Workshop Details
Friday
7:45 PM - 8:45 PM
Bi+ Art and Artists Panel
Moderated by Coya White-Hat Artichoker
Description: BECAUSE kicks off with an artist’s panel discussion about how they have chosen to relate their art to their sexual orientation and what impact they feel this has had on their art and their reception as an artist.
Saturday
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
The Bibrarian’s Book Talk
Room: 107
Presenter: Daniel Gibson
Description: Join Daniel, aka The Bibrarian, for a discussion of books new and old with a focus on LGBTQ representation and themes (with focus on bi+). We’ll discuss issues of representation in literature, how the literary scene has evolved in the past few years, and of course give book talks and recommendations.
Daniel Gibson is a library service associate at Lincoln City Libraries, and the Bibrarian for Let’s Get Books Together: an LGBT bookclub and host of Get Lit! A Queer Book Podcast. They are also the founder and owner of Fat Owl Fashion, and are heavily involved in their local community.
Finding Your Safeword
Room: 207
Presenter: Red
Description: Curious about BDSM and how to get started exploring your kinky side? Do your kinky friends seem to be speaking a foreign language and you’d like to understand what’s got them so excited? Wondering how to find the kink community, what it’s like, and if bi+ folks are welcome? Join local kinkster, Seeing Red in her participant driven introduction to BDSM, kink, community, and what it’s like to be bi+ and kinky here in the Twin Cities. Experienced kinksters already active in the community are asked to respect this 101 space by limiting their participation or selecting another workshop to attend.
Red has been a member of the local kink community for over six years, with the past few focused on community leadership. As an educator, she's presented on topics such as polyamory, body acceptance, flirting, and specific body parts and how to have sex with them! As a Kinkster she identifies as a sadistic top, but enjoys exploring the many facets of kink. Red is passionate about acceptance and normalization, education, and creating a safer space for everyone to show up as their authentic self.
Bi+ & Neurodivergent Discussion
Room: 208
Presenters: Patrick RichardsFink & Theresa
Description: There is little research and few narratives about ASD and bisexuality so (as in many other cases) it is up to us to craft our own stories. In this space, the neurodiverse members of our community are invited to a conversation by, for, and about us, and how our intersection identities impact our lives in community and in organizing. Come participate in the discussion.
Patrick RichardsFink MS LPC is a 50ish White neurodiverse cisgender male bisexual counselor in Saint Cloud MN at Prism Mental Health LLC. A former blogger at Eponymous Fliponymous and former member of the board of directors of BiNET USA, he is semi-retired from the national bi activist scene in order to focus on providing mental health services for the LGBTQ+ community as well as allied communities such as Kink, Poly, and Furry. After his Autism Spectrum diagnosis at 41, his life and history started making sense, and an additional focus of his mental health practice is working with neurodiverse adults.
Theresa (she/her/hers) is very interested in the intersection of gender/sexuality and neurodiversity, as she has gone through a lot of changes/self-discovery in the last 2 years. This includes receiving an ASD diagnosis less than 2 years ago, and attending BECAUSE for the first time last year, less than a month after discovering that she is not monosexual. She is also very passionate about helping herself and others break free of toxic social mores/rules/expectations - she is already much happier now that she has begun that process in her own life.
Bi+ Essentials
Room: 212
Presenter: BOP
Description: Come learn more about the bi/pan/fluid/queer (bi+) community in a presentation geared for our community. Based in current surveys and research, this presentation connects stereotypes, community outcomes, and individual experiences to explore the bi+ community. We’ll look at the importance of understanding different types of labels and identities, what experiences bi+ folks have with health care, in the workplace, and in school. We’ll also explore the progress being made in education and acceptance of the middle sexualities. A similar presentation is also available to ally organizations. Contact BOP@BisexualOrganizingProject.org to schedule.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Bi Activism: How to Move Beyond Just Getting Bi
Room: 107
Presenter: Jessie Miller
Description: Jessie Miller, founder of the LGBTQ Guard and BOP Board Member, will be discussing bi+ activism initiative. This includes identifying community need, how to get an organization started, how to recruit people, and how to respond to changing community needs. A portion will also be dedicated to briefly going over the findings of a recent BOP Involvement Survey and how BOP should respond as an organization. This session is meant to get folks engaged, thinking, and contributing. The next bi leaders (and maybe even board members) are in this room!
Jessie Miller is a Bisexual Organizing Project board member and a disabled bisexual badass. Jessie has been involved in BOP for the past two years, volunteering at BECAUSE, and even leading SpeedFriending events for the Bi+ community. On Inauguration Day 2017, she founded the no longer operational LGBTQ Guard, a volunteer-run buddy system to reduce hate crimes and increase safety. Jessie recently moved back to Chicago and hopes to get involved in the bi activist community there.
