BiNet USA

The BiNet USA logo.

BiNet USA (The Bisexual Network of the USA Inc, formerly the North American Bisexual Network) was an American national nonprofit bisexual organization whose mission was to "facilitate the development of a cohesive network of bisexual communities, promote bisexual visibility, and collect and distribute educational information regarding bisexuality." Until 2020, BiNet USA provided a national network for bisexual organizations and individuals across the United States, and encouraged participation and organizing on local and national levels." They claimed to be the oldest national bisexuality organization in the United States.

History

Tracing its roots back to the 1987 Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, the group further coalesced in 1990 when BiPol convened the first National Bisexual Conference in San Francisco. At that time a conference track was dedicated to creating a national organization. This first conference was attended by over 450 people from 20 states and 5 countries, and the mayor of San Francisco sent a proclamation "commending the bisexual rights community for its leadership in the cause of social justice", and declaring June 23, 1990 Bisexual Pride Day.

The following summer, the North American Bisexual Network was formalized in Seattle. Later its name would change to BiNet USA which coincided with the group becoming a nonprofit organization.

In its first decade, BiNet USA worked on a variety of campaigns, national policy initiatives and hosted/co-hosted a number conferences. Moving into its second decade, BiNet USA, like many other U.S. charitable organizations, was hit hard when funding dried up in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. It was forced to lay off its paid staff and roll back its plans for new office space.

Faced with these new economic and logistical realities, BiNet USA begins to focus more of its efforts on Internet activism using the Internet as an organizing tool for community growth. It used an "800" phone number, created a website, MySpace page, Facebook Group, and ListServ, established using Yahoo Groups, to facilitate communication between various multisexual communities and activists nationwide.

In 2005, after a period of progress marked by growing acceptance in both the larger LGBT and straight communities, the bisexual community suddenly came under a new attack promulgated by the publication of a study entitled "Sexual Arousal Patterns of Bisexual Men" by the controversial researcher J. Michael Bailey. This study allegedly "proved" that bisexual men did not exist. With little critical examination, various media celebrities and outlets jumped on the bandwagon and claimed to have "solved" the "problem of bisexuality" by declaring it to be non-existent, at least in men.

Working with other established LGBT institutions such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, GLAAD, the Bisexual Resource Center, as well as newer ones such as Bialogue, BiNet USA moved to co-ordinate a national response to this threat to the well-being of the bisexual community. It revitalized and updated its 'Rapid-Response Spokesperson Team' and monitored and responded quickly to media portrayals of the bisexual community.

Starting in 2008, under the leadership of its then president Wendy Curry, who is herself a software engineer, BiNet USA greatly expanded its use of Internet activism taking advantage of the flowering of a variety of social networking venues including LiveJournal, MySpace, and Facebook.

In September 2009, BiNet USA expanded its board of directors, making Gary B. North the new president, in October 2009, BiNet USA endorsed the National Equality March and helped organize a contingent of several bisexual groups that participated in the march, and in 2014, BiNet USA declared the seven days surrounding Celebrate Bisexuality Day to be Bi Awareness Week. The week begins the Sunday before Celebrate Bisexuality Day.

2020 Bi Flag Copyright Controversy & Rebranding

On April 28, 2020, BiNet USA president Faith Cheltenham claimed via the organization's Twitter account that they own sole copyright to the bisexual pride flag, stating that they would be restricting the flag's use without direct authorization. The tweets subsequently received many critical responses, including questioning the validity of a copyright claim, as previous documentation had established the flag as being within the public domain. The community was only more infuriated by Cheltenham going after small businesses using the flag. Many bisexual individuals jokingly redesigned the flag in retort, including one with a middle finger and another one with text that read "BINETUSA CAN EAT MY ENTIRE ASS".

Their original Twitter account was deactivated on April 29, 2020, and a new account was made and pointed to by Cheltenham.

On April 29, 2020, Dr. Lauren Beach gave a statement on her Twitter in which she stated that, as a board member, she was not consulted about BiNet USA's decision and that she does not agree with it. A day later, she confirmed that the board had an emergency meeting on April 30, 2020, and that a statement is to be released soon. On May 1, Faith Cheltenham released a statement prepared by the BiNet USA's board onto the official blog page, as well as tweeting it from the, now reactivated, official Twitter account. Also on May 1, Beach stated she had resigned from the board. Two days later, Cheltenham posted a statement that she had asked Juba Kalamka to be president of BiNet and that he would do so as of January 21, 2021. The same day, BiNet USA posted a statement that began "As of May 2020, BiNet USA CEASES AND DESISTS OF ALL USE OF THE BISEXUAL PRIDE FLAG".

On May 25, 2020, BiNet USA's Twitter reversed its position, stating "We strongly reject and refute any assertion that BiNet USA claimed, or ever claimed the bisexual pride flag."

In November of 2020, Cheltenham retook control of the organization and announced her new identity as a Christian conservative. She would also label the queer community and progressive movement as abusive. Due to all of this, BiNet USA is generally viewed unfavorably by the bisexual community.