Introduction

Bisexual activism in Toronto formally began in 1983 with the establishment of the bisexual women's group, Bykes. From there, bisexual people began to engage in activism through building community and support networks. In 1989, the first mixed gender bi group, the Ontario Bisexual Network was founded, further enhancing the community's visibility in Toronto and across Ontario. The 1990s saw the establishment of two more groups, Bisexual Women of Toronto (BIWOT) and Bisexual Men of Toronto (BIMOT). Further, the Ontario Bisexual Network was renamed the Toronto Bisexual Network.

The presence of mixed gender and women- or men-only groups indicates that each of these groups served specific and valuable support purposes for the subgroups within the bisexual community. However, one thing they all had in common was combatting erasure within the larger queer community, educating the public about bisexuality, and destigmatizing the B in 2SLGBTQ+. This digital exhibit showcases materials that reflect the activites of these bisexual organizations, those of the past and those that still remain.

I would like to extend a massive thank you to The ArQuives' reference archivist Daniel Payne for providing scans of the materials that make up the majority of this exhibit.

Further, I extend my appreciation to Kristine, Margaret and Dana, who were generous in sharing their stories with me and greatly contributed to the success of this exhibit.

Curated by: Gabryelle Iaconetti (PhD Student, Concordia University)