All Bi Ourselves: Improving HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for Bisexual Communities
Room: 207
Presenter: Khafre Kujichagulia Abif, MLS
Description: Due to the biphobia, research about the health of bisexual populations is lacking and bisexual issues are underrepresented within LGBTQIAP+ community grassroots and advocacy efforts. In this workshop attendees will learn about intersectional research, grassroots organizing, and policy advocacy efforts designed to improve HIV outcomes for bisexual populations. In addition, the presenter will share from his personal perspective of being bisexual and living with HIV for 29 years.
Khafre Kujichagulia Abif, MLS is an Atlanta-based AIDS & Bisexual activist, writer, editor, blogger and artist who has been thriving with HIV for 28 years. Khafre now serves as a Community Organizer with the Southern AIDS Coalition, whose mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the South through federal advocacy, capacity building and education, and grassroots organizing. Khafre has been honored the be selected as HIV Plus magazine one of 75 Most Amazing People Living with HIV in 2016 and by POZ magazine as one of The 2015 POZ 100: Celebrating Long-Term Survivors. Khafre was among the Bisexuals at The White House in October 2014 and 2015. Khafre has independently published, Cornbread, Fish and Collard Greens: Prayers, Poems & Affirmations for people Living with HIV/AIDS (AuthorHouse 2013) and Sistah’s Speak (AuthorHouse 2017). Khafre’s forthcoming works include; FACE US; Not Our Status, But Our Stories, Raising Kazembe: A Memoir, A Walk to the River’s Edge: Call Their Names, He Ain’t Heavy, TransVoices: Shout Out Loud, We Bare Witness, and All Bi Ourselves.
Bi+ & Trans: An Exploration of Gender
Room: 208
Presenter: Al Genaro & Sally Corbett
Description: Join BECAUSE 2017 co-chairs for an introduction to being bi+ and trans. Al and Sally each bring a very different perspective and different experiences to their intersectional identities of being bi+ and trans. Please join them for an introduction to trans identities including nonbinary genders.
Sally Corbett (they/them/theirs) is a bisexual activist and “retired” audio engineer from Rochester, Minnesota. They are the Administrative Assistant and sole staff member of the Bisexual Organizing Project. Sally engages in education and outreach on BOP’s behalf by presenting workshops and lectures on various bi+ related topics to a wide variety of audiences. Sally is invested in pursuing a lifelong career in intersectional LGBTQ activism, which they began in college with many leadership roles in student organizations, such as the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Gay Straight Alliance, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Women’s Advocacy Council, UWO Rainbow Alliance for HOPE (Helping Others Perceive Equality), the Wisconsin Bi/Pan Speaker’s Bureau, and as the Program Assistant of the UWO Diversity and Inclusion Department. Sally was also a co-chair of BECAUSE 2017, “Coming Home: A Bi+ Past, Present, & Future”.
Beyond Binaries: Identity and Sexuality
Room: 212
Presenter: Robyn Ochs
Description: How do we assign labels to our complicated experiences of sexuality? In this interactive program, we will explore the landscape of sexuality, conduct a thought-provoking anonymous survey of those present, and look together at the data. Where do we fall on various sexuality continua? How do we label? How old were we when we came to our identities and to our sexualities? How asexual/sexual are we? How well do our friends/family members understand us? This program will expand your perspective and change the way you think about labels.
Robyn Ochs is an educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. An advocate for the rights of people of ALL orientations and genders to live safely, openly and with full access and opportunity, Robyn’s work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities, and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements. Robyn was recently named by Teen Vogue as one of “9 Bisexual Women Who are Making History."
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Bi+ Identities & the Church
Room: 107
Presenter: Elle Dowd
Description: LGBTQIA+ identities have historically been marginalized by the Christian church. Now, more and more churches call themselves "welcoming" or "affirming." What does this mean for people under the Bi+ Umbrella (the multisexual attraction spectrum)? Elle, a bi woman and candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will talk about the specific spiritual care needs of bi people in the church and how that may differ from programming for gay and lesbian people in the church. This presentation will be grounded in a progressive Christian understanding of queer theology and a queer reading on the Bible.
Elle Dowd (she/her/hers) is a bi-furious #pastorschool student at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Elle has pieces of her heart in Sierra Leone, where her two children were born, and in St. Louis where she learned from the radical, queer, Black leadership during the Ferguson Uprising. She currently works as a community organizer with #DecolonizeLutheranism and on weekends tours the city of Chicago in search of the best Bloody Mary.
Celebrating Ourselves: Beating Stress has been Canceled
Room: 207
Presenter: Apphia Kumar
Description: This workshop is tailored for Bi+ participants and guides them through the process of learning to recognize patterns of abuse in our lives. Once we've learned to recognize them, we will discuss safe ways of helping or finding help, while navigating institutional systems that oppress us.
