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Still Complicated > Foreword

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  1. Acknowledgements
  2. Foreword
  3. Introduction
  4. Methodology
  5. How we define bi+
  6. Demographics
  7. Key findings
  8. Community and belonging
  9. Belonging to the LGBT+ community
  10. Belonging to a bi+ community
  11. Belonging to a ‘straight community’
  12. Summary (Community and belonging)
  13. Bi+ experiences in LGBTI+ services
  14. Biphobia in LGBTI+ spaces
  15. Other barriers to participation in LGBTI+ spaces
  16. Mainstream public services and the bi+ experience
  17. NHS services
  18. Sexual health services
  19. Police services
  20. Religious services
  21. Other services
  22. Summary (Mainstream public services and the bi+ experience)
  23. Bi+ intersectionality
  24. Employment
  25. Covid-19 pandemic and the bi+ experience
  26. Covid-19 related healthcare
  27. Social challenges
  28. Financial hardships
  29. Bi+ community groups
  30. Summary (Covid-19 pandemic and the bi+ experience)
  31. Good practice
  32. Recommendations
  33. Increased knowledge and understanding
  34. Avoiding assumptions and generalising
  35. Dealing with discrimination
  36. Bi+ specific support and inclusion
  37. Increase representation of bi+ people
  38. Resources and further reading
  39. Bibliography
  40. Glossary
Report Chapters
  1. Acknowledgements
  2. Foreword
  3. Introduction
  4. Methodology
  5. How we define bi+
  6. Demographics
  7. Key findings
  8. Community and belonging
  9. Belonging to the LGBT+ community
  10. Belonging to a bi+ community
  11. Belonging to a ‘straight community’
  12. Summary (Community and belonging)
  13. Bi+ experiences in LGBTI+ services
  14. Biphobia in LGBTI+ spaces
  15. Other barriers to participation in LGBTI+ spaces
  16. Mainstream public services and the bi+ experience
  17. NHS services
  18. Sexual health services
  19. Police services
  20. Religious services
  21. Other services
  22. Summary (Mainstream public services and the bi+ experience)
  23. Bi+ intersectionality
  24. Employment
  25. Covid-19 pandemic and the bi+ experience
  26. Covid-19 related healthcare
  27. Social challenges
  28. Financial hardships
  29. Bi+ community groups
  30. Summary (Covid-19 pandemic and the bi+ experience)
  31. Good practice
  32. Recommendations
  33. Increased knowledge and understanding
  34. Avoiding assumptions and generalising
  35. Dealing with discrimination
  36. Bi+ specific support and inclusion
  37. Increase representation of bi+ people
  38. Resources and further reading
  39. Bibliography
  40. Glossary

Still Complicated

Foreword

The original ‘Complicated?’ report was published ten years ago. It showed that many bi+[1] people did not feel that they fit into any community, whether that was a bi+ community, an LGBTI+ community, or a heterosexual community.

Defining ‘a community’ is a difficult task. It can take many forms and be different things to different people. Community can be geographical, interest or identity based, online or in-person[2]. It may be family, neighbourhood, or friendship based. It may be people meeting up at big events like Prides, or smaller support or interest groups providing a safe and non-judgemental space.

While the look of chosen communities may differ, what they have in common is that they provide support, solidarity, and safety.

Through Scottish Bi+ Network, I have heard reports of a lack of inclusion, and I hope that this publication will help services improve. In the last ten years, I have watched bi+ visibility, groups and support grow, and the community expand, through the hard work and dedication of people in the community, often with little or no budget.

This is in part due to the huge growth in online bi+ communities, where people from around the world can connect and support each other, even in countries where bi+ and LGBTI+ acceptance is not where we are in the UK.

Even in the darkest of times, during the lockdowns and restrictions due to Covid-19, I saw the community come together and support each other when there was very little other support available. What I am delighted to see is that a lot of those people are still actively visible within the community today, and they are still supporting each other.

Community is not only people coming together when times are tough, but also sharing their joy and feeling supported in their day-to-day lives.

In another ten years’ time, I am certain that the bi+ community will have continued to grow and thrive. I hope that in the future bi+ people feel safer and more supported in all spaces, not just in bi+ ones.

Lorna (she/her)
Chair, Scottish Bi+ Network

Footnotes

  1. See our definition of bi+. (Return to reference [1])
  2. Collectively, LGBTI+ people have long had to make our own community and redefine what that means to us – see Nagle, A., Crowther, R., Sanders White, E. (2023) ‘Kinship, Family, and Support Networks in Scotland’s LGBTI+ Community’ (Return to reference [2])

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