Edited by Darren Bouwmeester
During Pride 2026, the Bisexual Resource Center is leaning into Bi+ joy and the diversity of our community while amplifying bisexual voices.
In that spirit, we created a survey asking you to share your experience as Bi+ people. Throughout Pride season, we are publishing selected responses in a series of articles that highlight what makes this community so wonderful.
For the first segment of our series, community members reflected on what Pride means to them. In the second segment, people shared their favorite things about being Bi+ and in our last article we learned about where you’ve found community.
For this installment of our series, respondents share their most affirming moment as a Bi+ person this year.
The responses remind us that affirmation doesn’t mean that we ignore all of the real challenges that we face as Bi+ people. Instead, affirmation sometimes means finding “the win”and hope wherever we can find it. Affirmation can be found at a Pride parade, and it can be found in the quietest interaction when we share our story with friends or family. It might be listening to a podcast and hearing someone share a story that could be your own, or watching a television series that features bisexual characters. In those small and disparate moments, we feel seen and heard, and the effect can be powerful.
What’s your most affirming moment as a Bi+ person this year?
In sharing the survey responses, we have organized them around themes.
Finding Affirmation through Pride
Last June I walked in my first ever Chicago Pride Parade with the Bisexual Queer Alliance of Chicago! I was even seen on TV if you happened to be watching!
Jim Johnson, (he, him), Illinois
Celebrating my first pride openly with my partner and my daughter.
Alex D., (she, her), Oregon
Today! The first day of Pride Month. Both a queer and not queer friend texted me to say Happy Pride!
Anonymous, No Location Given
Two situations at the same day and same event. One was polar opposite of the others, but they were both affirming. At a Pride Parade in New Hope, PA. I was low key accosted by an older gay man about my bisexual flag and being bisexual. He first asked, with a smirk, what my flag was. When I said bisexual, he laughed and said he sometimes buys his sex too. For the rest of the day, he would yell out “there’s my bisexual” as I walked by. On the flip side, I had several people comment on liking my purple hair, my pink bisexual shirt. I even had a few people come out of the parade to comment on one or the other. I also received an amazing mom hug that brought tears to my eyes and admittedly is causing me to tear up just thinking of it now. Both [instances] felt affirming. The accosting was so because I felt comfortable as a Bi+ person and it didn’t bother me, [whereas the other] was for the obvious reasons.
Wes Brazwell, (he, him), Pennsylvania
Finding Affirmation through Bi+ Community and Hearing Bi Voices
The women/femmes picnic last summer. I felt so completely belonging for the first time in my life.
Beth R., (she, her), Massachusetts
Honestly, listening to so many things that resonated on the Bisexual Killjoy and Give It To Me Bi podcast! That has been so affirming, like oh, I’m not alone here at all especially when it comes to “coming out later in life” and some of the grief in that process. And also coming out to some of my co-workers who had made an assumption about my identity…their response was affirming because it was like, oh OK! You are part of our community, no questions asked.
Anonymous, No Location Given
Being brave enough to reach out for community and finding out that I do, in fact, belong here.
Julia Barnes-Brown, (she, her), Massachusetts
Coming Out to Self, Friends and Family
Coming out publicly as bi+ allowed me to understand myself better. I began asking myself questions I had never allowed space for before, and I had the courage and visibility to try new things. This past fall, I came out as nonbinary and genderfluid.
Kay S., (they, them), Pennsylvania
Coming out to my mom, who is in her 60s, and getting the exact response you want, which is “You are my child and I love you no matter what.”
I knew that’s what she would say, but hearing it matters.
Sarah B., (she, her), Virginia
Coming out publicly as nonbinary (gender-unregulated), which I could/would not have accomplished without first coming out ten years ago as pansexual. Pride is a process of permission and possibility. Coming out never ends. We can always be more than we are.
Kent L., (they, xe), California
Oddly, it’s when my long term straight friends and/or family members use it to tease me. At that point it means they’re comfortable to talk about it, joke about it and embrace it.
Mike H., (he, him), Timaru, New Zealand
My church was where I came out (not to the public) to my husband at the age of 36. I feel loved as me and I am fully myself with my husband and at church.