R. Scott Boots founded HCEI in Boston in 1992 in response to the stressors AIDS caregivers experienced. He has studied creative writing and literature at Interlochen Center for the Arts and the University of Iowa and received an MPS degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Scott is currently on staff at the UIC office of Diversity and formerly co-chaired the UIC College of Dentistry Diversity Advisory Committee and the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of LGBTQIA Persons. His wellness seminars have been presented across the US and UK.
Bye Felicia! Addressing Issues of Bi+ Erasure in the Workplace
Room: 208
Presenter: Rebecca Wagoneer, Quorum
Description: Too often, we hear “I completely support the LGBT employees here. But there aren’t any bisexual people in the company.” Being able to be out at work as an LGBTQ+ employee has become the hallmark of an inclusive workplace. Teams of professionals devoted to developing diversity and inclusion programs tout the necessity of creating workplaces where people can be their true and authentic selves. However, these programs often only include the L and the G, with scant attention occasionally paid to the T. Erasing bisexuality and bi+ identities has long been the norm even when companies are known and lauded for their inclusion practices. And, too often, the cost of coming out as bisexual/bi+ is extraordinarily high due to biphobia and other related factors.
This highly interactive presentation will help attendees deepen their own understanding of bisexuality/bi+ identities, help them identify bi+ erasure in their own workplaces, and give practical actionable skills to help to increase visibility and safety for employees.
Rebecca Waggoner is an innovative nonprofit leader with a deep commitment to developing and implementing effective response strategies to improve social, political and economic climates for LGBTQ individuals and organizations. She has worked at every level of program development/management with community-based programs for over 20 years. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Quorum (Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce), Rebecca was the Director of the Anti-Violence Program at OutFront Minnesota. Rebecca identifies as an 89% lesbian/11% to be discussed, enjoys trying (albeit failing) to keep her houseplants alive, and lives with her wife, four cats and a rescued greyhound in Minneapolis.
Sound & Movement: Collaborative Constellations
Room: 212
Presenter: Mary Everest
Description: As bi+ folks, many of us have experienced self-doubt, feeling that we don't belong, and accusations that we are confused or dishonest. We may have been told that we can't trust our sense of who we are. This workshop is an opportunity to (1) validate yourself, (2) let your body move, let your voice take shape, and (3) experiment with creative collaboration. Participants are invited to improvise through a series of loosely structured activities, to combine intuitive play with catharsis and rejuvenation in a nonjudgmental environment, to take care of your physical and emotional needs, and to opt out of or modify any activity that doesn't feel like a good fit. Bring your ideas to the workshop: if we were to say or sing something to you, what would you want it to be? If you could say, shout, or sing something to our community, what would you want us to hear? If we could create a vocal landscape in which we feel nourished, seen, and heard, what would we say, sing, or hum together? If you could let go of a destructive weight, shake off an untruth, repair an important emotional hinge, or build a web of solidarity, how would you do it through movement? And how might we move together?
Important Note: Participants will need to sign a liability waiver to participate in this workshop. Due to the trust-building nature of this workshop, late arrivals will not be accepted. Please be prompt.
Mary Everest is a singer-songwriter, artist, childcare provider, and former Minneapolis resident who recently moved to British Columbia. She has been hosting cathartic movement, breath, and listening sessions sporadically for about fifteen years. Her work is informed by a desire to transform and transcend the effects of trauma.
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Political Sign Making
Room: 107
Description: We’re a month away from the election--are your yard signs ready? Drop in between 7:30 and 9:30 to make your own yard sign or sign for your next march. Supplies provided including yard stakes, corrugated plastic, markers, paints, glitter glue, colored tape, and anything else we’ve pulled out of our craft boxes to share with you.
Speed Friending
Room: 208
Presenters: Jesse Miller
Description: You’ve heard of speed dating, come experience SpeedFriending. This unique experience is a great way to meet new people in a low pressure environment. This was a favorite from BECAUSE 2017’s Saturday evening offerings so come give it a whirl!
Sisak: Film & Discussion
Room: 212
Presenters: Apphia Kumar
Description: Sisak is a beautiful short film that has won over 43 international film awards. Attendees will watch the 20 minute film and use it as a launching point to talk about love and attraction in India, a country where people are still fighting for the right to love and where bi men in marriages struggle to navigate their same sex attractions.
Apphia Kumar is a workshop facilitator and youth educator with experience in community building, organizational development, public speaking, network building, training and facilitation, fundraising and event production. A warrior, survivor and the voice in the room reminding it to be affirming and inclusive, Apphia aims to empower a generation for change. Apphia currently runs the Queer South Asian Collective for LGBTQIA+ people of South Asian diaspora in Greater Boston. She is the first known bisexual asylee and in addition to her work with - QSAC, she is working on Bisexual Asylum Advocacy with NQAPIA to disrupt the stigma around bisexual immigration. In the work she does, she aims to decolonize gender and sexuality and reclaim masculinities in a way that is healthy, safe, affirming, kind and beautiful.
