Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month
- 2 days ago
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The month of March is dedicated to the unique social, economic, and health challenges that bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, queer, etc.) folks face at disproportionate rates compared to gay, lesbian and heterosexual people.
Why is it important?
Current research says that over half of the 2SLGBTQIA+ population identifies as bisexual or under the bisexual umbrella. Studies find that bisexual+ health disparities exist in both physical and mental health. They often go unidentified and overlooked. Bisexual identities are often undisclosed to healthcare professionals, which results in less accurate and lower-quality care. According to research at the Williams Institute, between 33% to 39% of Bi+ people do not disclose their sexuality compared to just about 13% of gay men and 10% of lesbian women.
Nearly 40% of 2SLGBTQIA+ people of colour identify as bisexual, and almost half of transgender people report their sexual orientation as bisexual or queer. The intersectionality of bi-erasure, bi-phobia, racism and transphobia makes these groups further vulnerable.
Why was it founded?
This March marks the 12th Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month. In 2014, Bi+ Health Awareness Month was founded by the Bisexual Resource Centre to raise awareness of social, economic, and health disparities specific to the bi+ community. In the past, most research would lump bi, lesbian, and gay people into one group. Once studies separated these three identities, they were able to report on the realities and statistics of bisexual physical and mental health. What they found was the bi+ community faces higher rates of depression, self harm, suicidal thoughts, cancer, cigarette addiction, partner violence and poverty, among other things. March is dedicated to bi+ peoples health to increase awareness of these current issues and to increase access to informed mental and medical health services.
Resources at QMUNITY
If you are a bisexual or bicurious person you can join the following QMUNITY peer groups for support and community building:
A peer-facilitated support group for folks of all genders who are (or think they might be) sexually and/or romantically attracted to people of more than one gender or regardless of gender. This can include people who identify as bi+, non-monosexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, & other queer self-identifications.
This support group is for women who are questioning their sexuality after - or during - heterosexual relationships or marriages.
As well as Queer Love in Colour and Latidos Latines, which are not specific to the bisexual community but are for any 2SLGBTQIA+ folks who identify within the BIPOC or Latinx communities.
Citations
HRC Staff. “Living into Equity This Bisexual Health Awareness Month.” *Human Rights Campaign*, 1 Mar. 2021, www.hrc.org/news/living-into-equity-this-bisexual-health-awareness-month
Canadian Pride Historical Society. “Bisexual+ Health Month.” Canadian Pride Historical Society, 1 Mar. 2025, cphs.ca/bisexual-health-month/
