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2008-10-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

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Wall Street higher on hopes of credit recovery

2008-10-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

By JOE BEL BRUNO, AP Business Writer Joe Bel Bruno, Ap Business Writer – Mon Oct 20,
6:21 pm ET

Play Video CBS
2 New York – MoneyWatch: Stocks Up Amid Credit Market Optimism

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AP – Trader Joseph Morando, left,
prepares for his day before the opening bell, work on the floor of the
New …

NEW YORK – A rising wave of optimism lifted Wall Street Monday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials up more than
400 points on more signs of a reviving credit market and support from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
for further steps to aid the economy. All the major indexes finished with gains
of 3 percent or more.

Investors who had sold furiously in recent weeks in response to immobile
credit markets became more optimistic as bank-to-bank lending rates eased
further. There's also less demand for ultra-safe Treasury bills, another sign that the credit markets
are gradually returning to a healthier state.

The improvement in lending rates helped temper concerns that tight credit
will contribute to a prolonged recession, but Bernanke still warned that the
economy is likely to be "weak for several quarters, and with some risk of a
protracted slowdown."

But he also told the House Budget Committee that a fresh round of government
measures might help ease the country's economic weakness. There were no details
but the White House said it was open to ideas that Congress might put forth.

"The market liked what Bernanke had to say, and there were hints that he's
leaving the door open for further moves in terms of rate cuts or economic stimulus," said Ryan Larson,
head of equity trading at
Voyageur Asset Management. "And, with credit easing in slow baby steps, the
market has started to realize that this is going to be a process."

Wall Street was also sifting
through the first of hundreds of earnings reports expected this week, seeking
clues about future business conditions. Among those reporting, oilfield services
provider Halliburton Co. topped estimates, and CEO Dave Lesar told investors and
analysts in a conference call, "We expect that any major macroeconomic
disruptions will ultimately correct themselves."

Trading was orderly for much of the day, but the final hour again saw
frenetic activity, this time to the upside, with the Dow rising nearly 140
points in the last 25 minutes. The market's tone was clearly better than during
the previous two weeks, when investors' heightened anxiety about credit markets
and the economy sent stocks plunging. The relative calm in Friday's session,
when the Dow fell 127, and Monday's trading, had more investors feeling
confident that the worst of the market's losses was behind it.

Still, with back-and-forth trading a hallmark during recoveries from plunges
in the past, analysts and investors were also expecting that Wall Street would
be subject to volatile price swings for some time.

"We don't have any sense if this kind of a run is sustainable," said Phil
Orlando, chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors. "We're groping quite literally
for a bottom right here, but I'm not going to discount that we won't retest lows
over the next couple of weeks."

The Dow rose 413.21, or 4.67 percent, to 9,265.43. The blue chips' gain were in line with a 4.68 percent gain
registered Thursday, when the Dow jumped 401 points.

The rally marked the Dow's 23rd triple-digit move in 26 sessions. Most
sessions have brought losses, however, with 11 of the past 14 showing
declines.

Broader indexes also rose sharply Monday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index jumped 44.85, or
4.77 percent, to 985.40. The Nasdaq
composite index rose 58.74, or 3.43 percent, to 1,770.03.

Despite the advances of recent sessions, the major indexes remain well below
their peaks of a year ago. the Dow is down 34.6 percent, the S&P 500 is down 37 percent and
the Nasdaq composite index is off 38.1 percent.

The credit markets were gradually responding to the series of bailout
measures by governments around the world, including a joint U.S. and European
plan to buy stakes in private
banks to boost their lending. Demand for Treasury bills, regarded as the safest assets around,
lessened Monday but remained relatively high in a sign that there was still much
fear in the markets.

The three-month Treasury bill Monday yielded 1.12 percent, up from 0.82
percent late Friday. That's better than the 0.20 percent of last Wednesday, and
the first time it surpassed 1 percent in more than a week.