Community Space: Games & Hospitality
Room: 31
Description: Relax in room 31 after a long day of workshops. Socialize, play a game, or just grab a snack between other activities.
Sunday
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Annual Meeting 101: How to be a Director or Volunteer
Room: 107
Presenter: Sally Corbett
Description: What is it like to volunteer on a working non-profit board of directors? This workshop will explore what it means to be on the Bisexual Organizing Project Board of Directors, what will take place at BOP’s Annual Meeting, and other ways to get involved with BOP! We will cover Board positions, terms, and responsibilities, and basic governance, as well as time commitments and expectations. Current and past board members will join us to share their experiences and answer questions. We will walk participants through what happens at the Annual Meeting, and how BOP’s elections work. Attendees will also learn about other volunteer opportunities and committee positions.
Sally Corbett (they/them/theirs) is a bisexual activist and “retired” audio engineer from Rochester, Minnesota. They are the Administrative Assistant and sole staff member of the Bisexual Organizing Project. Sally engages in education and outreach on BOP’s behalf by presenting workshops and lectures on various bi+ related topics to a wide variety of audiences. Sally is invested in pursuing a lifelong career in intersectional LGBTQ activism, which they began in college with many leadership roles in student organizations, such as the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Gay Straight Alliance, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Women’s Advocacy Council, UWO Rainbow Alliance for HOPE (Helping Others Perceive Equality), the Wisconsin Bi/Pan Speaker’s Bureau, and as the Program Assistant of the UWO Diversity and Inclusion Department. Sally was also a co-chair of BECAUSE 2017, “Coming Home: A Bi+ Past, Present, & Future”.
Hypersexualization of Bisexuals
Room: 207
Presenter: Codi Coday
Description: Building on her popular presentations at BECAUSE 2017 exploring hypersexualization of bisexuals and being a “bad bisexual,” Codi will be using film and TV show clips as a launching point for an in depth discussion of representation of bisexuals. We will discuss the differences between empowerment and objectification, sex positivity and hypersexualization, and how “the bad bisexual” character impacts our community- specifically those of us who do meet those stereotypes. Attendance last year is not required to take part in the discussion.
Codi Coday is a writer, speaker, activist, and community organizer located in Denver, Colorado, USA. She is the president of PAVES (Polysexual Alliance for Visibility, Education, and Support), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of bisexuals. In addition to bi+ issues, she is also passionate about intersectional feminism, sex positivity, ethical nonmonogamy, chronic illness, and accessibility. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, camping, and spending time with community in Denver.
Bi+ & Polyamorous
Room: 208
Presenter: Mark Stapleton
Description: Many bi+ folks use polyamory and other forms of ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship structures. This introduction to bisexuality and ENM will discuss how people form and maintain relationships and steps to getting them started, how to open up an existing monogamous relationship, and discussion of the day-to-day realities of navigating intimate relationships of many sorts.
Mark Stapleton has known how he feels about sex and relationships for most of his life, although he only recently was able to express it meaningfully to others. He enjoys talking to others about relationships and how they intersect with their orientations, and hearing their stories. Mark moderates a local ethical non-monogamy munch that has monthly discussions about polyamory and other ethical relationship types.
Intersectional Sexuality: Being Bi+ and...
Room: 212
Presenter: Alex Intaffi
Description: Being bi/pan/fluid is only one aspect of our identities and experiences. We have other identities and experiences and might even belong to other sexual minority communities (e.g., ethical non-nonmonogamies, kink/BDSM). Many of us have experienced the initial relief of finding community with other non-monosexual folks, given that we live in such a monosexual dominant culture, only to then struggle with issues of power, privilege, oppression and belonging within our bi+ communities, and even in our own relationships. In this facilitated conversation, we will explore our experiences of belonging and marginalizations within bi+ communities. Through the lens of intersectionality, we will reflect on how dominant discourses around gender, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, class, disability, citizenship, education, religion and even sexuality play out within bi+ communities and our own lives. Our interactions will be held within a container set with clear guidelines and agreements, in order to encourage a brave space in which we can be both vulnerable and accountable with one another. Finally, there will be space to reflect on how we can become better accomplices to one another, in order to better support our collective liberation.
Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, CST, LMFT is a therapist, Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner, writer and independent scholar. They were Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy for eleven years and have researched, presented and published extensively on gender, disability, sexuality, bisexuality, polyamory, BDSM, Deafness, education, sexual health, HIV prevention, and transgender issues. Alex is passionate about healing justice and community based and engaged scholarship. They are a trans masculine, non-binary, bi queer, disabled, Italian immigrant who has been living on Dakota and Anishinaabe territories, currently known as Minneapolis, MN (US) since 2008. Alex has recently co-authored the book "How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are" with Meg-John Barker (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). You can find out more about them at www.alexiantaffi.com or follow them on Twitter @xtaffi.
