Bi Nature

Origin Story of Two Bisexual Killjoys

Welcome to Bisexual Killjoy, where we know bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon.

It’s great to write to you all and have this space to share beyond what we discuss in the podcast. 

Just a heads up, the main platform for this phenomenon is in podcast form as Bisexual Killjoy - available wherever you get your podcasts. All our episodes are linked to Spotify in our episode page here, and here are a few other links you may be interested in: Youtube podcasts, Podchaser, Boomplay, Apple podcasts, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Podbean, Amazon Music, Queer podcasts.

Now that you know where to find us - Hi! We’re Bailey & Lynn, your friendly neighborhood bisexual killjoys.

This project was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment passion/ADHD impulse. Lynn & Bailey connected through the Bisexual Resource Center to present at a small online bisexual conference. Bailey was a published author, and Lynn was just trying to get another presentation on the CV as a grad student. They brainstormed topics for their presentation like crazy, and in one of those strange moments talking about activist strategies, Lynn said, “Be a bisexual killjoy!” and Bailey said, “What?!”

Inspired by Sarah Ahmed’s concept of the Feminist Killjoy, the Bisexual Killjoy takes on many of the qualities that are killjoy-worthy. We’re loud, we ask a lot of questions, and we speak out when we see injustice. 

• We’re philosophers asking what binaries even mean and what the alternative is.

• We’re artists, creating and imagining a world no one ever dreamed of.

• We’re activists, taking up space and calling out bi+ erasure wherever it ensues.

The Bisexual Killjoy is both a friend and ally of the Feminist Killjoy - aligned in our search for revolution, liberation, and resistance to assimilation.

Who/What is a Bisexual Killjoy?

A Bisexual Killjoy is someone who is out as bi+, takes up space, and allows their bisexuality to inform how they relate to themselves, others, politics, and the environment. They refuse to assimilate or cave into outside perceptions of bisexuality/bi+ness. To be clear, we are not killing our own joy in being bisexual. We are joyful because we choose to embrace our bisexuality, and we will not allow others’ conceptions of happiness and queerness to be the baseline for how we embody this key aspect of ourselves.

The Podcast?

The podcast, and by extension this newsletter, is both a project and journey in definition and exemplifying what it means to be a bisexual killjoy, what makes a bisexual killjoy, and what gains we can achieve by centering bisexuality in our lived experiences. From now through June, you’ll hear (and read) all about our personal bisexual killjoy stories, as well as the baseline issues around being bi+ in a world that prioritizes binaries. In Season 2, we hope to welcome a variety of voices to speak on bi+ness, including research, activism, media, and anything else we can manage.

But, Why?

This project is both a labor of love and profound spite. We’re choosing to center bisexuality in an inherently transgressive way, with a special focus on our fellow bi+ activists and advocates of color. We’re here to embrace liminality and discomfort, to build coalitions, and to learn ways to embrace being an ally that does the work. We’re here to speak with you, our Bisexual Killjoys, and share with everyone who will listen how they can be the kind of ally we need.

The Activism:

We choose to center community in this endeavor. We want to connect our listeners to each other, because research and experience have demonstrated to us that we do so much better when we are together.

You’re the star of this show! Please send us your burning questions and/or topics you want us to cover. As this project evolves, we’ll also create ways for you to connect with one another. The Bisexual Killjoy is an activist, and she is all of us resisting the imposition of normative binaries. This project does not seek to center the hosts as individuals, but rather, the collective that’s actively transgressing and creating space for a more complex world. In order to create a reality that doesn’t yet exist, we must envision what reality will look like after the revolution. That’s why we’re here: to spark the revolution, and envision the world that comes after.

Coming Up:

We’re gonna get a little bit more unhinged in this space. With Bailey & Lynn’s personal Bisexual Killjoy stories, Lynn’s epiphanies moving to Boston, and Bailey’s wisdom as a published author. The substack is where the party never ends. We’re also incorporating an advice corner soon, for anyone who wants personalized tips & tricks on being a Bisexual Killjoy.

Here, we know that Bisexuality isn’t a phase - it’s a phenomenon. And you’re freaking phenomenal.

Stay Bisexual & Stay Strong

Lynn & Bailey