“Bisexual individuals in the Western Balkans and Turkey frequently experience erasure and invisibility,” says Danijel Kalezic, Executive Director of the Equal Rights Association (ERA). ERA is a regional umbrella organisation representing the LGBTQI movement across nine countries in the Western Balkans and Turkey. With over 80 member organisations, ERA works to address common challenges faced by LGBTQI communities, providing resources, research, training, and capacity development support to strengthen advocacy efforts and better serve LGBTQI individuals.
In these regions, the erasure of bisexual individuals is pervasive in both the LGBTQI community and broader society, where strict gender and sexual norms dominate. Bisexuality is often misunderstood as a phase or dismissed as confusion, further undermining the legitimacy of bisexual identities. In recognition of Bisexual Awareness Week, we sat down with Danijel to explore the role local LGBTQI organisations play in supporting bisexual communities and the importance of amplifying bisexual voices and experiences.
Do bisexual individuals in your region experience erasure or invisibility? If so, how do they experience this?
Yes, bisexual individuals in the Western Balkans and Turkey frequently experience erasure and invisibility. In these regions, there is a strong societal emphasis on binary definitions of sexuality, leading many people to misunderstand or deny the existence of bisexuality altogether. This erasure happens both within the LGBTQI community, where bisexuality can be overshadowed by gay and lesbian identities, as well as in broader society, where traditional gender and sexual norms dominate. People often dismiss bisexuality as a phase or believe that bisexual individuals are “confused”, which undermines the legitimacy of their identity. Additionally, bisexual individuals in these regions face limited representation in media and public life, deepening the feeling of invisibility.
“People often dismiss bisexuality as a phase or believe that bisexual individuals are “confused”, which undermines the legitimacy of their identity.”
What role do local LGBTQI organisations play in supporting bisexual communities?
In the Western Balkans and Turkey, LGBTQI organisations play a critical role in providing support, but bisexual communities are sometimes underrepresented or misunderstood. Most organisations focus on broader LGBTQI rights, and bisexual issues can be sidelined. However, in recent years, some progress has been made. There are more initiatives aimed at promoting bisexual visibility, offering safe spaces for bisexual individuals to express themselves, and creating platforms for education about bisexuality. Nevertheless, the support is often uneven, and it remains crucial for LGBTQI organisations in these regions to continue increasing their understanding and inclusion of bisexual people, particularly in outreach and advocacy efforts.
How does cultural or religious context influence the visibility and acceptance of bisexual individuals in your region?
Cultural and religious values deeply influence how bisexuality is perceived in the Western Balkans and Turkey. These are regions where traditional norms, often reinforced by religious beliefs, shape people’s understanding of sexuality. Bisexuality is frequently met with scepticism or rejection due to its challenge to binary views of relationships and gender. Religious conservatism, which emphasises heterosexual marriage, leads to bisexuality being viewed as deviant or immoral. This causes many bisexual individuals to hide their identity out of fear of being ostracised by their families or communities. While there are pockets of more progressive thought, particularly in urban areas, the dominant cultural and religious attitudes in these regions still present significant barriers to visibility and acceptance.
“It’s important to recognise and affirm bisexuality as one of the existing sexual identities, not just as a stepping stone to heterosexuality or homosexuality, as it is predominantly perceived.”
Why is celebrating Bisexual Awareness Week important in your context?
Celebrating Bisexual Awareness Week is particularly important in the Western Balkans and Turkey because it challenges the dominant narrative that often ignores or dismisses bisexuality. It provides an opportunity to educate the public and the LGBTQI community about the specific issues bisexual individuals face, such as erasure, stereotyping, and mental health struggles due to marginalisation. In this context, where bisexuality is often misunderstood or hidden, Bisexual Awareness Week can be a crucial moment to bring visibility to bisexual people, promote greater understanding, and improve acceptance within the broader society.
How can we effectively support and be allies to bisexual people in your region and globally?
Effective support for bisexual people in the Western Balkans and Turkey starts with challenging biphobia and bisexual erasure wherever they occur, including in conversations with friends, family, and LGBTQI spaces. It’s important to recognise and affirm bisexuality as one of the existing sexual identities, not just as a stepping stone to heterosexuality or homosexuality, as it is predominantly perceived. LGBTQI organisations should ensure bisexual people have representation in leadership roles and that their specific needs are addressed in advocacy and policy work. Globally, we can support bisexual people by amplifying their voices, advocating for better mental health resources, and promoting inclusive education that breaks down the rigid binaries that limit acceptance of bisexual identities.