7:45 PM - 8:45 PM
Bi+ Art and Artists Panel
Moderated by Coya White-Hat Artichoker
Description: BECAUSE kicks off with an artist’s panel discussion about how they have chosen to relate their art to their sexual orientation and what impact they feel this has had on their art and their reception as an artist.
Saturday
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
The Bibrarian’s Book Talk
Room: 107
Presenter: Daniel Gibson
Description: Join Daniel, aka The Bibrarian, for a discussion of books new and old with a focus on LGBTQ representation and themes (with focus on bi+). We’ll discuss issues of representation in literature, how the literary scene has evolved in the past few years, and of course give book talks and recommendations.
Daniel Gibson is a library service associate at Lincoln City Libraries, and the Bibrarian for Let’s Get Books Together: an LGBT bookclub and host of Get Lit! A Queer Book Podcast. They are also the founder and owner of Fat Owl Fashion, and are heavily involved in their local community.
Finding Your Safeword
Room: 207
Presenter: Red
Description: Curious about BDSM and how to get started exploring your kinky side? Do your kinky friends seem to be speaking a foreign language and you’d like to understand what’s got them so excited? Wondering how to find the kink community, what it’s like, and if bi+ folks are welcome? Join local kinkster, Seeing Red in her participant driven introduction to BDSM, kink, community, and what it’s like to be bi+ and kinky here in the Twin Cities. Experienced kinksters already active in the community are asked to respect this 101 space by limiting their participation or selecting another workshop to attend.
Red has been a member of the local kink community for over six years, with the past few focused on community leadership. As an educator, she's presented on topics such as polyamory, body acceptance, flirting, and specific body parts and how to have sex with them! As a Kinkster she identifies as a sadistic top, but enjoys exploring the many facets of kink. Red is passionate about acceptance and normalization, education, and creating a safer space for everyone to show up as their authentic self.
Bi+ & Neurodivergent Discussion
Room: 208
Presenters: Patrick RichardsFink & Theresa
Description: There is little research and few narratives about ASD and bisexuality so (as in many other cases) it is up to us to craft our own stories. In this space, the neurodiverse members of our community are invited to a conversation by, for, and about us, and how our intersection identities impact our lives in community and in organizing. Come participate in the discussion.
Patrick RichardsFink MS LPC is a 50ish White neurodiverse cisgender male bisexual counselor in Saint Cloud MN at Prism Mental Health LLC. A former blogger at Eponymous Fliponymous and former member of the board of directors of BiNET USA, he is semi-retired from the national bi activist scene in order to focus on providing mental health services for the LGBTQ+ community as well as allied communities such as Kink, Poly, and Furry. After his Autism Spectrum diagnosis at 41, his life and history started making sense, and an additional focus of his mental health practice is working with neurodiverse adults.
Theresa (she/her/hers) is very interested in the intersection of gender/sexuality and neurodiversity, as she has gone through a lot of changes/self-discovery in the last 2 years. This includes receiving an ASD diagnosis less than 2 years ago, and attending BECAUSE for the first time last year, less than a month after discovering that she is not monosexual. She is also very passionate about helping herself and others break free of toxic social mores/rules/expectations - she is already much happier now that she has begun that process in her own life.
Bi+ Essentials
Room: 212
Presenter: BOP
Description: Come learn more about the bi/pan/fluid/queer (bi+) community in a presentation geared for our community. Based in current surveys and research, this presentation connects stereotypes, community outcomes, and individual experiences to explore the bi+ community. We’ll look at the importance of understanding different types of labels and identities, what experiences bi+ folks have with health care, in the workplace, and in school. We’ll also explore the progress being made in education and acceptance of the middle sexualities. A similar presentation is also available to ally organizations. Contact BOP@BisexualOrganizingProject.org to schedule.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Bi Activism: How to Move Beyond Just Getting Bi
Room: 107
Presenter: Jessie Miller
Description: Jessie Miller, founder of the LGBTQ Guard and BOP Board Member, will be discussing bi+ activism initiative. This includes identifying community need, how to get an organization started, how to recruit people, and how to respond to changing community needs. A portion will also be dedicated to briefly going over the findings of a recent BOP Involvement Survey and how BOP should respond as an organization. This session is meant to get folks engaged, thinking, and contributing. The next bi leaders (and maybe even board members) are in this room!
Jessie Miller is a Bisexual Organizing Project board member and a disabled bisexual badass. Jessie has been involved in BOP for the past two years, volunteering at BECAUSE, and even leading SpeedFriending events for the Bi+ community. On Inauguration Day 2017, she founded the no longer operational LGBTQ Guard, a volunteer-run buddy system to reduce hate crimes and increase safety. Jessie recently moved back to Chicago and hopes to get involved in the bi activist community there.
