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AUTHOR: Naomi Tucker, Liz Highleyman, and Rebecca Kaplan (editors)
PUBLISHER: Harrington Park Press (Haworth Press)
LANGUAGE: English
DATE: 1995
PAGES: 359
ISBN: 1560238690

Bisexual Politics: Theories, Queries, and Visions

edited by Naomi Tucker, Liz Highleyman, and Rebecca Kaplan

This anthology presents a vivid collection of essays that explore the history, strategies, philosophy, and diversity of bisexual politics and theory in the United States. The 33 contributors develop a multifaceted approach to defining bisexual politics. Through these voices, the book seeks to understand the contexts in which the bisexual movement has evolved. The authors analyze different organizing strategies, formulate new bisexual political theory, provide a vision of future directions for redefining sexuality and gender, and educate activists and allies about current issues pertinent to the bisexual community.

This book is the first of its kind. To date, it is the only book that documents and analyzes bisexual politics and theory. While existing literature on bisexuality has focused on identity, coming out, and forming communities, Bisexual Politics takes the vital next step into bisexual political theory and activism. The many subjects and subthemes addressed in Bisexual Politics appeal to a multitude of readers from activists to academics, from friends and family of bisexuals, to those who have struggled with bisexuality. It is a sourcebook for those seeking to locate bisexuality in the schema of other social justice movements. It is a tool to build alliances with other progressive groups, and build coalitions with both lesbian/gay and heterosexual communities. It is a primer for anyone interested in bisexual activism and theory.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
SECTION I — REFLECTIONS: A LOOK IN THE MIRROR
- Part A: A Taste of History
- Identity/Politics: A History of the Bisexual Movement by Amanda Udis-Kessler
- The Bisexual Movement’s Beginnings in the 70s: A Personal Retrospective by stephen Donaldson
- Bay Area Bisexual History: An Interview with David Lourea by Naomi Tucker
- It Ain’t Over ‘Til the Bisexual Speaks by Lani Ka’ahumanu
- Part B: The State of Our Movement
- We Claim Our Own by Dajenya
- Identity and Ideas: Strategies for Bisexuals by Liz A. Highleyman
- Open Letter to a Former Bisexual (or, Do I hear “Post-Bisexual”?) by Indigo Chih-Lien Som
- Bisexual Women, Feminist Politics by Tamara Bower
- Go Ahead: make My Movement by Laura M. Perez
- To Give or Not to Give by Sharon Gonsalves
- Fluid Desire: Race, HIV/AIDS and Bisexual Politics by Elias Farajajé-Jones aka Manuel Kalidas Congo
- Our Leaders, Our Selves by Loraine Hutchins
SECTION II — CONNECTIONS: CAN WE WORK TOGETHER?
- Overview by Rebecca Kaplan
- Part A: biSEXuality
- Sexual Diversity and Bisexual Identity by Carol Queen
- Bi Sexuality by Greta Christina
- Bisexuality and S/M: The Bi Switch Revolution by Cecilia Tan
- Liberating Pornography by Mark Pritchard
- Too Butch to be Bi (or You Can’t Judge a Boy by Her Lover) by Robin Sweeney
- Politics of the Bisexual Deep Fry by Michèlle T. Clinton
- Part B: Coalition-Building and Other Queer Stories
- Bisexual Lesbian by Dajenya
- Traitrs to the Cause? Understanding the Lesbian/Gay “Bisexuality Debates” by Elizabeth Armstrong
- Bisexuality, Lesbian and Gay Communities, and the Limits of Identity Politics by Stacey Young
- Power and Privilege Beyond the Invisible Fence by Brena Blasingame
- Which part of Me Deserves to Be Free? by Dajenya
- Bisexual Etiquette: Helpful Hints for Bisexuals Working with Lesbians and Gay Men
- Essay for the Inclusion of Transsexuals by Kory Martin-Damon
- If Half of You Dodges a Bullet, All of You Ends Up Dead by Orna Izakson
- Why You Must Say “and Bisexual” by Nishanga Bliss
SECTION III — DIRECTIONS: OUR VISIONARY VOICES
- Overview by Liz A. HighleymanYour Fence is Sitting on Me: The Hazards of binary Thinking by Rebecca Kaplan
- Pimple No More by Mykel Board
- My, Myself, and You: Identity Politics in Action by Susanna Trnka
- Forsaking All Others: A Bifeminist Discussion of Compulsory Monogamy by Annie S. Murray
- Framing Radical Bisexuality: Toward a Gender Agenda by Jill Nagle
- The Natural Next Step by Naomi Tucker
- Pansies Against Patriarchy: Gender Blur, Bisexual Men, and Queer Liberation by Sunfrog
- The Sacredness of Pleasure by Starhawk
APPENDICES
- A Brief Timeline of Bisexual Activism in the United States by Dannielle Raymond and Liz A. Highleyman
References
Index