Of course, in this day and age does sexuality really matter? But in the spirit of visibility in the LGBT community, yes, US singer Jason Mraz does identify as part of the LGBT+ community.
In 2018 Jason Mraz came out as bisexual in an interview with the New York Post, although many people suspected he was LGBT+ when in June 2018 he penned a “love letter” to the LGBT+ community. In an interview with Billboard, Mraz even admitted that he had experiences with men.
Speaking about how everything unfolded in the summer of 2018, he revealed, “I didn’t anticipate it. It kind of caught me by surprise, but I strive to continue to learn and grow and evolve and know myself.
“It was tough, ’cause not even my mom knew it, you know?” says Mraz. “And I realized that’s the struggle that people in the LGBT community have. It can be a very stressful secret that we carry.”
Blind Date, which made history after broadcasting its first ever bisexual episode has made a huge faux pas after sending the winners – two bisexual men to a place where gay sex acts are illegal.
The show brought together Jordan Shannon and Jesse Drew.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Jordan Shannon said, “I didn’t know [about the law] until I was told on the way to the hotel. I thought, ‘What the f**k?’, The hotel security woman told me how most gay men were in the closet there as homosexuality is illegal. It’s 10 years in prison if caught.”
Channel 5 has yet to address the mistake. A spokesperson for Channel 5 said, “We didn’t know and are taking this up with the production company.”
For the first time, Blind Date is introducing an all bisexual dating panel.
The brand new series of Blind Date will feature a first for the classic TV dating show – a mixed line-up of male and females, as they introduce bisexual daters to the format.
In an upcoming episode of the show presenter Paul O’Grady will introduce beauty consultant Jordan as he chooses between support worker Lily, model Jesse or French master’s student Zoe.
This new format element follows the introduction of all-male and all-female line-ups when the series returned in 2017.
Blind Date presenter Paul O’Grady said, “I’m delighted that Blind Date is continuing to be inclusive by giving a platform to those who identify as bisexual. It was a joy to film and I’m sure Cilla would have been proud”
The 18-year-old son of broadcaster, Zoe Ball has come out as bisexual in an interview with US Magazine, Boys By Girls. Speaking to the magazine, he said that at first, his mum, didn’t believe that he could be bisexual, revealing that she said, “You can’t be, you like girls?”. (more…)
Wrestler Anthony Bowens has come out, again. This time, he says he identifies as gay rather than bisexual. Previously the athlete identified as bi, but now says after some self-reflecting that he identifies more with being gay.
In a series of social media posts, the sportsman wrote that the way in which he viewed himself had changed – especially in the last six months.
Anthony first came out two years ago, when his YouTuber partner, Michael Pavano, introduced him to his fans as his boyfriend.
He wrote: “In short, just about two years ago I came out as bisexual which was truly how I viewed myself at the time.
“However, over the last 6 months or so I’ve started identify less and less with that label to the point where it doesn’t feel like it’s ‘me’ anymore.
“As people move on in their lives, the way they view the world and themselves tends to change and I’m no different.
“Which is why if you are to label me, I prefer to identify as gay. There will be a mixed range of reactions and I address each one of them in the video.”
Hey everyone! I have a little bit of an announcement to make..PLEASE READ if you have the time! Thank you! pic.twitter.com/ce5vGEPEjn
He continued that he still advocates for bisexuality saying, “I still advocate for bisexuality 100 percent, because that is what I identified myself as and it’s still what a lot of bisexual people identify themselves as. Everybody has their own way of figuring themselves out.”
The digital first 2021 Census will help shape public services to meet the needs of the LGBT+ community in the years to come, as plans set out in a government white paper today show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recommended a new voluntary question on sexual orientation for those aged 16 and over. In addition to the usual question on being male or female for all ages, there will also be a voluntary question on gender identity in England and Wales for those aged over 16.
It was always the intention of ONS that these questions would be voluntary.
The data gathered from these questions will make it easier to monitor inequalities under the anti-discrimination duties of the Equality Act 2010 and to directly plan public services and support for these groups.
“Stand Up and Be Counted”
National Statistician, John Pullinger, said: “The Census is for everyone; it gives us all the opportunity to stand up and be counted in democratic debate and policy decisions.
“We have designed it with people at its heart and we consulted widely to ensure it meets the needs of society. Unlike previous Censuses, it will be digital first which will make it easier to complete electronically, with help available for those who need it.”
The date for the digital-first census has been confirmed as 21 March 2021, subject to parliamentary approval.