All Bi Ourselves: Improving HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for Bisexual Communities
Room: 207
Presenter: Khafre Kujichagulia Abif, MLS
Description: Due to the biphobia, research about the health of bisexual populations is lacking and bisexual issues are underrepresented within LGBTQIAP+ community grassroots and advocacy efforts. In this workshop attendees will learn about intersectional research, grassroots organizing, and policy advocacy efforts designed to improve HIV outcomes for bisexual populations. In addition, the presenter will share from his personal perspective of being bisexual and living with HIV for 29 years.
Khafre Kujichagulia Abif, MLS is an Atlanta-based AIDS & Bisexual activist, writer, editor, blogger and artist who has been thriving with HIV for 28 years. Khafre now serves as a Community Organizer with the Southern AIDS Coalition, whose mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the South through federal advocacy, capacity building and education, and grassroots organizing. Khafre has been honored the be selected as HIV Plus magazine one of 75 Most Amazing People Living with HIV in 2016 and by POZ magazine as one of The 2015 POZ 100: Celebrating Long-Term Survivors. Khafre was among the Bisexuals at The White House in October 2014 and 2015. Khafre has independently published, Cornbread, Fish and Collard Greens: Prayers, Poems & Affirmations for people Living with HIV/AIDS (AuthorHouse 2013) and Sistah’s Speak (AuthorHouse 2017). Khafre’s forthcoming works include; FACE US; Not Our Status, But Our Stories, Raising Kazembe: A Memoir, A Walk to the River’s Edge: Call Their Names, He Ain’t Heavy, TransVoices: Shout Out Loud, We Bare Witness, and All Bi Ourselves.
Bi+ & Trans: An Exploration of Gender
Room: 208
Presenter: Al Genaro & Sally Corbett
Description: Join BECAUSE 2017 co-chairs for an introduction to being bi+ and trans. Al and Sally each bring a very different perspective and different experiences to their intersectional identities of being bi+ and trans. Please join them for an introduction to trans identities including nonbinary genders.
Sally Corbett (they/them/theirs) is a bisexual activist and “retired” audio engineer from Rochester, Minnesota. They are the Administrative Assistant and sole staff member of the Bisexual Organizing Project. Sally engages in education and outreach on BOP’s behalf by presenting workshops and lectures on various bi+ related topics to a wide variety of audiences. Sally is invested in pursuing a lifelong career in intersectional LGBTQ activism, which they began in college with many leadership roles in student organizations, such as the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Gay Straight Alliance, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Women’s Advocacy Council, UWO Rainbow Alliance for HOPE (Helping Others Perceive Equality), the Wisconsin Bi/Pan Speaker’s Bureau, and as the Program Assistant of the UWO Diversity and Inclusion Department. Sally was also a co-chair of BECAUSE 2017, “Coming Home: A Bi+ Past, Present, & Future”.
Beyond Binaries: Identity and Sexuality
Room: 212
Presenter: Robyn Ochs
Description: How do we assign labels to our complicated experiences of sexuality? In this interactive program, we will explore the landscape of sexuality, conduct a thought-provoking anonymous survey of those present, and look together at the data. Where do we fall on various sexuality continua? How do we label? How old were we when we came to our identities and to our sexualities? How asexual/sexual are we? How well do our friends/family members understand us? This program will expand your perspective and change the way you think about labels.
Robyn Ochs is an educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. An advocate for the rights of people of ALL orientations and genders to live safely, openly and with full access and opportunity, Robyn’s work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities, and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements. Robyn was recently named by Teen Vogue as one of “9 Bisexual Women Who are Making History."
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Bi+ Identities & the Church
Room: 107
Presenter: Elle Dowd
Description: LGBTQIA+ identities have historically been marginalized by the Christian church. Now, more and more churches call themselves "welcoming" or "affirming." What does this mean for people under the Bi+ Umbrella (the multisexual attraction spectrum)? Elle, a bi woman and candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will talk about the specific spiritual care needs of bi people in the church and how that may differ from programming for gay and lesbian people in the church. This presentation will be grounded in a progressive Christian understanding of queer theology and a queer reading on the Bible.
Elle Dowd (she/her/hers) is a bi-furious #pastorschool student at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Elle has pieces of her heart in Sierra Leone, where her two children were born, and in St. Louis where she learned from the radical, queer, Black leadership during the Ferguson Uprising. She currently works as a community organizer with #DecolonizeLutheranism and on weekends tours the city of Chicago in search of the best Bloody Mary.
Celebrating Ourselves: Beating Stress has been Canceled
Room: 207
Presenter: Apphia Kumar
Description: This workshop is tailored for Bi+ participants and guides them through the process of learning to recognize patterns of abuse in our lives. Once we've learned to recognize them, we will discuss safe ways of helping or finding help, while navigating institutional systems that oppress us.