Investors were also optimistic about the steady decline in interbank lending
rates, which fell for a sixth straight day Monday. The London interbank offered rate, or Libor, for three-month dollar loans
fell 0.36 percent to 4.06 percent, the biggest daily drop since January.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose. The yield, which moves opposite its
price, fell to 3.87 percent from 3.93 percent late Friday.

Todd Leone, managing director of equity trading at Cowen & Co., said many
investors were feeling optimistic that credit is slowly becoming more available.
He also believes that Bernanke's remarks, along with the fact earnings haven't
been dismal, are helping markets move higher.

"People are just getting comfortable with buying again," said Todd Leone,
managing director of equity trading at Cowen & Co. "We still could see
another big drop, but those big drops are going to get less and less."

Investors also received a bit more detail about how Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson plans to roll out a
$250 billion plan to recapitalize banks. Paulson said the government will own
shares in the banks that should be paid back with a reasonable return, and
expects that the investment will eventually make money.

Meanwhile, there were some optimistic data that showed the economy's health
improved for the first time in five months in September as supplier deliveries
and new orders strengthened, a private research group said Monday. The New
York-based Conference Board said its monthly forecast of future economic
activity rose 0.3 percent, a much better reading than the 0.2 percent drop
expected by Wall Street
economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR.

Light, sweet crude rose $2.40 to settle at $74.25 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last
week, it sank to an almost 16-month low on worries about a deep global recession
obliterating fuel demand.

The Russell 2000 index of
smaller companies rose 20.41, or 3.88 percent, to 546.84.

Advancing issues outpaced decliners by about 5 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where
consolidated volume came to 5.1 billion shares compared with 6.48 billion
shares.

Financial markets overseas also jumped. Japan's Nikkei stock average closed
up 3.59 percent. Britain's FTSE
100 rose 5.41 percent, Germany's DAX index advanced 1.12 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 3.56 percent.

Britney Spears jury ends second day of deliberations

2008-10-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Jurors
in Britney Spears' trial for
driving without a valid license ended a second day of deliberations here Monday
without a verdict and indicated they could be deadlocked.

After retiring to consider their verdict in the misdemeanor case last Friday,
jurors returned to court on Monday to weigh evidence against Spears, who was not
required to attend during the two-day trial last week.

Jurors indicated earlier Monday they were stuck at 10-2, without revealing
which way they were leaning.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge James
Steele requested the jury continue deliberating before they were released
for the day. The jurors will resume deliberations on Tuesday.

The trial went ahead after the singer rejected a plea deal that would have
seen her fined 150 dollars and given one year's probation.

The case stems from an August
2007 incident when paparazzi trailing the singer caught her bumping a car
in a parking lot and driving away.

Prosecutors say Spears was later discovered not to have a valid California
license. She was charged with a misdemeanor -- punishable by jail or a fine --
but for a first offense Spears
is unlikely to receive a custodial
sentence.

Spears' defense argued the star held a valid Louisiana license at the time of
the incident and was not legally required to hold a California permit because she was not living
permanently in the state at the time.

"She is a Louisiana girl, born there, lived there, and going back there as
soon as things are straightened out here," defense lawyer J. Michael Flanagan
told jurors in closing
arguments.

Spears -- who hit rock bottom in January when she was twice rushed to
hospital for psychiatric treatment after losing custody of her two young sons --
appears to have got her career back on track.

Her new single "Womanizer"
topped Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart last week, her first No.1 on the
ranking since 1999's "Baby One More
Time."

Obama leaving campaign trail to visit grandmother

2008-10-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Enlarge
Photo

Obama
leaving campaign trail to visit grandmother

AP - 11 minutes
ago

AP - Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his
campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly ill
85-year-old grandmother, his spokesman said.

Long lines form as early voting begins in Florida

2008-10-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Enlarge Photo

AP - 32 minutes
ago

MIAMI - Florida kicked off early voting on Monday, with record crowds heading
to the polls and voters waiting hours to cast their ballots. Elections officials
said the few reported problems were minor.

Gay activist to sue former Victorian premier over bisexual trainer comments

2008-10-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

Sydney gay rights activist Gary Burns is planning to sue Jeff Kennett, Victorian premier (1992-1999) and President of Hawthorn Football Club.

