Sarah makes The Purple List!

The Purple List grew from the lack of visibility of bisexual people on the Rainbow List – and Sarah is in good company including local bi activists Jen Yockney and Sali Owen as well as household names like Joe Lycett and Nicola Adams.

Sarah has made it to the list, highlighting the Equalities work we do with schools, which we will be running again next week at Manchester Academy and at schools during LGBT History Month next year, supported with a grant from Manchester City Council.

Sarah said:

I’m so delighted to be on the list! I’m so passionate about fighting for bi visibility and against bi erasure. It’s often easy for me to pass as straight because I’m femme, or gay when I’m with my partner but I would rather have a 2 hour conversation with a stranger about the importance of bi visibility than ever ‘pass’!

I feel fortunate to be able to speak openly about my sexuality in workshops with students; it’s so important for them to be able to speak openly and ask questions. Some of us feel unable to speak out, so for those who feel we can, we should.

You never declare your bisexuality once, sometimes, it can be every day and it’s tiring, but I always remind myself that they might only be hearing that for the first time. They might not understand, they might need you to explain things, they might not have anyone else to ask. And so I keep telling people, and sometimes I feel awkward, sometimes exhausted, and sometimes like I’m an alien but I keep telling people because the more we do, the more usualised (to make usual) being bisexual is. Because I want to work towards a society where we are accepted and not just tolerated. 

One of the things that makes me smile from ear to ear is when my privileged (white, cis-gendered, able-bodied, heterosexual…) friends step in and challenge peoples assumptions, because we always need allies; champions and advocates who in some spaces are the only valued voice.

In one of our Equalities workshops a 14 year old UTC@Media City student said: 
Once we stop fighting for each other, that’s when we lose our humanity.