R. Scott Boots founded HCEI in Boston in 1992 in response to the stressors AIDS caregivers experienced. He has studied creative writing and literature at Interlochen Center for the Arts and the University of Iowa and received an MPS degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Scott is currently on staff at the UIC office of Diversity and formerly co-chaired the UIC College of Dentistry Diversity Advisory Committee and the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of LGBTQIA Persons. His wellness seminars have been presented across the US and UK.
Bye Felicia! Addressing Issues of Bi+ Erasure in the Workplace
Room: 208
Presenter: Rebecca Wagoneer, Quorum
Description: Too often, we hear “I completely support the LGBT employees here. But there aren’t any bisexual people in the company.” Being able to be out at work as an LGBTQ+ employee has become the hallmark of an inclusive workplace. Teams of professionals devoted to developing diversity and inclusion programs tout the necessity of creating workplaces where people can be their true and authentic selves. However, these programs often only include the L and the G, with scant attention occasionally paid to the T. Erasing bisexuality and bi+ identities has long been the norm even when companies are known and lauded for their inclusion practices. And, too often, the cost of coming out as bisexual/bi+ is extraordinarily high due to biphobia and other related factors.
This highly interactive presentation will help attendees deepen their own understanding of bisexuality/bi+ identities, help them identify bi+ erasure in their own workplaces, and give practical actionable skills to help to increase visibility and safety for employees.
Rebecca Waggoner is an innovative nonprofit leader with a deep commitment to developing and implementing effective response strategies to improve social, political and economic climates for LGBTQ individuals and organizations. She has worked at every level of program development/management with community-based programs for over 20 years. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Quorum (Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce), Rebecca was the Director of the Anti-Violence Program at OutFront Minnesota. Rebecca identifies as an 89% lesbian/11% to be discussed, enjoys trying (albeit failing) to keep her houseplants alive, and lives with her wife, four cats and a rescued greyhound in Minneapolis.
Sound & Movement: Collaborative Constellations
Room: 212
Presenter: Mary Everest
Description: As bi+ folks, many of us have experienced self-doubt, feeling that we don't belong, and accusations that we are confused or dishonest. We may have been told that we can't trust our sense of who we are. This workshop is an opportunity to (1) validate yourself, (2) let your body move, let your voice take shape, and (3) experiment with creative collaboration. Participants are invited to improvise through a series of loosely structured activities, to combine intuitive play with catharsis and rejuvenation in a nonjudgmental environment, to take care of your physical and emotional needs, and to opt out of or modify any activity that doesn't feel like a good fit. Bring your ideas to the workshop: if we were to say or sing something to you, what would you want it to be? If you could say, shout, or sing something to our community, what would you want us to hear? If we could create a vocal landscape in which we feel nourished, seen, and heard, what would we say, sing, or hum together? If you could let go of a destructive weight, shake off an untruth, repair an important emotional hinge, or build a web of solidarity, how would you do it through movement? And how might we move together?
Important Note: Participants will need to sign a liability waiver to participate in this workshop. Due to the trust-building nature of this workshop, late arrivals will not be accepted. Please be prompt.
Mary Everest is a singer-songwriter, artist, childcare provider, and former Minneapolis resident who recently moved to British Columbia. She has been hosting cathartic movement, breath, and listening sessions sporadically for about fifteen years. Her work is informed by a desire to transform and transcend the effects of trauma.
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Political Sign Making
Room: 107
Description: We’re a month away from the election--are your yard signs ready? Drop in between 7:30 and 9:30 to make your own yard sign or sign for your next march. Supplies provided including yard stakes, corrugated plastic, markers, paints, glitter glue, colored tape, and anything else we’ve pulled out of our craft boxes to share with you.
Speed Friending
Room: 208
Presenters: Jesse Miller
Description: You’ve heard of speed dating, come experience SpeedFriending. This unique experience is a great way to meet new people in a low pressure environment. This was a favorite from BECAUSE 2017’s Saturday evening offerings so come give it a whirl!
Sisak: Film & Discussion
Room: 212
Presenters: Apphia Kumar
Description: Sisak is a beautiful short film that has won over 43 international film awards. Attendees will watch the 20 minute film and use it as a launching point to talk about love and attraction in India, a country where people are still fighting for the right to love and where bi men in marriages struggle to navigate their same sex attractions.
Apphia Kumar is a workshop facilitator and youth educator with experience in community building, organizational development, public speaking, network building, training and facilitation, fundraising and event production. A warrior, survivor and the voice in the room reminding it to be affirming and inclusive, Apphia aims to empower a generation for change. Apphia currently runs the Queer South Asian Collective for LGBTQIA+ people of South Asian diaspora in Greater Boston. She is the first known bisexual asylee and in addition to her work with - QSAC, she is working on Bisexual Asylum Advocacy with NQAPIA to disrupt the stigma around bisexual immigration. In the work she does, she aims to decolonize gender and sexuality and reclaim masculinities in a way that is healthy, safe, affirming, kind and beautiful.