Mr Burns claims that comments made by Mr Kennett over the sacking of a male bisexual football trainer earlier this year were homophobic.

The comments were made when the trainer, Ken Campagnolo, was dismissed by Bonnie Doon Football Club in July. Mr Kennett said of the dismissal:

"The club felt that once [Mr Campagnolo's sexuality] had been pointed out and you had this gentleman there who was obviously close to young men; massaging young men.

"It ran an unnecessary risk, and that's why it decided it was best that he not perform those duties again.

"So the club was trying to do the right thing.

"When you are in charge of a group of young boys, as this club was, as I understand it, it's got to make sure.

"It's the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, right?"

Mr Burns says that he will take Mr Kennet, 60, to the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal for "inciting hate against gay men."

"We have to use litigation in some areas just to remind people that with their alleged free speech comes responsibility," he said.

In a case settled earlier this year, Mr Burns successfully sued a Sydney radio station 2UE after comments made by presenter John Laws which were perceived to be homophobic.

If he wins, Mr Burns said he will donate any monetary damages to Twenty10, a charity that helps young LGBT people who have had to leave home due to homophobic family conflict

"Grey's Anatomy" new "bisexual intern" is coming in November — with a secret

2008-10-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

If the crumbs of the Callica love affair on Grey's Anatomy aren't satisfying your appetite for girl-loving content, help is on the way. Melissa George (Alias, Mulholland Dr.) will be joining the staff of Seattle Grace as a bisexual intern on Nov. 6.
But — spoiler alert! — it turns out Melissa's character has a past with another Seattle Grace resident. Someone you'd probably never suspect.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Aussie actor will play a woman with "a history with — holy lipstick lesbians! — Meredith."
Meredith has a female skeleton in her closet? Well, she does love to over-process every emotion that crosses her psyche's transom and is closer to her "person" Cristina than she is to her boyfriend. Paging Doctor Clueless.
OK, I'll play along with the Meredith premise, except less than three weeks ago, EW reported Melissa's new character was being "groomed as a potential love interest" for either Callie (Sara Ramirez) or Erica (Brooke Smith). Sorry, they're taken.
And before that, there was speculation that Sandra Oh's character, Cristina Yang, was going to the one to come down with a previously undiagnosed case of bisexuality.
What next? Will a woman roll in on a gurney and turn out to be Izzie's one-time college experiment? Is Lexie going to run into a Candy Striper with whom she used to play doctor?
Not that there's anything wrong with that. But it's starting to feel like series creator Shonda Rhimes is throwing big ol' handfuls of gay against the wall to see what sticks. Again, nothing wrong with that.
Whatever Rhimes's master plan, Melissa is a welcome addition to the cast, and furthermore, no stranger to Sapphic scenes like this one from Mulholland Dr. with Laura Harring.
In other crazy casting news, look for Papi and the President (The L Word's Janina Gavankar and Battlestar Galactica’s Mary McDonnell) to pop in later this season.
That is one nutty hospital.

Students Mark National Coming Out Day

2008-10-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Dining halls across campus served giant rainbow-covered cakes on Saturday as part of the weekend’s celebration of National Coming Out Day. Marco Chan ’11, co-chair of the Harvard-Radcliffe Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance, said the group’s primary goal for the day was to expose Harvard students to available resources on campus. “There’s still a lot of people coming to terms with their sexual orientation,” Chan said. “One of the important things is to raise visibility of people already out who can serve as models for bringing together their sexual identity and the rest of their lives.” As part of their effort to increase visibility of resources, two Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Support proctors set up a table in Annenberg for the freshman class, and the Freshman Dean’s Office included pictures and biographies of the three BGLTS proctors in this week’s “Yard Bulletin.” Besides promoting campus resources, Chan said National Coming Out Day was also an opportunity to celebrate being gay and proud. “It’s important at Harvard to show that being gay, being queer doesn’t have to impact your life in a negative manner,” Chan said. “In high school I had a tough time because I couldn’t see anyone that was gay, and happy, and successful. It wasn’t until I was 17 in Montreal that I saw people who were gay, in committed relationships, and very happy in their lives. Gay and happy can come together.” While the co-chairs of BGLSTA said that the weekend’s activities were a success, both also acknowledged that the existence of a “coming out” day demonstrates that there are still barriers to being open with one’s sexuality. BGLTSA students distributed rainbow pins, safe space signs, and a pamphlets of resources to every College dorm room in the days leading up to National Coming Out Day. Students and BGLTS tutors also coordinated events in Houses, including a film screening of Margaret Cho’s “I’m the One that I want” in Winthrop. The celebrations concluded with a concert in the Quincy Cage Saturday night with gay singer and novelist Stewart Lewis. Relating his own experiences of being told to “play straight” in meetings, Lewis entertained about 20 students with his songs and anecdotes. “Does anyone have trouble coming out? Or are we all cool?” Lewis asked the audience in between songs. “Everyone has trouble.”

