05/02/2023
Writer and activist Vaneet Mehta has met with leading LGBT+ newswire Pink News to chat about his new book “Bisexual Men Exist: A Handbook”. The news wire notes “It’s a guide that’s sorely needed. Despite the 2021 England and Wales census showing that just as many people identify as bisexual as they do gay or lesbian, societal attitudes towards towards bisexuality are still riddled with harmful stigmas and stereotypes, with bisexual men frequently labelled as villainous, immoral or secretly gay.” Mr Mehta says that he has experienced not just biphobia from the usual suspects such as bigoted religious or political reactionaries, but also from misguided parts of the lesbian and gay spectrum, who have dominated discourse within our communities and even engage in accusations that bi people are “queerbaiting”. Sometimes well meaning liberal organisations can also get it wrong about the needs of bisexual people, as he notes “Our issues aren’t just the same as gay and lesbian people – our issues can’t be flattened in that way”. But bi people are fighting back and reclaiming their identity and pride. Mr Metha lists good campaigning organisations such as UK Black Pride, Bisexual Index, Bi Survivors Network and others. The book “Bisexual Men Exist: A Handbook for Bisexual, Pansexual and MSpec Men” is available now. If you are thinking of getting a copy why not support your independent and LGBTQIA bookstore by placing your order with them. Many do mail order and offer a professional, friendly service you won’t get with Amazon!
A non exhaustive list compiled for “ShoutOut” is below.
- Category Is Books, Glasgow, Scotland
- News from Nowhere Bookstore, Bold Street, Liverpool.
- Gay's the Word Bookshop, London, England
- 56A Infoshop (radical literature and LGBTQIA / queer), Crampton Street London SE17
- Housman’s Bookstore (radical literature, LGBTQIA included), Caledonian Road, London
- Bookmarks Bookstore (socialist literature including LGBTQIA section), Bloomsbury Street, London
- Freedom Books (anarchist literature and Queer section), Angel Ally, Whitechapel London
- October Books, Portswood Road, Southampton
- The Feminist Bookshop, Upper North Street, Brighton
- Five Leaves Bookstore, Long Row, Nottingham N1
- The Cowley Club Bookstore, London Road, Brighton
- The Queery (currently fundraising to open in Brighton).
- Paned o Gê, Cardiff, Wales
- Shelf Life, Cardiff, Wales
- Proud Geek, Birmingham, England
- Queer Lit, Manchester, England
- The Bookish Type, Leeds, England
- The Portal Bookshop, York, England
- Lighthouse- Edinburgh's Radical Bookshop, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Gay Pride Shop – Affleck's Palace, Manchester