Community Space: Games & Hospitality
Room: 31
Description: Relax in room 31 after a long day of workshops. Socialize, play a game, or just grab a snack between other activities.
Sunday
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Annual Meeting 101: How to be a Director or Volunteer
Room: 107
Presenter: Sally Corbett
Description: What is it like to volunteer on a working non-profit board of directors? This workshop will explore what it means to be on the Bisexual Organizing Project Board of Directors, what will take place at BOP’s Annual Meeting, and other ways to get involved with BOP! We will cover Board positions, terms, and responsibilities, and basic governance, as well as time commitments and expectations. Current and past board members will join us to share their experiences and answer questions. We will walk participants through what happens at the Annual Meeting, and how BOP’s elections work. Attendees will also learn about other volunteer opportunities and committee positions.
Sally Corbett (they/them/theirs) is a bisexual activist and “retired” audio engineer from Rochester, Minnesota. They are the Administrative Assistant and sole staff member of the Bisexual Organizing Project. Sally engages in education and outreach on BOP’s behalf by presenting workshops and lectures on various bi+ related topics to a wide variety of audiences. Sally is invested in pursuing a lifelong career in intersectional LGBTQ activism, which they began in college with many leadership roles in student organizations, such as the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Gay Straight Alliance, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Women’s Advocacy Council, UWO Rainbow Alliance for HOPE (Helping Others Perceive Equality), the Wisconsin Bi/Pan Speaker’s Bureau, and as the Program Assistant of the UWO Diversity and Inclusion Department. Sally was also a co-chair of BECAUSE 2017, “Coming Home: A Bi+ Past, Present, & Future”.
Hypersexualization of Bisexuals
Room: 207
Presenter: Codi Coday
Description: Building on her popular presentations at BECAUSE 2017 exploring hypersexualization of bisexuals and being a “bad bisexual,” Codi will be using film and TV show clips as a launching point for an in depth discussion of representation of bisexuals. We will discuss the differences between empowerment and objectification, sex positivity and hypersexualization, and how “the bad bisexual” character impacts our community- specifically those of us who do meet those stereotypes. Attendance last year is not required to take part in the discussion.
Codi Coday is a writer, speaker, activist, and community organizer located in Denver, Colorado, USA. She is the president of PAVES (Polysexual Alliance for Visibility, Education, and Support), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of bisexuals. In addition to bi+ issues, she is also passionate about intersectional feminism, sex positivity, ethical nonmonogamy, chronic illness, and accessibility. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, camping, and spending time with community in Denver.
Bi+ & Polyamorous
Room: 208
Presenter: Mark Stapleton
Description: Many bi+ folks use polyamory and other forms of ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship structures. This introduction to bisexuality and ENM will discuss how people form and maintain relationships and steps to getting them started, how to open up an existing monogamous relationship, and discussion of the day-to-day realities of navigating intimate relationships of many sorts.
Mark Stapleton has known how he feels about sex and relationships for most of his life, although he only recently was able to express it meaningfully to others. He enjoys talking to others about relationships and how they intersect with their orientations, and hearing their stories. Mark moderates a local ethical non-monogamy munch that has monthly discussions about polyamory and other ethical relationship types.
Intersectional Sexuality: Being Bi+ and...
Room: 212
Presenter: Alex Intaffi
Description: Being bi/pan/fluid is only one aspect of our identities and experiences. We have other identities and experiences and might even belong to other sexual minority communities (e.g., ethical non-nonmonogamies, kink/BDSM). Many of us have experienced the initial relief of finding community with other non-monosexual folks, given that we live in such a monosexual dominant culture, only to then struggle with issues of power, privilege, oppression and belonging within our bi+ communities, and even in our own relationships. In this facilitated conversation, we will explore our experiences of belonging and marginalizations within bi+ communities. Through the lens of intersectionality, we will reflect on how dominant discourses around gender, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, class, disability, citizenship, education, religion and even sexuality play out within bi+ communities and our own lives. Our interactions will be held within a container set with clear guidelines and agreements, in order to encourage a brave space in which we can be both vulnerable and accountable with one another. Finally, there will be space to reflect on how we can become better accomplices to one another, in order to better support our collective liberation.
Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, CST, LMFT is a therapist, Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner, writer and independent scholar. They were Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy for eleven years and have researched, presented and published extensively on gender, disability, sexuality, bisexuality, polyamory, BDSM, Deafness, education, sexual health, HIV prevention, and transgender issues. Alex is passionate about healing justice and community based and engaged scholarship. They are a trans masculine, non-binary, bi queer, disabled, Italian immigrant who has been living on Dakota and Anishinaabe territories, currently known as Minneapolis, MN (US) since 2008. Alex has recently co-authored the book "How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are" with Meg-John Barker (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). You can find out more about them at www.alexiantaffi.com or follow them on Twitter @xtaffi.