Sex and sexuality

2008-10-14T01:57:00.000-07:00

Many people think sex and sexuality are synonymous with each other but they have different meanings.
According to a World Health Organisation definition, “sex” refers to the biological characteristics that differentiate humans as females and males. However, these characteristics are not mutually exclusive, as there are some individuals who possess both female and male characteristics.
The term sex, when used commonly, often means “sexual activity” in many communities globally.
“Sexuality” is a central aspect of being human throughout life. It includes sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. Not all aspects of the various facets of sexuality are always experienced or expressed. It is influenced by biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.
It is generally accepted that sexuality begins at or soon after birth. Infants feel the warmth, closeness and pleasant sensations when they are carried by their mothers especially during breast feeding.
Small boys often get erections, especially after seven years of age. However, sexuality does not involve the genital organs only. It is part of everything that a person is. That is why many young people identify with someone they admire, including celebrities, parents or teachers.
Although most children do not become sexually active, like adults, until they reach puberty, it is important to remember that the foundations of sexual development and sexual health are laid in childhood.
All children learn how to interact with others and develop socially acceptable behaviour. Gender identity and gender roles develop during childhood. The understanding of relationships and development of values in early childhood are the foundations of the development and evolution of sexuality as children grow up.
Parents and caregivers are the primary sexual health educators for children, from the time they are infants and toddlers. As children grow up, they also learn about sexuality from other family members, play and school mates, and people in the world around them. While initially age-dependent, the rate and nature of sexuality development vary considerably from child to child.
At puberty, there are many physical and hormonal changes which awaken sexual feelings in different ways. The changes involve the body and mind of adolescents who wonder about new and often intense sexual feelings.
Adolescents encounter enormous pressures with respect to sex and sexuality. The messages they receive are often conflicting. On the one hand, sex is seen from a negative perspective and associated with fear, guilt and disease.
On the other hand, peers and the media portray it positively and often as desirable. This is often compounded by a lack of accurate information, skills and awareness of their rights, notwithstanding the sex education that they are supposed to receive in school.
Most, if not all, adolescents need time to understand who they are and who they are becoming, including their sexual feelings and attractions. Peer pressure and media focus, however, often do not give them enough time to do so.
Society’s shortcomings in meeting the emotional, social and health needs of adolescents and young people in respect of their sexuality is reflected in the increasing numbers of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse and suicides. It is sad that many opinion leaders still have simplistic explanations and solutions for such complex issues.
Sexuality during the reproductive years does not pose many problems relatively. However, they may arise when there is ill health, after menopause and in senior citizens.
Senior citizens with positive attitudes view sexuality as an affirmation of physical health, an expression of affection and loyalty, a continuing opportunity for growth and experience, and a maintenance of identity and self-confidence.
The negative stereotype of senior citizens is that of desexualised invalids at one extreme or “dirty old men” or “lecherous old women” at the other. Some senior citizens, who are physically healthy, may have such a view of themselves. This is reflected in the refusal to associate with fellow senior citizens and attempts, often futile, to appear inappropriately young.
Sexuality in senior citizens is affected by common problems in the age group, i.e. medical disorders, ill health or death of a partner, access to friends and relatives and lack of accurate information about sex and sexuality.
Sexuality does not have an age limit. Many men and women continue to have a satisfying sex life when they get older. There is no reason why sex should not continue into the 70s or 80s.
Sexual orientation
This refers to the gender that a person is attracted to. There are different types of sexual orientation:
·Heterosexuals are romantically and physically attracted to members of the opposite sex, i.e. male to female and vice versa. They are sometimes called “straight.”
·Homosexuals are romantically and physically attracted to people of the same sex. Females attracted to other females are called lesbians. Males attracted to other males are called homosexuals and are often known as gay. The term gay is sometimes also used to describe homosexual individuals of either gender.
·Bisexuals are romantically and physically attracted to members of both sexes.
Adolescents often have sexual thoughts and attractions, some of which may be intense, confusing or disturbing, particularly when they involve someone of the same gender. It is important to remember that having sexual thoughts about people of the same or opposite gender does not necessarily mean that one has a particular sexual orientation.
A person’s sexual orientation is a reflection of his or her sexual and emotional feelings towards people of the same or opposite gender. By the time one reaches adulthood, one should have a pretty good idea of what one’s sexual orientation is.
Many doctors believe that sexual orientation involves a complex mix of biology, psychology and environmental factors. There is strong evidence that homosexuality is more common in certain families, even when the children were given up for adoption, indicating that genes play a role in its development. The hormonal environment in the womb too may have an influence on sexual orientation later in life.
There are scientific studies that challenge the view that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or sexual preference, and that it is “pre-determined”. However, there are many who disagree.
It is likely that the genesis of a person’s sexual orientation is not yet completely understood.
The Health Ministry’s Third National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 reported that, among Malaysians who revealed their sexual orientations, 95.8% were heterosexuals, 2.2% were bisexuals, 1.1% were lesbians and 0.9% were gays.
In conclusion, it is important to distinguish sex from sexuality. Whereas the former refers to biological characteristics, the latter encompasses what is human and extends across the ages. Sexual orientation is a complex mix of nature and nurture, the origins of which are yet to be completely clarified.

