Lo (Lauren) Mariolis | she/her
I’ve always been a quiet bisexual.* Proud, confident—but quiet. Living my life. Minding my business. Flying below the radar.
For a long time, that felt just fine. I knew who I was. The people I loved—and who loved me—celebrated who I was. Why make things more complicated?
But as time passed, that quiet part of me was chipped away. The constant erasure. The assumptions. The “You’re bi? I thought you had a boyfriend.” The “So, you just like sleeping around?” The “Isn’t bisexuality transphobic?” The myths. The misinformation. The narrow, rigid definitions. The tiny, daily ways the world says: You don’t really exist.
The more I learned (particularly about the staggering statistics about bi+ health), the closer I got to exploding. I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. I had just—had it.
A Bi+ Adventure to City Hall
Fast forward to September 17, 2025. I’m three months into my role as a Board Member at the Bisexual Resource Center (BRC). And there I am: standing in the Boston City Council chambers, alongside an incredible group of bi+ folks and allies, delivering our testimony in support of a resolution for Bi+ Visibility Day.
The room was tall and formal. The kind of place designed to intimidate. I was excited. Nervous. Optimistic. Fearful it could all go sideways—what if our words were met with awkward silence from an uncomfortable crowd, or a few judgemental whispers from the back? What if no one in that imposing, echoing room accepted us? But I looked around and saw our community (the most colorfully dressed in the room, might I add) and felt a wave of calm knowing they had my back.
After our piece and a photo, a city councillor approached me, extended their hand and said, “Congratulations on your new appointment! Good luck!” And just like that, I exhaled.
To be recognized like that—in a public, civic space—was more than symbolic. It was powerful. A reminder that showing up matters. Using your voice matters. And sometimes, when we make some noise, people in power actually listen.
Behind the Scenes
The event came together through a partnership between the BRC and Boston City Councilor Henry Santana’s office, led by Gabby Waiter, Matthew Broude, and other staff—a team of dedicated, justice-minded folks who want this work to matter not just during Bi+ Visibility Day, but all year-round.
We met. We planned. We emailed. We wrote. We designed. We edited. We promoted. We prepped. And then we showed up.
On a Wednesday morning, a wave of bi+ energy swept through City Hall. We kicked off with a community conversation: What does the bi+ community need to not just be visible, but valued? How do we move from being seen to being supported? Councilor Henry Santana was in the room, welcoming us warmly, leaning in as folks shared their perspectives, and made it clear that he valued our presence.
We connected. We learned from each other. Shared coffee, stickers, stories—and even a few business cards. And then, our fearless leader took the podium and delivered a standout speech, with bi+ folks and allies standing proud behind her.
A City Resolution was passed recognizing Bi+ Visibility Day. A liaison from the Mayor’s Office approached us afterward, asking how they could support future bi+ efforts. We were invited to apply for a $10,000 grant.
And as for me? I waved goodbye to my quietly confident bi+ self—gave that goober the biggest hug for getting me this far. And off she sent me on a new mission: to show up, to be loud, and to always make a fuss.
Why Showing Up Matters
This wasn’t just about visibility. This was about advocacy. About civic engagement. About coalition-building. About contributing to a movement.
It was about creating space for intersectional identities—the bi+, the pan, the queer, the questioning. The trans, the nonbinary, the intersex. The identities that exist at the intersections of race, class, health, education, and beyond. For all of us who live in the in-between.
When we show up, we create space. When we speak up, we shift the conversation. When we connect, we build momentum.
So Now What?
You don’t have to stand at a podium to make an impact. (But if you have plans to, let us know. We’ll have your back.) What matters is showing up—in whatever way feels aligned and a little bit brave.
Here are a few ways to do the damn thing:
- Show up to a local (or virtual) event, even if it’s uncomfy or awkward or on a Wednesday morning. Villages don’t build themselves!
- Come out to the people that love you, your doctor, or even your city councilor (when it feels safe).
- Speak up when you hear misinformation about bi+ identities.
- Volunteer your time and skills with bi+ organizations (like the BRC—more on that below!).
- Be joyfully, visibly, unapologetically you.
Because when we show up together, we change the world.
*A Note on Labels
At the BRC, when we say bi+, we mean people who recognize and honor their potential for attraction to more than one gender—regardless of the label they use. That includes bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, fluid, queer, asexual, and more. If that’s you, you’re welcome here.
Get Involved with the BRC
I’m super excited to be refreshing the BRC’s Honeycomb Volunteer Program, a new way to plug into the work, meet other bi+ folks, and take action.
Wanna join the hive? Keep an eye on the BRC newsletter for updates soon!
With Gratitude
To everyone who showed up at City Hall on that Wednesday morning: your presence mattered. Your voice mattered. You matter. Thank you for showing up!
To Gabby, Matthew, and the team from City Councilor Henry Santana’s office—thank you for reaching out to us, being advocates from within, and creating space for our community.
To the absolute force that is the BRC Advocacy Committee—Bailey, Brooke, and Sara—you’re my favorite bi+ squeaky wheels!
Lo is the newest addition to the BRC’s Board of Directors. When she’s not working behind the scenes to expand bi+ advocacy (or making a spreadsheet for literally anything), you can find her refreshing the BRC’s Honeycomb Volunteer Program (coming soon!). If you want to learn more about Lo, you can check out her bio. If you have any curiosities about anything in this blog post, you can reach her at lmariolis@biresource.org.