies. She knows that she grew in her mother’s tummy and she knows that Mr B is ‘Daddy’ and calls him that.” (GCN, 16th January 2006)
Panamanian bisexual seeks protection in Canada
Panamanian Kaila Yasmeira Paris Romero will get a second hearing this spring after telling a court she’ll be persecuted due to her bisexuality if she’s returns to Panama. “[She] arrived in Toronto in 2002 and filed a failed refugee claim that was appealed to the Federal Court of Canada. […] The court ruled Romero didn’t receive a proper immigration hearing and ordered a new one to begin by the spring in Toronto” (The Toronto Sun, 16th January 2006)
John Barrowman
Despite appearing as one of the contestants on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, John Barrowman’s had time for other things…
First of all, he‘s been turned down for a role in Will And Grace for being too straight. “He said it was typical of “homophobic” Hollywood that it eventually went to straight actor Eric McCormack. “And the sad thing is it’s run by gay men and women,” he said.” (MXS (SYD Edition), 17th January 2006)
Then things only got worse when he had the indignity of being asked by Richard Madeley, “You’re bisexual, John. So who would you sleep with first, me or Judy?”
(The Mirror, 17th January 2006)
Pass the brain bleach. Now.
Rebecca Loos
Although Rebecca Loos “…confessed she finds it tough being bisexual because it has DOUBLED her choice of lovers!” (The News of the World, 22nd January 2006) her girlfriend, Louise Glover, has had something more of a rough time recently. After being attacked by a group of five girls in St. Helens, leaving her with a fractured nose and assorted cuts, she said, “Being bisexual was definitely part of the reason for the attack. The girls came up to me and started calling me names.” (Daily Star, 22nd January 2006)
Last, but not least…
In the wake of the media circus surrounding Lib Dem MPs Hughes and Oaten’s sexualities, Lowri Turner seems to be desperate to grab the prize for biphobe of the month. In the article However much I love my gay friends, I don’t want them running the country (Western Mail, 27th January 2006) she came up with this little gem:
”Those who claim to be bisexual are simply trying to fudge the truth. Well, have you ever heard of a chap with a public boyfriend who has women on the side? Of course not. Too many gay men have wives and girlfriends as window dressing and keep the boys hidden in the shadows.”
Cat