Mental health help wanting for bisexuals

2008-10-14T01:51:00.001-07:00

The existing mental health services in Ontario, Canada, do not adequately meet the needs of bisexual people, researchers said.
Researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and the Sherbourne Health Center evaluated the experiences of bisexual people in Ontario based on three main determinants of health: social factors, including biphobia and stigma; interpersonal relationships including the workplace and partners; and internal factors, including self-acceptance and identity struggles.
The results demonstrated that social biphobia and stereotypes about bisexuals have far reaching negative effects on the mental health and well-being of bisexual people, the researchers said.
Although previous research shows that bisexual people are more likely to seek help with mental health issues than heterosexuals, many who were surveyed expressed frustration when interacting with the healthcare system.
"Many participants reported that they felt that some (gay)-friendly therapists were uncomfortable dealing with certain mental health issues, while mainstream mental health clinicians did not have an understanding of the specific challenges faced by bisexual people," Dr. Lori Ross of CAMH said in a statement.
The research results are scheduled to be presented at an event Tuesday at the Sherbourne Health Center in Toronto.

Confessions of a confused Bi Girl

2008-10-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

What if my friends knew I was gay? What would they say if they knew I identified as Bisexual? I'd probably end up with no friends. Or associates should I say, because if they were my friends it wouldn't matter. It scares the living day out of me to even imagine telling my associates that I like girls. Or that I prefer girl on girl sex as opposed to male and female sex. Ewww....I'm sure they would mutter.Some would even say it out loud.But I am bisexual. I may even lean more on the lesbian side than straight. And oh the headaches and swelling this causes. Because years prior I was a straight black female living the good life.

I'm a bi girl and played around with my best friend that has a bf

2008-10-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

help?I'm a bi girl and played around with my best friend that has a bf :Is it bad?But i really wanna continue doing stuff with her but i dunno about her.

