Bisexual Visibility Day: Meet the Celebs Who are Proud of Their Orientation

Every September 23rd since 1999, the International Day of Bisexuality, also known as Bisexual Visibility Day, is commemorated. It is a date that not only seeks acceptance, inclusion and tolerance towards bisexual people, but also invites us to reflect on the rich diversity of sexual orientations and that each human being is free and has the right to enjoy their life, without being harassed or discriminated against.

About Bisexual Visibility Day

International Bisexuality Day arose from the initiative of three bisexual activists from the United States: Wendy Curry, Gigi Raven and Michael Page. Tired of the generalized discrimination against their social group, both by heterosexuals and by the LGBTQ+ community itself, they decided to make the problem visible and ask for an end to so much intolerance.

Although in the early 1990s several organizations of bisexual activists had already began to establish themselves, no official day had been set to celebrate this community. But, thanks to an initiative of these three American activists, they finally were able to decide on a date.

Therefore, since 1999, Bisexual Visibility Day is celebrated every September 23rd. On this date the community tries to put an end to the stereotypes that are held against them and the invisibility they suffer.

6 Bisexual celebrities we love

Sara Ramirez

Actress Sara Ramírez, who became popular for her role as Dr. Callie in “Grey’s Anatomy”, also speaks with great pride about her sexuality. In 2016, following the Pulse gay club attacks, she publicly announced that she is bisexual.

Later, in 2020, he let her followers know that she also identifies as a non-binary person and her pronouns are “her” or the singular “they”. 

Frida Kahlo

Although Frida Kahlo died many years ago, she is one of the most recognized bisexual celebrities in the Latino community. In addition to being married to Diego Rivera, she had affairs with León Trotsky and also with Chavela Vargas. In fact, she was so fascinated with Chavela that she told her friend, writer Carlos Pellicer, in a letter:

“Today I met Chavela Vargas. Extraordinary, lesbian, what’s more, I wanted her erotically. I don’t know if she felt what I did. But I think she is a liberal enough woman that if she asks me, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to undress in front of her”. 

Paco León

Actor Paco León, who plays a trans woman in The House of Flowers, has dated men. In fact, when he met his current partner, director Anna Rodríguez, he was dating a man. However, from the first moment he saw her he knew that he would grow old with her. Ten years later, Paco and Anna are still together and have a daughter. But he has never hid his bisexuality.

‘La Crespa’ Martinez

La Crespa Martínez is a Colombian model and presenter. She came out as bi when she was in a relationship with journalist and broadcaster Camila Chaín, who has been openly a lesbian since she was 19 years old.

Héctor Ugarte

Artist Héctor Ugarte, who was part of the legendary Mexican band Mercurio, had always had a low profile. That was, until, in 2017, he confirmed his bisexuality. “I am a man who believes in universal love, it doesn’t matter if it’s a girl or a boy, and it’s the only thing I can say on that subject. I don’t intend to spend my energy on those things, because I think there are more important issues to deal with.”, he said in an interview that year.

Carlos Buelvas

Colombian actor Carlos Buelvas came out of the closet in 2019. It was during a television interview in which he said that he likes both men and women. He even recounted that he has had experiences with both genders. However, he said that at some point he had tried to convince himself that bisexuality didn’t exist, until he finally accepted it.

What is bisexuality?

But, what does it mean to be bisexual? People who identify as bisexual are those who are attracted to both men and women. 

Before we dig deeper into this, we should make it very clear that bisexual people don’t choose whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or someone of the opposite sex. Instead, falling in love with someone comes naturally to them and they don’t stop to think whether it’s with a man or a woman. It is simply love.

One of the formal descriptions of bisexuality states that a bisexual person is emotionally, affectively and/or sexually attracted to people who are perceived as the same gender, as well as those of the opposite gender. Bisexuality is also considered attraction to individuals regardless of their gender.

Also, it’s worthy to point out that this attraction that bisexual people feel isn’t always proportionally divided between different genders. This means that a bisexual person doesn’t have to have the same level of attraction to each gender.  

The meaning of the bisexual flag

The bisexual community, like other members of the LGBT+ community, has their own flag, which was designed by one of the founders of this movement, Michael Page. Its colors mean: fuchsia, attraction to people of the same sex; blue, attraction to people of the opposite sex and purple, the entire spectrum that encompasses sexuality between the two genders.

How can you celebrate Bisexuality Day?

If you belong to the bisexual community, you can join the different activities planned in your city on this day. 

The main objective of this day is to increase tolerance in the world, so you can share messages of equality and fraternity on social networks together with the hashtag #InternationalBisexualityDay. This would be a great time to support the community!