Volume 8, Number
1(Spring 2003)
ssss Articles
sssssssShake
It Up, Baby!
sssssssPridefest
2003
ssssss A Fun
Evening of Games
ssssss BECAUSE
2003 Information
ssssss Rosebud
Cinema
ssssCalendar
ssssColumns
sssssssBi
The Editor
sssssssUpcoming
Discussion Topics
ssss
Disclaimer
Bi All Means! is a publication of Bi Definition, a bisexual social, support and activist organization in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. BAM is published quarterly and is offered to those on our mailing list on a subscription basis. To subscribe simply fill out this form.
Opinions expressed by writers in BAM are not necessarily those of the editors, publisher, advertisers nor the philosophy of Bi Definition. Any reference made to any individual or organization should not be construed as an indication of the same's orientation.
We reserve the right to edit any submission at our sole discretion.
Those who wish to contribute letters, articles, stories, poems or artwork
are encouraged to do so, and may have their names withheld if so desired.
Please provide text submissions typed double-spaced. Send all submissions
to: Bi All Means!/Bi Definition,
c/o Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Suite 101, 315 W. Court St., Milwaukee,
WI 53212 ,
or e-mail bidef@hotmail.com
The unauthorized use of the ‘Bi Definition’ name is strictly
prohibited to members and nonmembers alike, except when written permission
is received from the current organizational leadership.
Vision Statement
Bi Definition shall provide a social, support and
activist organizational resource for bisexuals, people who do not like
labels and their allies residing in and visiting metropolitan Milwaukee,
WI. It shall work for equal rights and the liberation of all area bisexuals
and others who refuse strict heterosexual and/or homosexual personal identification.
Bi Definition will also collect and distribute information
on bisexuality.
Governance Statement
In order to insure that all minority opinions are
considered at business meetings, Bi Definition will use the consensus process
of decision making for governing.
"Shake It Up, Baby!"
by Stefanie K.
On Tuesday, February 18, the Third Annual Review Meeting took place at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center with 13 group members in attendance. Bi Definition, which celebrated its seventh anniversary in January, reviewed the cheers and jeers of 2002 and addressed its organizational needs for the year that lies ahead.
An extraordinary accomplishment has been the successful efforts in debt reduction. At the first review meeting in January of 2001, the group was facing a $1,300 budget deficit. Now, two years later, the treasurer proudly announced the group has exhausted all of its outstanding debt. Further, Bi Definition is operating in positive territory for the first time in years!
The social outings of 2002 were also looked upon as a success. Events included the Bi-dyed T-shirt Fundraiser & picnic in June, the July camping trip at Greenbush, the Mazo Beach trip, Spa Night on Celebrate Bisexuality Day (CBD), and Bi Definition's January Anniversary party.
An issue demanding closer attention is the instability of meeting facilitators, particularly on Tuesdays. It was agreed to make meeting facilitation a team effort by divvying dates up among the members at large. Individuals have accepted and filled the following positions for 2003: Storage-Office Manager, Librarian, Treasurer, Special Events Coordinator, Information Line Coordinator, BAM! Editor, BAM! Distributor, Website-Email Coordinator, Database/Greeter, and Secretary.
Once again, we are looking for someone to fill the position of Fundraising Coordinator. The group's operating costs have been stripped to a minimum, easing the demands of this position. The primary responsibility would be to organize a small-scale summer and /or fall fundraiser for 2003.
An area extensively discussed was Bi Definition's lack of visibility in Milwaukee, especially at PrideFest. The group agreed that, although there has been some progress, bisexuals and Bi Definition are all but invisible. Members enthusiastically discussed ways of shaking up the status quo in the larger queer community in the coming year.
Did you attend PrideFest 2002 and think, what was missing? Well, maybe it was a strong Bisexual presence. We had a half-hearted attempt to enter the Parade, decided that our membership was too small to man or woman the Mug Booth, and did not have a table in the information tent.
We want PrideFest 2003 to be different! Plans are underway for an entry in the Parade on Sunday June 8th at 2:30p.m...Scott has graciously offered to use his VW Bug. Nikki said she would donate a massage to whoever brought the most family +/or friends to walk with us in support of Bi-Definition.
Even though our numbers have improved over the past year we declined the Mug Booth this year because we did not earn enough money in return on our investment of time. The information Tent did not seem to draw in new members and it too required a huge commitment of time and cost to pull it off.