Anonymous, (she, her), No Location Given
Being around people who understood my feelings and made me feel safe and comfortable in my own skin.
Geebs 67, (he, him), United Kingdom
Sharing about my Bisexuality with Others
I am a solo parent and I have found a lot of value in sharing stories of queerness with my daughter by reading her books that show all different kinds of queer people and experiences.
H. Stewart, (she, they), Oklahoma
In general I feel more visible than ever before in my life and it gives me all the feels to think about how far I’ve come.
V.R., (she, her), New York
Speaking with some other people and being candid about my sexuality and sexual desires, and being both embraced and accepted in the process. It has been a limited number of people so far, but the contacts to date have been sympathetic and supportive.
Fred H., (he, him), Wisconsin
I participated in a queer voices recorded survey. Hopefully some of my experiences will help young Bis be more accepting of themselves and others.
Karri Watson, (she, her), Tennessee
Being selected to tell the story of how I finally came to understand myself as bi+, demisexual, & queer at a Queer To Tell event. I’ve found others’ stories helpful in understanding and navigating my own journey, and I hope that my story might be an encouragement to others — to help other bi+ people feel seen & valued. I’m always astonished and discouraged by how invisible we are.
My Queer Little Self, United States
Finding Affirmation through Activism and Helping Others
Spending time with three friends who realized and became comfortable with being bi because of me.
Alisa S., (she, her, they, them), Vermont
I have actually had people thanking me for the work I am doing with the Bisexual Organizing Project. Also every time someone opens up to me because I show myself as safe and willing to be someone they can talk to even they are not safe to fully be out
Todd Kreuger, (he, him), Minnesota
Helping a friend of mine to come out of the closet. Offering her moral support.
Jeffrey R., (he, him), Ohio
When my younger cousin came out to me as queer because she “knew I was a safe person to tell” because of being in the community
Alyssa, (they, them), Massachusetts
Finding New Ways of Sexual and Gender Expression
Dying my hair a bright colour. I feel truly affirmed when my gender expression ties in with how I perceive my sexual orientation.
Anonymous, No Location Given
Being invited out to meet a friend and her fiancé while being dressed in feminine clothes. It’s an incredible act of acceptance.
76starships, (he, him), Virginia
Being more comfortable with shopping for and buying bi+ merch. Once I got my bi phone case for my new phone, I felt better that I can signal my bi-ness
Will H., (he, him), New York
Incorporating my bi+ identity into my wedding plans through colors, etc. — I am marrying a guy and I’m still bi!
E.C., (she, her), No Location Given
Experiencing Love and Sexual Attraction with Multiple Genders
Finally accepting myself and leaving a six year straight presenting relationship and dating a female for the first time and LOVING IT!
Libby Sharland, (she, her), London, United Kingdom
Sitting with a date, noticing her checking out my breasts, while I checked out hers, and just loving that she is just like me.
Anonymous, (she, her), No Location Given
At a party. I kissed a boy, and then a girl tried to flirt with me. I was very nervous. Actually, after that I questioned all about myself, but I found out – again!!! – that im a pathetic bisexual ://// (but i loved it! of course. I love to be in love with boys/girls/nonbinaries. Everyone.
Anonymous, No Location Given
Finding out me and my boyfriend BOTH have a celebrity crush on Emma Meyers and Zain Iqbal (A Good Girls Guide to Murder tv show).
Joc J., (any), Oregon
Deciding that I am going to be myself regardless of family thinking it is a phase. I can be attracted to different genders even if I have only dated one.
Brynn, (she, her), New York
Going on my first date with someone of the same biological sex as me.
Leo, (she, they), Portugal
Seeing Bi Representation in Media
My most affirming moment as a bi person this year has been guessing that certain celebrities/singers are bi based on vibes and then Googling them and seeing on Wikipedia that I was right! It has made me very proud of my “bi-dar” haha.
Gia S., (she, her), New England
*******
Thanks to all of those who have responded to the B+ Joy Survey. Stay tuned for the final installment of the series.