Bisexual community reports need for improvements in mental health services

2008-10-13T04:32:00.000-07:00

New research by the Centre for Addiction andMental Health (CAMH) and the Sherbourne Health Centre sheds light on themental health of bisexual people in Ontario by looking at the context ofmental health issues in this group. The Bisexuality, Mental Health andEmotional Well-Being Research Project also found that the existing mentalhealth services do not adequately meet the needs of bisexual people.
The Ontario-wide project evaluated the experiences of bisexual peoplebased on three main determinants of health: social factors, including biphobiaand stigma; interpersonal relationships, including those with the LGBTcommunity, the workplace and partners; and internal factors, includingself-acceptance and identity struggles. The results demonstrated that socialbiphobia and stereotypes about bisexuals have far reaching negative effects onthe mental health and well-being of bisexual people. Though previous research shows that bisexual people are more likely toseek help with mental health issues than heterosexuals, many who were surveyedexpressed frustration when interacting with the healthcare system. "Bisexual people we interviewed felt that therapists and other healthcare providers need a better understanding of the continuums of sexuality andgender," said Dr. Lori Ross, Scientist with CAMH's Social, Equity and HealthUnit who conducted research on the project. Ross also says that gaps in thesystem may point to the need for specialized clinical training. "Manyparticipants reported that they felt that some queer-friendly therapists wereuncomfortable dealing with certain mental health issues, while mainstreammental health clinicians did not have an understanding of the specificchallenges faced by bisexual people." While many of the respondents also had positive experiences withqueer-friendly clinicians, the report shows that the lack of understanding ofbisexuality also extends into the queer community. "Some clinicians, eventhose from the LGBT community, have difficulty seeing bisexuality as a healthyand legitimate sexual orientation," said Anna Travers, former Program ManagerLGBT Services, Sherbourne Health Centre. Several of the people suggested thata website is needed listing providers and services that are clinically andculturally competent in serving bisexual clients. I am happy to say that thisis something that is now being addressed through the soon-to-be-launchedRainbow Health Ontario website" The research explores these problems, along with other difficultiesregarding stereotypes about bisexuality and acceptance among friends, familiesand the public. It makes a number of suggestions for fostering a moreinclusive and effective mental health system for bisexual people, includingeducation for providers and the public along with increased resources formental health. The research results will be presented at an event on September 23, 2008from 7-9 pm at Sherbourne Health Centre (333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto). The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largestmental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world'sleading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMHcombines clinical care, research, education, policy development and healthpromotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health andaddiction issues. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a PanAmerican Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. Sherbourne Health Centre is a free-standing health centre funded by theMinistry of Health and Long Term Care. The Centre provides innovative primaryhealth care to all the diverse populations of southeast Toronto with specialfocus on homeless people, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual andtransgendered communities, and newcomers to Canada. Sherbourne's LGBT PrimaryHealth Care Program provides medical care, counselling, parenting resourcesand community health promotion, as well as education and research activities.Sherbourne's latest initiative, Rainbow Health Ontario, is a provincialprogram committed to promoting better access to services and to enhancing thehealth and wellbeing of Ontario's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT)

Bisexual research attracts US interest

2008-10-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

A new Australian book on women in relationships with bisexual men has been picked up by a US publisher.
The book, written by researcher Sara Lubowitz and Deakin University lecturer Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, will be published by Lexington Books.
Pallotta-Chiarolli told MCV that Australian publishers were concerned about a limited market for the book, however due to the US publisher’s involvement, Australian publishers are now interested:
“What does that say about the cultural cringe and what happens when you get recognition in the US?” Pallotta-Chiarolli said. “But we are happy about Australian interest because it’s stories about Australian women.”
The book, due for release in early 2010, includes interviews with women aged from 18 to 70.
“Some of the women are straight, some are bisexual themselves. Some of the relationships are monogamous and some are polyamorous. We generally only hear about gay married men, but there are really positive and beautiful stories about women who are with bisexual men.”
In related news, an Australian researcher will have her work published in the Journal of Bisexuality, a peer-reviewed, US academic journal.
Inside, Outside, Nowhere: Bisexual Men and Women in the Gay and Lesbian Community looks at the impact of antibisexual attitudes on Australian bisexual men and women.
The study’s author, Kirsten McLean from Monash University, said it was still difficult being bisexual in the gay and lesbian community, especially for people in a heterosexual relationship.
“The suspicion that bisexual men are really gay and bisexual women are just experimenting can be damaging,” McLean said.