So instead it was decided at the Annual review meeting to take an active role in standing out as the "B" in LGBT at PrideFest. A suggestion to show our "B"ness was greeted with approval by all to purposefully decorate a picnic table with the Bi colors (blue, purple, pink) where we can handout Bi business cards, friendship bracelets, and generally promote the awareness of the Bisexual orientation and Bi-Definition in the "community". It would be a good place to wear your Bi-Spirit wear you created at the Spirit Day we are having on March 15th. (More about that in above article)
We also plan on hosting a Session at the Stonewall Stage again this year. If you have an idea on a specific topic please call Scott so he can let PrideFest know. We will also need volunteers to present at the stage.
Next year in this space I hope when I ask the question what was missing at PrideFest in 2003 the answer will not be all the wonderful Bisexuals having a great time.
Your Events Coordinator, Deb
On Saturday, January 11th Bi Definition members and allies celebrated the group's seven-year anniversary with an evening of food, games, and comradery. Members Leslie and Steven graciously opened their home for this event. We played a rowdy game of Pictionary, a game of Truth or Dare Jenga, and a couple of rounds of Apples to Apples. Everyone was in high spirits as we celebrated in spite of the icy cold weather outside.
BECAUSE 2003 will take place the weekend of April 11-13, 2003. As of press time, there was no information about keynote speakers and it looks like all of the workshops this year will be mostly the same as in year's past.
After being held in Milwaukee over the past two years, the conference will be returning to the Minnesota Twin Cities area. The conference will be at the Hilton North in Brooklyn Park.
To reserve a hotel room, contact:
Hilton Minneapolis North
2200 Freeway Blvd.
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
phone: 1-763-566-8000
fax: 1-763-566-9636
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/directions.jhtml?ctyhocn=MSPBCHF
To get the special group rate of $89.99 per night, call the hotel and request to be registered in the BECAUSE 2003 room block. Please note that the arrangements made with the hotel allow for an unlimited number of occupants per room. The rooms are typical mid-sized hotel rooms, and are comfortable but snug for up to 4 adults, perhaps a few more if sleeping bags on the floor are an option. Unfortunately the block does not include any suites.
Conference Fees
* Regular Rate - $60
(register by April 1st, 2003)
* Late Registration - $70
(register after April 1st, 2003)
* Scholarship Rate* - $15
(register by March 15th, 2003)
Bop members receive a 10% discount on conference and dinner fees.
Saturday Dinner (not included in conference fee)
* Conference Attendees - $13
(Must register by April 1st, 2003)
* Late dinner registration - $20
(After April 1st, 2003 or at the door)
Dinner, Show and Dance Only (for those not attending the rest of the
conference)
* BOP Members - $30
(no additional discount)
Non-members - $40
Rosebud Cinema - Discriminating?
By Joanne
On Saturday night, January 25th, my partner and I went to the Rosebud Cinema at 6823 W. North Ave. to see the new Michael Moore movie Bowling For Columbine. Our friend who is editor of Mother Warriors Voice had already bought her ticket and was waiting for us in the lobby.
My partner told the man at the outside ticket window that when we have been to this theater in the past there were problems with the picture being partially off the screen and out of focus. She asked him if the picture quality was bad, could we get a refund? The man handed us our money and said we would not be happy and he wasn't going to sell us a ticket. When my partner said that we had a right to see the movie, he informed us that he was the owner/manager and he had the right to refuse service.
Our friend overheard the conversation and asked him, "Are you kicking
my friends out?" He then asked her to leave and tried to give her her money
back.
The owner told my partner and I to come inside to discuss this further.
Once inside, I attempted to calmly discuss what his reasons were. He became
extremely agitated and said he didn't like our attitude. He would not sell
us tickets and threatened to call the police. He told us that he had other
customers to tend to.
My partner and I began talking with our friend about whether or not
she should go in and see the movie since she had a ticket. Within five
minutes, two Wauwatosa police officers arrived and told us we had to leave.
We walked out and one of the officers told us to "go home and watch a movie
on digital cable." The two officers went back inside and talked for about
15 minutes with the owner. They were laughing and shaking hands with him.
When the officers came back outside and we tried to talk to them again,
they said they were finished, that this was a civil matter not a criminal
matter (then why were they there, we wondered) and they left.
