Bisexual Visibility Cafe

On September twenty-third the Stockton Pride Alliance held their first event, a Bi Visibility Cafe, at eight p.m. in the campus center to celebrate Bisexual Awareness Day. In general, the concept of the event, a forum specifically for multisexuals (an umbrella term referring to anyone attracted to more than one gender, including bisexuals, polysexuals, pansexuals, and individuals who prefer not to use labels), was a satisfying change, when most LGBT spaces tend to center around monosexual gay people, and bisexuals are rarely given a loud voice in the community. Furthermore, the atmosphere was immediately welcoming. I initially sat by myself far from the stage and was quickly approached by the club’s vice president, who explained the event and invited me to move closer, where luckily I ran into some friends. The event primarily centered around an open mic night for multisexuals to share personal stories, songs, and poetry, and several tables were set up with snacks and drinks such as cookies, fruit, soda, and coffee. The board members put significant effort into keeping the event moving, frequently making announcements or doing improvised acts whenever there was a break in performances, as well as encouraging audience members to come up and share their experiences. About halfway through, the vice president of the Pride Alliance went around to every table and spent several minutes chatting with each person who had attended, looking for feedback and trying to make sure the event was successful. Overall, the performances were insightful, often entertaining, and the audience was welcoming and respectful. Moreover, the event provided some much-needed visibility to a part of the community that so frequently struggles with erasure.