Bias remains prevalent for Paly bisexuals

2008-10-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

Palo Alto High School has a relatively diverse community, both racially and sexually. Many openly homosexual students and heterosexual students interact every day. However, there is a part of Paly's culture that is not typically addressed: the number of bisexual students.
"A bisexual person has the potential to be sexually and/or romantically attracted to more than one sex, but not necessarily at the same time or to the same extent," editor of the Bisexual Resource Guide, Robyn Ochs said.
According to "Kyle," a Paly student who wishes, like all sources in this article, to remain anonymous, bisexuality has a very vague definition, which makes it difficult for many people to establish their orientation.
"Bisexuality is like a non-identity," Kyle said. "It includes every sexual possibility between straight and gay."
Kyle believes that it is difficult to have conversations about all sexual orientations because Americans are taught to keep sexuality private from a young age.
"Our culture isn't honest about sexuality," Kyle said. "We're taught to be this way from a young age. If you're a boy and have a thought about another boy, it's bad."
According to Ochs, many children in America are typically exposed to only heterosexuality or homosexuality, which makes it hard for many people to grasp bisexuality.
"Bisexuality stretches our imagination, just like multiracial people do," Ochs said. "It forces us to acknowledge complexity, and many people are uncomfortable with that."
Many bisexual students at Paly, such as "Michelle" refrain from exposing their sexual orientation because of how their peers might react.
"I feel comfortable telling my friends and people I know are okay with it," Michelle said. "But I choose not to explain myself to certain people who seem too conservative or uptight. I am afraid people will think that just because I like men and women, I am promiscuous and untrustworthy."
"Erika," another bisexual student at Paly, said that the reason she chooses not to reveal her sexual orientation is to prevent other people from treating her differently.
"I completely understand that many girls could feel uncomfortable around me." Erika said.
Kyle feels that stereotypes about bisexuality are what hold him back from revealing his sexual orientation. Some students feel uncomfortable revealing their identity to people who might misinterpret them.
"Stereotypes about bisexuals make me feel very uneasy about coming out," Kyle said. "Some think that kids are saying they are bisexual for attention, or that they are just gay and can't admit it to themselves or the world."
Paly student "Janet" agrees with Kyle and feels that many stereotypes against bisexuality are unfounded and unjust.
"I hate that there are these stereotypes that bisexual girls are all sluts, or that bisexual people will get with anyone," Janet said.
Erika feels that many students think if somebody is gay or bisexual, they are automatically attracted to people of the same sex and that such thinking needs to change.
"People need to know that gay and bisexual people are capable of having perfectly platonic relationships with other people of their gender," Erika said.
She feels that many people believe that bisexual girls announce that they are bisexual to make men more attracted to them.
"I don't feel like anyone is going to commit a hate crime against me or something," said Erika. "When people feel uncomfortable they'll make fun of gay people for no good reason."
Some of the Paly bisexual students feel that being bisexual does not affect their daily lives. However, Janet feels that because most people assume she is straight, she gets into awkward conversations.
"It makes me feel kind of uncomfortable sometimes because people assume I'm straight," Janet said. "It's strange when I'm with all girls, and we're talking about boys, and I'm actually getting a crush on a girl at that moment."
Most students who are bisexual discovered their sexual orientation at a young age.
"I remember being in Europe the summer after seventh grade and I kept checking out women on the street," Erika said.
However, some students realized their sexual orientation later on.
"I first realized I was bisexual when I met this gorgeous girl in ninth grade and she asked me out on a date," Michelle said. "It just felt so right."
A number of sex studies theories believe that the majority of the population is somewhat bisexual or encounter bisexuality during their lifetime.
"A lot of people realize that it's really something that everyone comes across at some point in their lives," Erika said.