We were angered by this experience and feel that we were unjustly singled out. We have no concrete proof, but we feel that there were deeper reasons for his actions and anger level. Our gut feelings made us wonder if he had animosity towards women, towards assertive women who spoke up about wanting quality for the price of the tickets, towards lesbian and/or bi women couples, towards the working class or all of the above. The other patrons appeared to be mostly white, middle class, heterosexual-looking couples.
The reason I wrote this article is to tell you about our numerous bad experiences with the picture quality and management at this theater so that you can be informed when you decide where to spend your money. We would be very interested to know if anyone else has had a bad experience at the Rosebud Cinema.
Bi Definition meets on the first Saturday and third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 P.M. for discussions about specific topics pertaining to bisexuality. All discusions are held at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Suite 101, 315 W. Court St., Milwaukee, WI .
What if you felt like you were born into the wrong body? What would this mean to your life personally? How would your day-to-day life be affected? The bi community is a large and diverse community, overlapping, enveloping and embracing many different individuals and communities. This includes the transgender community. Come join us as we discuss "Transgender. Private and Political" on Saturday, March lst and Tuesday, March 18th.
In April, we will gather to share our own thoughts and experiences with
bisexuality. Telling our stories is a way we can grow as individuals
and as a group. We get to learn more about one another and we have
the opportunity to share something about ourselves as well.
Join us Saturday, April 5 and Tuesday, April 15 for "Bisexuality-Sharing
Our Stories."
May will be a time of preparing for Pridefest 2003, an LGBT event. And yet, it is hard to find any of the B's at this annual event. Where do bisexuals fit into the larger queer community? How can we make sure we are included? What do we need to do to educate others about the unique perspectives that bisexuality has to offer? What can we do to counter biphobia? The May topic will be "Bi Inclusion" on Saturday, May 3 and Tuesday May 20.
Instead of our regular Saturday meeting, join us at Pridefest on Saturday, June 7. Meet at the booth where they sell reusable drink mugs at 7pm and join us for an evening OUT! We encourage everyone to wear bi pride regalia.
On Tuesday, June 17 the topic will be "Bi 101: An Overview." We will gather definitions of bisexuality, go over bisexual myths and stereotypes and review bisexual history.
An annual Bi Definition membership includes discreet newsletter mailings and free admittance to all events. Cost of a single gathering for nonmembers is $5. For information on membership rates, call our information line (414) 299-9612. We also ask that you please refrain from wearing scented products at the meetings.
I'm shaking, and not just from the last days of winter nipping at my nose.
These are shakes of excitement! Spring will soon be here. It's invigorating to think about what's in store for bisexuals in the months to come. The community runs deep, as could be seen at the Anniversary party this past January. Now it's time for Bi Definition to leave a lasting mark on Milwaukee.
During 2003's Annual Review Meeting, we discussed at great lengths the importance of our group's visibility this year. Upcoming discussion topics, Bi Spirit Day efforts, and the planned infiltration of PrideFest will help make this possible. Remember the old saying, strength comes in numbers. The group needs everyone's help. And, we might even have a good time doing it!
It's time to put the "B" and the "T" back into LGBT. This town is our town, too. Let's paint it pink, purple, and blue. Shake it up, baby!
Respectfully submitted,
Stefanie :)
For information or confirmation on any Bi Definition event listed,
contact Nikki at (414)299-9612
or write: Bi All Means!/Bi Definition
c/o Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Suite 101, 315 W. Court St., Milwaukee,
WI 53212 .
Bi Definition socials/discussions are held on the first Saturday
and third Tuesday of each month @ 7:00 p.m.
at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Suite 101, 315 W. Court
St., Milwaukee, WI 53212 .
March
Sat. 1 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic: "Transgender:
Private & Political" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St.
Sat 15 Bi Spirit Day. Time and place TBA
Tues. 18 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic: "Transgender:
Private & Political" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St.
April
Sat. 5 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic:
"Bisexuality-Sharing Our Stories" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court
St.
Tues. 15 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic:
"Bisexuality-Sharing Our Stories" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court
St.
May
Sat. 3 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic: "Bi
Inclusion" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St.
Tues. 20 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic:
"Bi Inclusion" LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St.
June
Sat. 7 Group 'Outing' at PrideFest, Meet at the booth
where they sell reusable drink mugs at 7pm and join us for an evening OUT!
Tues. 17 @ 7 P.M. Bi Definition Social/Discussion. Topic: "Bi
101: An Overview"LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St.
