Bisexual Killjoy – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Bisexual Killjoy, where Bailey and Lynn talk all things bisexual (plus, pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness). Despite representing the majority of the LGBTQ+ community, bi+ folks have gotten the shorthand of the stick for too long. Now’s the time to have our voices heard. What is a Bisexual Killjoy? It’s the answer to the age-old question: Is bisexuality just a phase? To which we say: Bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon.

Just in time for Bi+ Health Awareness month, Bailey and Lynn do a deep dive into the bafflingly mysterious world of bi+ health. Despite representing the majority of the LGBTQ+ community, little is known about bi+ folks and their health. We do know that bi+ women are more likely to experience mood disorders than their hetero- and homosexual counterparts. We do know that bi+ women are at a higher risk from violence from an intimate partner than their hetero- and homosexual counterparts. We don’t know much else, though, and that needs to change. In this episode, learn more about the state of bi+ healthcare in America, where we’ve been, and where we should be going. 

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Got a good/bad story about erasure in your life? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

Resources:

• Bisexual Resource Center: https://biresource.org/find-bi-resources/ 

Bisexual Killjoy is back, and it’s time to talk about every bi+ person’s favorite topic: bi-erasure. Join us as we discuss how bisexuality often goes unnoticed or disregarded, both in mainstream society, social settings, relationships, politics, and within LGBTQ+ spaces themselves (the call was coming from inside the house), and WTF we can do about it. 

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Got a good/bad story about erasure in your life? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

References

• Find Bi+/Queer Resources: https://biresource.org/find-bi-resources/ 
• Yoshino, K. (2000). The Epistemic Contract of Bisexual Erasure. Stanford Law Review, 52(2), 353–461. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229482Alexander, J. & Anderlini-D’Onofrio, S. (Eds.). (2010). Bisexuality and Queer Theory: Intersections, Connections, and Challenges. Routledge. 
• Lingel, J. (2009). Adjusting The Borders: Bisexual Passing And Queer Theory. Journal of Bisexuality, 9 381-405. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/15299710903316646
• Rodríguez, J. M. (2014). Queer politics, bisexual erasure: Sexuality at the nexus of race, gender, and statistics. Indiana University Press. 
• Rodríguez, J. M. (2014). Sexual Futures, Queer Gestures and Other Latina Longings. New York University Press.
• Feinstein, B.A., Dyar, C. Bisexuality, Minority Stress, and Health. Curr Sex Health Rep 9, 42–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0096-3

It’s 2024, and bi+ folks need more than visibility; they need recognition. Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy. This week, Lynn and Bailey are delving deep into the complexities of the bisexual agenda. We’re highlighting monosexual discomfort, sexual ambiguity, and all those sexy liminal spaces. 

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

References

• Find Bi+/Queer Resources: https://biresource.org/find-bi-resources/ 
• Karen L. Suyemoto, Alissa L. Hochman, Roxanne A. Donovan & Lizabeth Roemer (2021) BECOMING AND FOSTERING ALLIES AND ACCOMPLICES THROUGH AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS: CHOOSING JUSTICE OVER COMFORT, Research in Human Development, 18:1-2, 1-28, DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2020.1825905

Join Bisexual Killjoy as we dissect the myth of "passing privilege” and challenge the notion that bi+ folks do not face discrimination or oppression. Learn how passing privilege ignores the complexities of bi+ identity and erases the unique challenges bi+ people encounter, and listen to how heated our BKJ hosts get as they critique the heteronormativity and homonormativity present in LGBTQ+ spaces.

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

References

• Center for Disease Control. (2016). HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men.
• Cornier, J.R. (2019). Hanky Panky: An Abridged History of the Hanky Code. The History Project.
• Feinstein, B. A., Benjamin, I., Dorrell, K. D., Foley, S. E., Blumenau, H. S., Cragun, R. T., & Manalastas, E. J. (2022). An Examination of Attitudes toward Bisexual People at the Intersections of Gender and Race/Ethnicity. Journal of Bisexuality, 22(4), 463–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2022.2084485 
• Hartman, J. E. (2011). Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Methods for Sampling in the Bisexual Community. Journal of Bisexuality, 11(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2011.545306 
• Nelson, R. (2024). Deconstructing the Clinging Myth of ‘Straight-Passing Privilege’ for Bi+ People. Journal of Bisexuality, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2024.2332873
  • TL;DR of the above: New study debunks common myth around bisexual privilege (msn.com)
  • Even more simplified: Think Bisexual People Have Straight Passing Privilege? Here's Why You're Mistaken - Everyday Feminism
• Peoples, L. The Old, Secret Style Language of the LGBTQ+ Community. Refinery29.

