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B-Girl A"Ecting How We Experience the Others

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B-Girl A CULTURE Literature STORY Loren King share their experiences with identifying as bisexual at some point in their lives. Since Ochs and Williams aim to educate, Recognize also includes a list of references and resources. But it’s the personal stories, essays and poetry that make the book so compelling. And for Ochs, that’s the point. “I’m a firm believer in the power of telling our stories. Social change comes about through legislative action but also by changing hearts and minds,” says Ochs, whose longtime activism makes her a frequent speaker on college campuses. She also serves on the board of directors of MassEquality and the Mas- sachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. “My work is based on the idea that human beings are intersectional. Each of us has multiple identities: age, geographic location, gen- der identity, race, and more, with each of our identities B-Girl a"ecting how we experience the others. Therefore, multiple stories are required to help us begin to understand any given Activist Robyn Ochs’ new book gives voice to bisexual men identity.” A priority from the start was that the widest possible For more than three decades, But as strides continue to be The Voices of Bisexual Men, range of individuals would be Robyn Ochs has been on a made, misconceptions about recently published by the represented in the book, says mission to spotlight the B in bisexuality endure. Bisexual Resource Center, Ochs, noting that there are LGBT. “I believe bisexual men founded in Boston in 1985 contributions from men ages Certainly the increased vis- remain the most misunder- by a group of bi activists and 20 to 77, many of them men of ibility of bisexuals, like gay, les- stood. Bi women are trivial- now one of the oldest national color, and including those who bian and trans folks, has led to ized and sexualized; it’s a bi-specific organizations. The identify as queer or trans. greater acceptance than in the function of not taking women book follows up on Ochs’ last Ochs has identified as bi pri- early ‘80s when Ochs launched seriously. But many still deny work, the anthology Getting Bi: vately since 1976 and publicly the Boston Bisexual Women’s that bisexual men even exist. Voices of Bisexuals Around the since 1982. On May 17, 2004, Network, now the longest-run- And bi men are seen as more World, in which bisexual men the first day it was legal to do ning such group in the world, threatening,” says Ochs. and women from 42 countries so, she married Peg Preble. and for which Ochs edits the Ochs and H. Sharif Wil- told their stories. In the new There’s no contradiction or newsletter Biwomen Quarterly liams teamed to edit the volume, men from all walks of confusion there for Ochs, who from her Jamaica Plain home. new anthology Recognize: life and all corners of the globe sees sexuality on a continuum TOAST TO YOUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER AT OUR all new hotel Co-authors Robyn Ochs and H. Sharif Williams PHOTO EllynRuthstrom that, for some people, changes attraction. So people cope in throughout one’s lifetime. di"erent ways,” she says. Bisexuals are routinely sexual- “I feel sympathetic toward RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR ized — there’s the stigma that those who are afraid. There POST-NUPTIAL BRUNCH* they are more sexual than are real reasons to be afraid their straight or gay counter- just as there are great reasons Contact our Wedding Specialist parts, she says. “I still only to come out. The reality is that 617.806.4125 | [email protected] have one body and 24 hours coming out is more danger- in my day. I’ve chosen to be in ous for some than for others ... a monogamous relationship. [People] can lose their fami- Of course, some bisexuals are lies, their jobs, their communi- polyamorous, as are some gays, ties — these are high costs.” lesbians and straight people,” That’s the reason that Rec- she says. ognize is important and why The image of the closeted Ochs promotes the book on her bisexual man who live a speaking engagements and in double life — reinforced by local and national media. many politicians, for instance “My hope is that books like — provokes more sympathy this will help people find much than judgement from Ochs. needed reflections of their own “The fact is that we live in experiences and ultimately 40 Edwin Land Boulevard | Cambridge, MA, 02142 a heterosexist culture and empower them to feel less 617.806.4200 | Sonesta.com/Boston there are enormous penalties alone,” says Ochs. [x] for embracing same-gender * Excludes ArtBar and restaurant dante..
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