Bi+ Ireland
  • Home
  • News & Events
    • Calendar
  • Join the Community
  • 'We Exist'
    • Our Stories
    • Submit Your Story
  • About
    • Coordinators
  • Bi Merch
  • Home
  • News & Events
    • Calendar
  • Join the Community
  • 'We Exist'
    • Our Stories
    • Submit Your Story
  • About
    • Coordinators
  • Bi Merch
Search

We Exist: Terri Louise Ó Leathlobhair

23/10/2017

0 Comments

 

Tell us about you!

For someone with BPD identity is not an easy thing to figure out. I'm Bisexual. Pro Choice. Equalist. Unwilling Loner. Chronic Spoonie. Untapped Potential.
Picture of Terri Louise Ó Leathlobhair
Terri Louise Ó Leathlobhair

When did you first know you were bi+?

I knew I was bi before I knew what bi was. My first childhood crush was on a neighbourhood girl. It wasn't until secondary school that I heard someone identify as bisexual. I knew then what I was and that I didn't seem to be alone. Except bisexuality wasn't as advertised. The people that had brought me my awakening had also brought me my shame by telling me that bi didn't mean you actually liked boys and girls it meant you were gay but just not ready to say it. I knew that wasn't me so back to square one I went.

Are you out as a bi+ person?

For all intents and purposes I am out. Outwardly very proudly but with a lot of internal shame. Both my public and private coming out experiences where traumatic and not initiated by me and it has hindered how I express myself within my own family. I am trying to mention it a little more, let everybody know its not a phase. Positive responses so far.

When have you felt the most accepted as a bi+ person? The least accepted?

I'll do both in the same story.
Years ago after a terrible public outing. A gay 'friend' had decided he was going to take matters into his own hands by 'helping me really come out' he told everyone that would listen, even people I didn't know that I was a lesbian. I was already being bullied at the time. I tried to stand up for myself. I tried to combat the rumours with the truth. Turns out 'she's bisexual' wasn't as snappy a line as 'she's gay'. The bullying to my horror tried to spread to my younger sister by text but as usual she was having none of anyones bullshit. She got a text saying 'Your sisters diseased' to which she replied 'no she's not, she's bisexual' to this day she doesn't know just how validated that made me feel.
...to this day she doesn't know just how validated that made me feel.

What is something no one asks you about being bi+ that you wish they would, and what would you want to tell them?

How does it feel? How does it feel to be erased under the guise of priviledge? How does society impact you as a bisexual woman? What can we do to make it easier?

Submit your story to We Exist
0 Comments
    Submit your story

    Archives

    September 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All
    Acceptance
    Believe Us
    Bi Erasure
    Bi+ Ireland Community
    Biphobia
    Bisexual
    Bi Tattoo
    Bi Visibility
    Bullying
    Cissexist Heterosexist Society
    Cissexist-heterosexist Society
    Family Support
    Feminist
    Generational Differences
    Homophobic
    Lgbt
    LGBTQ+ Community
    LGBT Resources
    Marref
    Media Representation
    Never Too Old
    Non-binary
    Pagan
    Pansexual
    Pride
    Pro Choice
    We Exist
    We Exist Series
    Writer

    RSS Feed

  • Bi Ireland Facebook
  • Bi Ireland Twitter​​

This organisation is run 100% by volunteer coordinators. We welcome donations and promise 100% transparency with our spending. Learn more here.
Bi+ Ireland is a network of people who fit somewhere under the bi+ umbrella, and who have close ties to Ireland. We are community group run by volunteers. You can reach us at biirelandnetwork@gmail.com.
  • Home
  • News & Events
    • Calendar
  • Join the Community
  • 'We Exist'
    • Our Stories
    • Submit Your Story
  • About
    • Coordinators
  • Bi Merch