It's bisexuality week and we've asked some wonderful people in our network to share their thoughts on being a bisexual person of faith. First out is Carol, who has been coming to our Annual Conference for many years!

September is the month where we make the B in LGBTQ+ visible. This is particularly important, as bisexuality is the sexual orientation that is frequently ignored or 'erased' in discussions of queer issues, despite bisexual people making up more than 50% of the whole LGBTQ+ sector. Bisexuality is quite simply attraction to more than one gender. While bisexual Christians do exist (and I am one of them!), you are more likely to spot a golden unicorn than meet a bisexual person of faith - and I'm only slightly exaggerating! This is because bisexual people are often falsely stigmatised as being sexually promiscuous or gays in disguise, which makes them unpopular with both the church and the lesbian and gay community. People often assume you're lying about being bi - this is why I use the stage name Binocchio the Bisexual Liar for my stand-up comedy! For this reason, bisexual individuals are often scared to come out. We also often see our identities suppressed, through the assumptions of others. When I was married to a man, everyone assumed I was straight; now I'm married to a woman, people assume I'm a lesbian. In fact, I'm still bisexual, and always was!

Approximately 2% of the population globally are thought to be bisexual, roughly the same proportion as people with green eyes. I am both green-eyed and bisexual, though there's no direct link! It's actually pretty cool being bi, despite the widespread ignorance around the orientation. I feel at home in both straight and queer communities and most bi folk are pretty tolerant and broadminded, probably due to not fitting naturally into one specific box. As I get older, and finding a 'tribe' is no longer so important, I appreciate the way nobody can put me in a box.

As part of the European Forum, I feel free to be my full bisexual self in God, and I continue to work to educate those inside and outside of the Forum on the bisexual Christian intersection.

- Carol Joyner