Information gathered by ONS will ensure vital public services can be targeted into communities and groups where they are needed, in 2021 and beyond.
ONS is transforming the way it collects, processes and shares data and the next census is part of a wider drive towards making more use of data already held and moving surveys online.
In line with previous censuses, ONS will hold a census rehearsal in October 2019 and is currently reviewing which local authority areas will be included.
For more information, see the white paper which has been laid today in Parliament.
How many LGBT people are there in the UK?
(C) BIGSTOCK
The number of people who identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual is a hotly debated subject, with no clear answer, but here will look at all the available stats.
There has long been a widely-held belief that around 10 per cent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual or who identify as non-heterosexual. This is probably the most accurate of all the figures – as more and more people feel comfortable to come out about their sexuality.
The ONS (Office of National Statistics) says that in a survey of people in the United Kingdom it found that 1.5 per cent of people identified as LGB. This result was arrived at by extrapolation of data collected. However, these statistics were disputed for not being accurate or showing the full picture.
By their estimations, this would mean that there are only 990,300 LGB people in the UK.
Queen of reality TV, Courtney Act missed the first ever episode of The Bi Life because of this very awkward situation.
The drag queen host of The Bi Life, Courtney Act revealed on Twitter that she missed the entire first episode of her brand new show because firstly she couldn’t find the remote, but then, even more awkwardly,when she did find it, she realised that she didn’t even have a subscription to the channel on which the show is broadcast on, E!.
The former Drag Race star took to Twitter to share her frustration saying,
(I’m not. I lost the remote and when i got the telly on i realized i don’t have an E! Subscription! #fail ❌
???)
But having a glass of Champagne anyway! pic.twitter.com/Uk0OjVMjJH
Come on E! sort that Queen out with a subscription!
The ten-part dating series follows a group of bisexual+ or questioning British singletons on an adventure to find love abroad. The cast live together, party together and help each other navigate the rocky road of bisexual+ dating. Throughout the experience, the cast support and encourage each other as they date and meet new people in sunny Spain. For some, this will mean exploring who they are for the very first time.
The show has already been praised by fans on Twitter for the way it portrays the usually underrepresented bisexual community.
There’s a brand new dating show launching and the focus is bisexual people.
(C) Magnus Hastings
How about this for representation?
E! Entertainment Television UK & Ireland, NBCUniversal International Networks’ pop culture channel, has commissioned a ten-part reality dating series entitled The Bi Life, for the UK and Ireland markets. The original concept, produced by NBCUniversal International Studios’ Monkey, is the first UK broadcast series to focus exclusively on bisexual dating. It will see a group of bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, etc.) or questioning British singletons sent on an adventure to find love abroad.
Fronted by entertainer, advocate and Celebrity Big Brother 2018 winner, Shane Jenek (also known as Courtney Act), The Bi Life will premiere in October 2018 and will be set against the cosmopolitan backdrop of Barcelona. The cast will live together, party together and help each other navigate the rocky road of bisexual+ dating as they observe and feedback on each other’s experiences. For some, this will mean exploring who they are, for the very first time.
Throughout the experience, the cast will provide each other with support and encouragement as they share their stories, form new friendships and go looking for love. The series will chart their highs and lows as they embark on a life of dating and romance in Barcelona.
Shane Jenek says: “As if this summer hasn’t been hot enough, we decided to crank it up another notch with The Bi Life on E! It’s high time there was a dating show for the large number of young people today, like me, who are attracted to more than one gender. In 2018 we know that sexuality is fluid and sharing the stories and experiences, the laughter and the love making, of young bi people is so important. So get ready to see the true stories of bisexual singles, who are the largest part of the LGBTQ+ community, but the least known.”
“This new commission is a pivotal point for E! Entertainment Television in the UK as we bring a fresh take on the full diversity of modern British relationships,” commented Lee Raftery, Managing Director UK & Emerging Markets and Chief Marketing & Content Officer, NBCUniversal International. “With the number of British people identifying themselves as bisexual rising by 73% in four years*, we are incredibly excited to be introducing this pioneering series to our audiences in the UK and Ireland.
Ros Coward, Monkey, Executive Producer comments: “A TV show that better reflects diversity within society’s dating pool has been long overdue. The Bi Life is a modern dating show for a modern generation of daters and E! is the perfect home for it.”
The Bi Life was commissioned for NBCU International for E! Entertainment Television UK. It will be produced by Monkey, the award-winning makers of Made in Chelsea and The Real Housewives of Cheshire.
Further details on the series format and cast members are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
When Rita Ora announced a song with Cardi B, Charli XCX and Bebe Rexha, the world imploded, and we were ready for a huge collab that hasn’t been seen since “Lady Marmalade”.
Progressive or regressive? Lyrics from the song, Girls.
Whilst not quite on the level of “Lady Marmalade” – an opinion not shared by me – the song came out on Friday and was consumed quickly by fans of the four rising members in popular culture. But many people were quick to say that song was offensive to the LGBT community.
The track references Rita Ora’s sexuality as a bisexual woman. Lyrics in the song include ‘I’m 50/50 and I’m never gonna hide it’, and talks about an experience with a girl called Lara. After the release, many people were quick to voice their concerns with the lyrics, believing it to be exploitative and even tone deaf.
When I first heard the song, I appreciated the way the song fit the pop mould, but lyrics such as ‘red wine, I just wanna kiss Girls’ did seem problematic even to me. Yet I was misinformed and did not realise that Rita Ora is actually bisexual, instead hearing the lyrics and thinking that the song was pandering to a straight male fantasy.
After finding that out, I realised that the song was not intended to be harmful, but the world of Twitter continued to discuss the song.
Pop star Hayley Kiyok tweeted that the song did ‘more harm than good’, with followers agreeing that the lyrics were clumsy, even if not intended to be, and gave the wrong impression to straight men. The pop star continued to say that the song ‘belittles’ the community, stating that she doesn’t need alcohol to show love of the same sex.
Yet other Twitter users didn’t think the same way, stating that they didn’t even think of how it could be interpreted. Such was the debate and ‘backlash’, Ora took to Twitter to apologise to her fans. In her statement, shared on Twitter, Rita says that the song ‘was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life. I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life and this is my personal journey.’
Rapper Cardi B also tweeted about the backlash, saying the song was never intended to cause harm, and even revealed that she has been with many women.
Whilst I admit that I thought the song could indeed be problematic, I was seeing it from the angle of many others, that lyrics glorifying a bisexual female relationship could cater to people that only believe women’s bisexuality is ‘a phase’. Yet seeing Rita explain the situation, it’s pretty clear to see that she is writing from personal experience, and why is that a bad thing? It may be because until now, the general public had no knowledge of Rita’s sexuality. But should that really matter? A certain One Direction member can continuously hint at bisexual relationships himself, yet never disclose his sexuality, but instead of backlash, the man gets elated feedback from excitable fans.
Sexuality is a very complex situation, and we all have different experiences in discovering who we are, and realising the people we like. It’s important that the idea of being PC, of analysing everything to a point where backlash can literally ruin a career, does not infringe on artistic expression.
Whilst the lyrics in Girls are a little clumsy, it’s important to remember where they come from; a young woman that has become an LGBT ally, expressing who she is, and writing songs about her own experiences.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
Reports of the singer being bisexual were “misconstrued”
It seems Aaron Carter’s coming out as bisexual was over-egged by some in the media after he said that reports of him being bisexual were “misconstrued”.
When asked whether he could see himself in a relationship with another man Aaron replied, “Yeah, no. It was more so just a story that happened when I was like 17 with somebody, and I can find men and women attractive, but when it comes down to it, I think it was a little misconstrued.
“I see myself being with a woman and having kids. I want to have a family.”
Aaron did admit that he once had a thing with a guy when he was 17. He said he had an “experience with a male that I had an attraction to who I also worked with and grew up with”.
Bi Erasure is a form of erasure directed towards the bisexual community It can take many forms including when society sidelines bisexual stories for gay or lesbian stories.
Bi Erasure is also the ignoring or rewriting of LGBT+ history where bisexual people of note are effectively erased from the LGBT+ movement.
Bi erasure also happens whenever “gay” is used where the subject could also involve bisexual people. For instance, if you use “gay pride” to describe an LGBT+ Pride or “gay marriage” if you mean same-sex marriage, you are effectively erasing bisexual people’s existence.
It can also happen if “straight” or heterosexual relationships are treated as the default in any given situation, which can also be classed as heteronormative.
At its most extreme, bi-erasure happens when someone denies the existence of bisexual people altogether.
Can you expand this definition? Use the comments below and your answer could be used to expand or define this glossary entry.
.jpg "The world's first bisexual dating show is coming to the UK and Courtney Act is HOSTING 12")
