BiPhoria

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BiPhoria is social and support group for bisexual people in Manchester, England. It is the oldest extant bisexual organisation in the UK, having launched in 1994. As its central mission since then it has welcomed people who are just coming out or new to the area to have opportunities to meet and talk with other bisexuals, and those who are questioning their sexual orientation who think they may be bisexual. [1]

Contents

As the only bi-specific organisation in the North West of England for much of the time since its formation, its work has extended beyond the city of Manchester including sparking similar groups in other cities including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Liverpool.

The group's aim is to provide space and voice for bisexual people and to facilitate the development of a cohesive bisexual community in Manchester and across the North West. The group works to promote bisexual visibility, to protect the bisexual community from discrimination and biphobia and assists and empowers the individual community members, their families and friends to live fuller and happier lives.

It has been shortlisted for a number of LGBT related awards [2] [3] [4] [5] and took fifth place for Best LGBT Group in the Pink Paper's 2010 reader awards. [6]

History

The first meeting was on 1 September 1994 at the Lesbian and Gay Centre on Sidney Street. In September 2000 main meetings moved to the LGBT Foundation, at the time called the Lesbian & Gay Foundation.

By 1997 it had its own webpage [7] as part of the then Bi.org worldwide bisexual site, and in 2003 it was the first UK bisexual group to acquire its own web domain, biphoria.org.uk. [8]

Services

In addition to its core social-support meetings, BiPhoria provides support to the bisexual community, including a website and links to resources, outreach work and research publications.

Like other UK bi organisations, its work covers the broad "bisexual umbrella" of people who are attracted to people of more than one gender - whichever they prefer amongst labels like bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or multisexual.

Publications

Awards

The group has been shortlisted for a number of LGBT community awards.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Home". biphoria.org.uk.
  2. ↑ "Return of the Bisexuals! We'll vote for that". 8 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Will BiPhoria get lucky?". 19 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "BiPhoria shortlisted for European Award". 7 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "BiPhoria for Best Network Award". 3 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "BiPhoria shortlisted for Pink award". 17 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "Manchester Bisexuals homepage". bi.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 1998. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Bisexual History [@BisexualHistory] (2 January 2015). "Today 2003, @BiPhoria is the UK's first #bi group to have its own web domain," (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Biphoria.org.uk/publications.html". BiPhoria. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "Oldest Bi Group Shortlisted for Award". Bi Community News. 19 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Return of the Bisexuals! We'll vote for that…". Bi Community News. 8 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Will BiPhoria Get Lucky?". Bi Community News. 19 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "BiPhoria shortlisted for European Award". Bi Community News. 7 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "BiPhoria shortlisted for Pink Award". BiMedia.org.
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