Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World, Second Edition
Getting Biis a stunning collection of first-person narratives by bisexuals from around the world. The term bisexual functions as a useful shorthand for a broad spectrum of sexualities: as the editors note in the Introduction, some contributors self-identify as queer, pansexual, omnisexual, or labelless, while others acknowlege attractions to multiple genders while identifying as lesbian, gay, or heterosexual. This complexity infuses the book at every level, as writers differ not only in their definitions of bisexuality, but also in their politics, spiritualities, sexual practices, and patterns of daily life. The essayists include accomplished writers and bi activists such as Loraine Hutchins, Lani Ka'ahumanu, Carol Queen, and Amanda Udis-Kessler, as well as literary unknowns, many of whom are published here for the first time. Most of the essays are conversational in tone and personal in content, as the writers discuss coming out, the choice to identify (or not) as bisexual, life experiences, sexual desire, bi community, and political activism.Many anthologies aspire to be international in scope, but few achieve that vision. Getting Bi is a rare success in this respect, as the book includes voices from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, and more. This diversity of location and perspective makes Getting Bi useful in college or high school courses that center global and/or transnational analyses of feminism and/or sexuality. The lively and engaging content continues and extends the best traditions ofBi Any Other Name, while the international scope and glorious polyphony mark the beginning of a new era in bi literature.Getting Biis an astounding achievement. --Robin Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Women, Gender & Sexuality, Harvard UniversityThis book is amazing! It is certainly the mostinternationalinternational anthology I've ever read. Rather than interpreting other people's experiences, the editors created a well-designed and organized anthology of a wide range of people describing their lives and experiences in their own words. There are 220 essays, from 42 different countries, written by teenagers, grandparents and everyone in between. In essays and in poems, authors talk about coming out, tell their life stories, discuss bi community, relationships, politics, and desire. Each contribution is accompanied by a short author bio, and most have photos. This book literally puts a face on bisexual identity. I recommend it to people of all sexual orientations -- to those who identify as bisexual, and to those who don't. A rich and rewarding reading experience and a great resource. --Gail Zacharias, Boston, MAGetting Biis one of the most important recent contributions to the global struggle for human rights. By enriching our understanding of bisexuality within so many cultural and geographic contexts, this anthology serves as a magnificent tool for building support and respect for the sexual rights of each one of us. --Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission.