Scotland's community run organisation for anyone attracted to multiple genders.
It’s been lovely seeing so many of you at our online socials this month, and we’re looking to further develop and expand our remote services going forwards.
We want to know what types of support bi+ people would find most useful at this time.
Fill in the survey here: https://forms.gle/7UG2pd1zAA4WJ4z86
Also, feel free to get in touch by email, or through our social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!
email: web@ScottishBiNet.org
Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @ScottishBiNet
We’re missing being out and about and meeting all of you, but we’ve been looking at ways to do all the same things online!
We’re going to run video chats, online games nights, film screenings and more, in these time slots on our discord server until the end of April, and we’ll add more if they’re successful!
Thursday 6pm-9pm
Sunday 12pm-3pm
You can find all the details, and the link to our discord server, on our forum:
https://forum.scottishbinet.org
If anyone has any suggestions for online games, films to watch, books to read, or topics to be discussed, let us know.
And if anyone would like to run an online event, we would love to hear from you!
We are excited to announce that we have launched a forum for bi+ people, and those who are questioning their attraction to multiple genders!
It’s something that a lot of people have asked us for, and we are happy to have another way to be able to support the bi+ community in Scotland.
You can sign up at – forum.scottishbinet.org
Once you’ve signed up, don’t forget to check your email for the activation link!
If you would like to talk privately, or if you are an ally:
You can message us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or email us at contact@ScottishBiNet.org
We aim to answer all messages within 48 hours, but this is not always possible due to holidays and illnesses.
Unless you’ve been living in a cabin in the woods, isolated from society for the last few years, you can’t have missed the increasing hate towards trans and non-binary people in the mainstream media, and from organisations and individuals on social media.
Their basic human rights are being threatened and oppressed, and trans and non-binary people shouldn’t be left to fight that battle alone.
That’s why it’s so important to let people know that we, the bi+ community, are standing in solidarity with trans and non-binary people.
The #BWithTheT hashtag is a quick and simple way to show the trans and non-binary community that we support them.
We’ve had people coming up to us at pride because of our #BWithTheT banner, as it’s easily identifiable in a crowd, a sign of safety to many people.
There is a significant intersection of the trans and bi+ communities, with a large proportion of trans or non-binary people using one or more of the bi+ labels.
According to a report by MAP, more than 40% of trans people identify as bi+. Which is why our work will always be inclusive of trans and non-binary people.
And you can help as an individual by supporting Scottish Trans Alliance’s Equal Recognition campaign, more details here: https://www.scottishtrans.org/equal/
Cis people (of all sexualities) here’s a few tips on being a good trans and non-binary ally:
More details about the #BWithTheT campaign and to add your name to the open letter, visit BWithTheT.org
We are excited to announce that we are going to start running Virtual Meetups!
We are going to run them on the last Monday of every month, from 7pm – 9pm, through Telegram (for more information on installing and using Telegram, see their website https://telegram.org/ )
People will message us to register their interest, and invite links to the Virtual Meetup will be sent out by 6.30pm to give people time to register if necessary.
We are going to run them on a trial basis until the end of 2019, which will give us time to assess how effective they are.
What is a Virtual Meetup?
A virtual Meetup is a group chat at specific times where, in our case, bi+ and questioning people can chat to other bi+ and questioning people.
It offers a judgement free space where people can be themselves and talk about issues that are affecting them.
It runs at set times, and has at least one moderator.
Group rules can be found at the bottom of this page, and will be pinned at the top of each chat.
Who can benefit from Virtual Meetups?
Everyone!
It’s especially useful for those who aren’t yet fully out, or for those that prefer text chats over in person meetings.
Other factors like accessibility, caring commitments, and travel costs can be a barrier to people attending an in person meeting.
Also, it’s available to everyone across Scotland, even those that don’t have an in person bi+ support or social group near by.
What if I would like to meet other bi+ people in real life?
Bi & Beyond Edinburgh
www.facebook.com/biandbeyond
Social group that meets every first and third Wednesday of the month, 7pm – 9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing Centre, 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh.
Bi+ Glasgow (formerly Bi Scotland)
https://www.facebook.com/BiScotland
Peer support and social group, see Facebook page for more information
For general LGBT+ groups, including over 50s, trans and non-binary specific events, please visit LGBT Heath & Wellbeing’s event calendar:
https://www.lgbthealth.org.uk/whats-on/
What if I prefer to talk privately?
If you would rather talk one-to-one with a member of the Scottish Bi+ Network team, you can message us through Twitter and Facebook, or email us at contact@ScottishBiNet.org
We aim to answer all messages within 48 hours, but this is not always possible due to holidays.
My partner/friend/relative just came out as bi+ and I have questions – can I join the Virtual Meetup?
No.
The group is a safe space for those who are bi+ to talk about their experiences without judgement.
However, feel free to contact the Scottish Bi+ Network team with any questions you have, you can message us through Twitter and Facebook, or email us at contact@ScottishBiNet.org
We are in the process of putting together a guide about supporting a partner/friend/relative who has come out as bi+ and we will link it here as soon as it is finished.
Group Rules:
1. The group is only for bi+ people, and those who are questioning their attraction to multiple genders, who are over 18 years old.
2. This is a peer led group. It is not a therapy group nor a substitute for professional counselling or emergency services.
3. No discrimination of any sort will be tolerated.
4. Be respectful of other people’s pronouns, and personal identities. Just because you don’t agree with the use of a particular label, doesn’t mean that it isn’t useful for someone else.
5. What’s said in the group stays in the group. Don’t reveal any personal information about yourself, or others. That includes your full name, email, social media pseuds, phone number, and address.
6. This is not a place for finding dates!