Being ostracized by friends, family, and community is damaging to the confidence and social viability of an individual. Many identities within LGBTQQ are, in our society, completely invisible, such as inter-sexed persons, non-binary genders, and more. Some identities are prevalent and yet invisible, such as bisexuality and polyamory.
For some people, such as myself, being indiscreet while being simultaneously invisible compromises our foundation identity. An example is being excluded from family events or being asked to go out while family friends come over, or your partner’s parents introducing you as their “friend from school.” It hurts!
On September 23, we recognized Bisexual Visibility Day at Camosun Pride. There is a struggle for recognition of legitimacy, acceptance, and inclusion in social discourses. Many marginalized identities are completely precluded from modern discourses, erased from history, hidden in mainstream media, and denied by social institutions. Our human diversity is not a recent construction: it has simply been omitted from our culturization.
I have yet to find a form that asks for “sex: male female intersexed.” What would you do if your existence was constantly called into question? How would you feel if you were ignored, discriminated against, demonized, or rendered invisible simply for being?
We look back to recent history, or to other nations, and recoil in disgust at the atrocities against human rights, and yet say nothing as it happens daily in our own society. We should embrace diversity, not suppress it.