Join Bisexual Killjoy as we delve into the complexities of signaling bisexuality within the queer community and society at large. Today, we’re discussing the challenges bisexuals face in being recognized and accepted due to the pervasive binary correlation between gender and sexuality. From TikTok suppression to a need for validation in queer spaces, we’re tossing out our hottest takes around on heterosexual and queer signaling. For some reason, Bailey pops off on the historical and cultural influences on gender presentation and the perpetuation of heteronormative standards. You won’t want to miss it.

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

References

• #StillBisexual. https://stillbi.org/. @stillbisexual_official
• Barber, E. J. W. (1994). Womens Work: The First 20000 Years Women Cloth And Society In Early Times. WW Norton & Company.
• Hutson, D. J. (2010). Standing OUT/Fitting IN: Identity, Appearance, and Authenticity in Gay and Lesbian Communities. Symbolic Interaction, 33(2), 213–233. https://doi.org/10.1525/si.2010.33.2.213 
• Kelly, I. (2007). Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style. Atria Books.

Happy Pride! Join Bisexual Killjoy as we explore the fluidity of sexuality and gender. Dive into discussions on liminal spaces, gender fluidity, and the misconceptions about bisexuality. We’re challenging the myth of bisexuals and trans-exclusion, looking at the unique intersection of bisexuality and gender fluidity, and unpacking the limited research on the subject we could find. Since it’s Pride, remember to celebrate your identity and give back to your community!

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

References

• Cipriano, A. E., Nguyen, D., & Holland, K. J. (2022). "Bisexuality Isn't Exclusionary": A Qualitative Examination of Bisexual Definitions and Gender Inclusivity Concerns among Plurisexual Women. Journal of Bisexuality, 22(4), 557–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2022.2060892 
• Ghabrial, M. A. (2019). "We can Shapeshift and Build Bridges": Bisexual Women and Gender Diverse People of Color on Invisibility and Embracing the Borderlands. Journal of Bisexuality, 19(2), 169–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2019.1617526
• Nelson, R. (2020). 'What do bisexuals look like?: I don't know!' visibility, gender, and safety among plurisexuals. Journal of Sociology (Melbourne, Vic.), 56(4), 591–607. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783320911455 

We’re winding down Pride and Season 1! Bisexual Killjoy cordially invites you to discuss intimacy, sex, and relationship dynamics for all of us bi+ folks. We’re talking monogamy, polyamory, and how biphobic stereotypes hurt us all. Let’s get serious and laugh the whole time.

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

Some stories with bi+ relationship (platonic, romantic, and erotic) representation:

• A Lot of People Live in This House, Bailey Merlin
• Foul Play, Cassandra Medcalf
• Friendsgiving with Benefits, Lizzie B. Brown

That’s a wrap on Season 1! We’ve talked about so much in the last few months: gender, invisibility, relationships, health, and what it means to be a Bisexual Killjoy. Join us one last time before the summer really heats up to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going next. 

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

Resources

• Ahmed, Sarah. Feminist Killjoy Handbook. 2023.
• Angelides, Steven. A History of Bisexuality. 2001.
• Hayfield, Nikki. Bisexual and Pansexual Identities: Exploring and Challenging Invisibility and Invalidation. 2020.
• Ka’ahumanu, Lani and Hutchins, Lorraine. Bi Any Other Name. 1991.
• Shaw, Julia. Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality. 2022.
• Winston, Jen. Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much. 2021.

Welcome back, Bisexual Killjoys. Did you miss us? We missed you! In this episode, we’re getting on the same page, sweeping out the cobwebs, spilling the tea, and pumping ourselves up for our best season yet. So, if you don’t remember what a Bisexual Killjoy is, don’t worry; Bailey makes Lynn take us all back to school.

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Lynn Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. 

Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Follow us on @bisexualkilljoy on Instagram/Threads or email us at bisexualkilljoy@gmail.com. 

Resources

• Ahmed, Sarah. Feminist Killjoy Handbook. 2023.
• Sullivan, Elizabeth. “Godmother of SexEd: Maggi Rubenstein.” FoundSF. 1997.