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History of Toronto's Bisexual Community
| 1983 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
1983
Bykes, a bisexual women's discussion/support group, is formed. (Top)
1989
Ontario Bisexual Network (OBN) is formed as a mixed-gender discussion and support group. The OBN begins to publish occasional newsletters for the local community. The group decides that "our mandate is simply to bring people together." (Top)
1990
First OBN table at Toronto's Pride Day. (Top)
1991
Bykes dissolves. OBN attendance increases to averages of 20 per meeting. Networking increases with bisexual groups in Windsor, Kitchener, Peterborough and Ottawa. (Top)
1992
Ontario Bisexual Network develops a more provincial format. Local OBN attendance peaks at 35 in the summer. "Bisexuality 101" at Toronto's 519 Church Street Community Centre attracts 70 people. First meeting of bisexual group members from all Ontario groups except Ottawa. Bi socials begin, mostly to movies and dance clubs. (Top)
1993
Confusion increases between perceptions of local and provincial versions of OBN. Four OBN associates speak at University of Toronto during "Sexual Diversity Week," to 80 people. (Top)
1994
Bisexual Women of Toronto (BIWOT) is formed. The local OBN changes its name to Toronto Bisexual Network (TBN). The provincial OBN becomes "a loose alliance of bisexual groups across the province." Local group attendance decreases to single-digit levels. The TBN name has no known recognition in the local queer community. (Top)
1995
BIWOT marches for the first time in the International Women's Day and Take Back The Night marches. (Top)
1996
Many TBN meetings have one or two visitors, no one shows up on two occasions. Pride marching groups are the smallest of the decade. (Top)
1997
BIWOT and TBN attendance increases. A combination of the phone messages on 925-XTRA and email contacts greatly increases exposure. (Top)
1998
Boston's international bisexual conference includes 10 delegates from BIWOT and TBN. The delegates travel back to Toronto with much more energy for activism. Several BIWOT members attend the April TBN meeting, and decisions are made to increase levels of networking. Bisexual Women of Toronto hosts a seminar on safer sex for women at the 519; it's advertised as a community event in various queer media. The "bito" email discussion group for the local community is launched. (Top)
1999
"Bisexuality Unplugged," a Pride week community event, attracts 100 people to the 519 as well as story and picture coverage in XTRA. Many events for the local Bi community are staged during Pride week. Members of BIWOT and TBN appear on three radio programs on CIUT (University of Toronto radio). Ontario Bisexual Network retreats to a one-person organization and dissolves. The first annual Celebrate Bisexuality Day (CBD) on Sept. 23 has events around the world including Toronto. Bi By Nature, a bisexual naturist group, is formed. AIDS Walk Toronto attracts its first bisexual walking group. Healthier Sex Network creates two spin-off groups, mixed-gender bisexual and female-only, for bisexual and Bi-positive women. Bisexual community members are interviewed for Flare, the Varsity and the Toronto Sun. The "BIWOT" email discussion list, for the local bisexual women's community, is launched. Attendance at BIWOT meetings is consistently above 20 each month. BIWOT socials increase in frequency and attendance as a sense of community builds and is sustained. BIWOT marches in Take Back the Night. (Top)
2000
BIWOT is the "honoured group" in the annual Dyke March, walking directly behind the parade-leading banner. "Bisexuality Unplugged 2" takes place at the University of Toronto during Pride week. TBN and BIWOT co-sponsor a table at the Pride Day community fair. Bisexual community members are featured in six local radio appearances during Pride week and in a CBC radio documentary "Out Front" across Canada. Buttons for TBN, BIWOT and BiPride are created, as are temporary tattoos. One of BIWOT's co-founders passed away in a car accident -- a significant loss for the bisexual community. BIWOT and TBN both launch web sites. TBN, BIWOT and the fledgling Bisexual Men of Toronto (BIMOT) host a CBD dinner. (Top)
2001
