Edited by Darren Bouwmeester
As we celebrate Pride 2026, the Bisexual Resource Center is leaning into Bi+ joy and the diversity of our community while amplifying bisexual voices. As part of Pride, we created a survey asking you to share about your experience as Bi+ people. Thus far, the response has been overwhelming. We thank everyone who submitted their responses, and our only regret is that we couldn’t share every one.
This first collection of responses gives a taste of what is to come as people across the United States and around the world share the importance of Pride and why it matters in their life, for the Bi+ community, as well as for LGBTQIA+ people more broadly. Additional responses will be shared throughout the Pride season, as you tell us what makes our community so wonderful.
These responses remind us that sometimes Pride is about shouting from the rooftops and from marching in the streets, and sometimes it is about listening to others and learning from the diversity and intersectionality within our own community. They remind us that we have made so much progress, and that it’s good to celebrate our victories, even as we acknowledge that our work remains unfinished.
What does Pride mean to you as a Bi+ person?
In sharing the survey responses, we have organized them around themes.
PRIDE as a celebration
A celebration of all the things I spent my life suppressing, for a myriad of reasons. It’s the most amazing celebration of queer joy and celebration to share with my family and friends.
Alex D., (she, her), Oregon
It means celebrating the community of diverse beings and being collectively connected through the pride of being ourselves in the face of all the challenges and all the joy
Leo, (she, they), Portugal
Pride is a combination of history, culture, community, and existence! We deserve celebration!
Paulina, (she, her), California
We matter too and (I) want to celebrate that.
Beth R., (she, her), Massachusetts
PRIDE as a form of self love and authenticity
Embracing messy middleness, affirming to be betwixt and between
Vio S., Germany
I’m not big on being loudly out, I (M) am married to a woman so partially it’s out of being respectful to her, but I do appreciate the little things. A little rainbow on my insta profile, we have rainbow lanyards at work which to my surprise give me joy to wear and see so many others embrace. Suppose you could say it means freedom to be the authentic me
Mike H., (he, him), Timaru, New Zealand
Pride of being able to embrace my appreciation and admiration of being able to openly love and have romantic affection for whomever I want, without fear of judgement, scrutiny and invalidation due to my presentation.
–Anonymous, (she, her), New York
To be myself and love myself as I am
Karen Sutton, No Location Given
PRIDE is sometimes joyously discovered later in life
I know many people look at Pride from a community perspective, but I see it personally. As someone who finally reconciled his sexuality in his mid-50s, I carried a lot of shame for many years. To me, Pride is the opposite of shame, and a celebration of all the work I’ve done to get to today.
Andy T., (he, him), Colorado
Pride means celebrating who I am. I didn’t accept I was bi until I was in my 30s. So as a 36 year old now it means celebrating myself, it means being in a safe space, and it means being around people who are trying to do the same.
Sarah B., (she, her), Virginia
Pride is very important to me. I am 52 and only accepted being bisexual at 50. Accepting this about myself and realizing I was merely cosplaying as straight all these years has totally changed my life. The pride I have in the new me, which was really the real me all along, is immense. Being able to celebrate this with others means the world to me.
Wes Brazwell, (he, him), Pennsylvania
PRIDE as a form of community
Generally, Pride is an opportunity to enjoy community and celebrate, but it’s also a time to reflect and engage. For me individually, I happened to come out at Philly’s Pride! It was an accident, but it shaped the rest of my life in such a positive way.
Kay S., (they, them), Philadelphia
Pride means having a community where I can be myself without fear of being in danger. To me, Pride is about community and acceptance, no matter the circumstances.
Sable, (any/all), Indiana
A celebration of community and being your true self. Breaking down barriers and living without fear.
Geebs67, (he, him), United Kingdom
An opportunity to celebrate my identity with my Bi+ community, as well as the wider LGBTQ+ community. It’s also a reminder that there’s still a lot of work to be done, as we strive for liberation in the wider community and greater resources, visibility and respect for the Bi+ community.
Francesca, (she, her), New York
Pride gives me the strength to know that I am not alone.
Kevin Woodson, (he, they), Ohio
PRIDE can be imperfect and sometimes even hard.
It’s elusive. While I know I should be proud about who I am, with a lack of commonly open communities it’s tough to feel actual pride.
Al, (he, him), location not given
On one hand, it allows me a sense of curiosity and wanting to be more involved in my city’s queer scene. On the other hand, there’s a sense of dread and loneliness that is a result of not fully engaging and not being available/knowledgeable to do the social events.
Will H., (he, him), Long Island, NY
I definitely have complex feelings about it. On one hand I am interested. On the other, I am anxious about Bi acceptance in the LGBT+ community.
Jeffrey R. (he, him), Ohio
PRIDE as a form of defiance or protest
Contrary to “it doesn’t matter who you love,” it matters very much — Pride is about loving myself for who I am fully & authentically. It’s about celebrating joy, liberation, & survival, but it’s also an act of resistance, part of activism against biphobia, bi-erasure, & bi-invisibility. Love wins!
My Queer Little Self, United States
Being a fully activated individual in a world that often wants me to be less than so.
Tom Knoll, (he, him), Bali, Indonesia
Pride is special to me as a bi+ person because I know that “Mother of Pride” Brenda McDowell who was instrumental in the first Christopher Street marches after Stonewall, was a bisexual woman partnered with a man. So even if people try to erase me, I know that I belong. We have always been here.
Justine, (she, her), Missouri
Queer radical joy is an act of resistance and we need that now more than ever
-V.R. (she, her), NY
Pride is a reminder that all queer people have a stake in the wellbeing of the broader LGBTQ+ community and need to be in solidarity together against attacks on various parts of the community. We should also embrace all queer people and advocate on behalf of their joy!
H. Stewart, (she, they), Oklahoma
Pride means claiming the confidence of self-acceptance. Pride means permission to be seen and celebrated exactly as, and who, we are. Pride means yes/and, not either/or. Pride means possibility and potential. Pride means empowerment. Pride means joy.
Kent L., (they, xe), California
PRIDE is about being visible and taking up space.
PRIDE is a chance to be seen. To be able to lead with this part of myself.
76Starships, (he, him), Virginia
Being seen, loved, and respected for all of my identities
Alyssa (they, them), Massachusetts
PRIDE means to be seen for who I am. To have people see me and know I’m not part of society’s status quo. To own my identity and use it to educate and break stereotypes. PRIDE is seeing the world as it could be and not as it is.
Jim Johnston (he, him), Westmont, IL
It means I get to be my authentic self with other queer(s) who’ve probably went through what I went through.
Key (any/all), Houston, TX
Ownership of my feelings and who I am as a person. Everyone being whoever the fuck they want, living your best life, presenting how you want when you want
Libby Sharland, (she, her), London, United Kingdom
Pride Encompass Many Things
This is a tough question that nobody has ever asked me before. I guess it means for me to be my authentic self and willing to show up as myself no matter how other people may respond. Also just finding joy in the friendships & communities that have grown since I identified as Bi+. I want to say it also means being a killjoy when it comes to supporting Bi+ people & interrupting bullshit. I’m not quite there yet, but in progress.
Anonymous, No Location Given
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If you would like to share your own responses to the Bi+ Joy Survey, it’s not too late! You can share your thoughts here, and stay tuned in the coming weeks as we share more thoughtful and moving responses from our beautiful community.