The March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian equality was the first to include Bi for Bisexual in 2009. Many earlier Bisexual pioneers helped make that happen including Loraine Hutchins. That day was historical in itself. Our very own Bi liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) was unable to go, because he was confronting Bisexual Erasure, a manifestation of Biphobia in Chicago at that time.
In 2009, Oboza wrote an open letter to Gay Chicago Magazine. After it appeared there. It later appeared in an article entitled, "Photos of the Bi Community at the National Equality March," written by Bisexual author and activist, Mike Szymanski.
Five years ago, again, Oboza later met Szymanski in person to say thank you.
Oboza's letter reads, "There happens to still be discrimination within our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community. For years, the same people who have gotten away with using the "B" not for equality representation, but a credit to fill a quota still use such tactics. Also, there are people who still degrade bisexual people as going through a phase. As if to judge one of the apostles (who) are going through a gospel phase. In other words, between the Dyke March, Matthew Shepherd March and Transgender Day of Remembrance, Bisexual people have been forgotten. We have lessened August Provost and Bill Clayton as we have remembered more of Matthew Shepard, Brandon Teena and others. Life has many more aspects than merely a rainbow. The Bisexual community has their own flag, because their voices have finally been heard and respected. Any further bias from within our community will not be tolerated."
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