Members of TBN and BIWOT are interviewed for television shows about bisexuality (Rogers Cable 10%-Qtv, City's SexTV and TalkTV's Chatroom). BIMOT begins to become more established with a regular venue for monthly meetings. Bisexuals are finally included in the Toronto Pride Week proclamation by the Mayor. Numerous events are planned for Pride Week including Bi-Interactive, the follow-up to Bisexuality Unplugged. Members of BIWOT and TBN are involved in the creation and first meeting of BiNetCanada and offer workshops at the First North American Conference on Bisexuality, Gender and Sexual Diversity in Vancouver. BIWOT email group exceeds 100 members. BIWOT meeting attendance peaks at 40, requiring the meetings to move to a larger room at The 519. Bi Pride T-shirts and stickers are created. An email group called TBN-Events is created just to discuss and announce events for all members of the community and starts out with over 100 members. (Top)
2002
"Bi-Uncensored", an educational event that shows the wide variety of ways bisexuals express their sexuality and work within relationships, is held at the University of Toronto. Ryerson University's RYEPride BGLAD (Bisexual Gay Lesbian Awareness Days) includes a panel with two members of TBN. Pride showcases Toronto's first bisexual dance, DEEP @ Savour. Members of the community appear again on CKLN for a bisexual contribution to their Pride programming. The first annual Bi-B-Que is held. A dinner on September 23 honours Celebrate Bisexuality Day. The monthly TBN Bi Brunch is born, an event happening on the second Sunday of every month. (Top)
2003
Bi-Versity, a community educational event, is held at the 519 during Pride week in June. The Pride parade features a TBN float/truck, decorated in bisexual pride colours. Some members of TBN attended the second North America Conference on Bisexuality in San Diego. Another Celebrate Bisexuality Day dinner is held at the Living Well restaurant. BIMOT hosts a workshop on sexual intimacy for bisexual men during AIDS Awareness Week in late November. (Top)
2004
TBN hosts the Red Hot Bi Valentine's Extravaganza. Pride features the Toronto Bisexual Network community event "Bursting With Bisexuality!", which included creative readings, personal stories, artwork and other unique presentations on bisexual lives and issues. Celebrate Bisexuality Day events included a panel discussion called "Let's Talk About Bisexuality" and "Anything That Grooves", featuring stand-up comedy, live cabaret, a kissing booth and DJ's all evening long. Several TBN members attended the 8th International Conference on Bisexuality, Gender and Sexual Diversity in Minneapolis, USA. It was there that Toronto was named host of the 2006 International Conference on Bisexuality. (Top)
2005
Anything That Grooves presents "Mmmm...This Fence Feels Good!", a launch party for a new issue of the zine "The Fence: A New Place of Power for Bisexual Women". TBN presents "The B Word", an evening featuring spoken word, personal stories, and a live bi-themed game show, as part of June's Pride festivities. An educational event is held for Celebrate Bisexuality Day in September, titled "Life on the Continuum: Choosing Fluidity and Challenging Labels." For the first time, a number of local LGBT organizations (Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, Sherbourne Health Centre, Rainbow Health Network, and Xtra!) become involved as active co-sponsors of a Toronto Bisexual Network Celebrate Bisexuality Day event. (Top)
2006
The 9th International Conference on Bisexuality, Gender and Sexual Diversity is held in June at Ryerson University in Toronto, with extensive involvement by many members of TBN. "Bi Bash 2006: A Celebrate Bisexuality Day Cabaret" is hosted by Toronto Bisexual Network in September, showcasing local bi talent and performances celebrating bisexuality. Held at the NOW Lounge, over 100 people attend this event. BIMOT begins a series of Saturday afternoon coffee socials in the Village. (Top)
2007
Toronto Bisexual Network unveils its new slogan, "We put the 'B' in Toronto's LGBTQ Community!" through a fabulous Pride Parade marching contingent featuring new banners, "B" signs and bi-coloured "bee" costumes. In September, TBN presented "Bi Bash 2007" to a capacity crowd at NOW lounge, honouring Celebrate Bisexuality Day. (Top)
The following is also a link to popular mid-1990s article.
http://www.biresource.org/pamphlets/history.html
