In honor of Bisexual Awareness Week, we recognize those who have come out openly as bisexual, sharing their true and authentic selves with the world.
Here are five openly bisexual women continue to break down barriers:
Oregon Governor Kate Brown: Kate Brown made history last year when she was sworn in as the United States’ first openly bisexual governor. A longtime advocate of equality for all, Brown broke down barriers Brown as Oregon’s second female governor and Oregon’s first female senate majority leader.
Evan Rachel Wood: Last year, openly bisexual actress Evan Rachel Wood tweeted shocking stats from HRC’s report on bisexual health. In a powerful video released in June, Wood once again opened up about the many issues, stereotypes and misconceptions facing the bisexual community, including her own struggles.
Amandla Stenberg: During a Snapchat takeover for Teen Vogue in January, actress Amandla Stenberg came out as bisexual. Stenberg is perhaps best known for her role as Rue in the Hunger Games, for which she was nominated for a 2013 NAACP Images Award. “It’s a really, really hard thing to be silenced and it’s deeply bruising to fight against your identity and to mold yourselves into shapes that you just shouldn’t be in,” she said. “As someone who identifies as a black bisexual woman, I’ve been through it and it hurts and it’s awkward and it’s uncomfortable.”
Bella Thorne: Actress Bella Thorne came out in August during an exchange with a fan on Twitter. By coming out publicly, she is raising visibility about bisexuality to a younger generation, including to her 6 million Twitter followers. “Aww thank you for all the accepting tweets from everyone. I love you guys️ #pride,” she tweeted to her fans later that day.
Anna Paquin: While she came out publicly in 2010, actress Anna Paquin has frequently spoken openly about being bisexual. Paquin continues to serve as a powerful role model for LGBTQ youth, frequently discussing her the issues facing the bisexual community.
Coming out – whether it is as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or allied – matters. When people know someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support equality under the law. Beyond that, our stories can be powerful to each other.
Whether it’s for the first time ever or the first time today, the experience of coming out and living openly covers the full spectrum of human emotion — from fear to euphoria. Coming out — whether it is as LGBTQ or allied — is a deeply personal journey for each individual.
Learn more about coming out at HRC’s Coming Out Center
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