Bi Any Other Name

{{Short description|1991 anthology}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox book

|name = Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out

|title_orig =

|translator =

|image = BiAnyOtherName.jpg

|caption = Cover of the paperback edition of Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out

|author = Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaʻahumanu

|illustrator =

|cover_artist =

|country = United States

|language = English

|series =

|subject = Bisexuality

|publisher = Alyson Publications

|release_date = 1991

|english_release_date =

|media_type =

|pages =

| isbn = 1-55583-174-5

|preceded_by =

|followed_by =

}}

Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out, published by Riverdale Avenue Books, is an anthology edited by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaʻahumanu, and is one of the seminal books[http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/bisex_movements,2.html Bisexual Movements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814044505/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/bisex_movements%2C2.html |date=2007-08-14 }} glbtq.com.[http://www.biresource.org/pamphlets/history.html A Brief History of the Bisexual Movement by Liz A. Highleyman] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225244/http://www.biresource.org/pamphlets/history.html |date=September 26, 2007 }} in the history of the modern bisexual rights movement. It holds a place that is in many ways comparable to that held by Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique in the feminist movement.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027115652/http://geocities.com/rosefirerising/blest/blestbios.html Blessed Bi Spirit: Bisexual People of Faith] by Debra Kolodny

The book comprises fiction and nonfiction pieces, poetry and art created by a diverse group of over seventy bisexual people speaking about their lives.[http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=16221&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm HRC Reading List] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015102/http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=16221&TEMPLATE=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm |date=September 30, 2007 }}

This book helped spark at least ten other books (many by its own contributors), was named one of Lambda Book Report's Top 100 Queer Books of the 20th century, has been reprinted three times since 1991, has over 40,000 copies in circulation, and was translated and published in Taiwan in June 2007.{{cite web |url=http://lanikaahumanu.com/bianyothername.shtml |title=Bisexuality |date=n.d. |website=Lanikaahumanu.com}} It also frequently appears on numerous LGBT reading lists, from assistance in coming out[http://www.pflagdc.org/education/bisexuality.php PFLAG-Metro DC Recommended Reading List] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823014006/http://www.pflagdc.org/education/bisexuality.php |date=August 23, 2007 }} to queer studies curriculum guides.{{cite web |url=http://www.ccsf.edu/Library/guides/glbqs.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721150207/http://www.ccsf.edu/Library/guides/glbqs.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-21 |title=Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Studies Guide - Library & Learning Resources - City College of San Francisco}}

In 1992, despite requests from the bisexual community for a more appropriate and inclusive category, Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out{{cite web |title=Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out Review |publisher=International Gay & Lesbian Review |url=http://gaybookreviews.info/review/2488/548 |accessdate=2007-11-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928141453/http://gaybookreviews.info/review/2488/548 |archivedate=2007-09-28}} was forced to compete (and lose) in the category "Lesbian Anthology" at the Lambda Literary Awards.{{cite web |title=1991 Lambda Literary Awards Recipients |publisher=Lambda Literary Foundation |url=http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/previous_winners/paw_1988_1991.html#1991 |accessdate=2007-11-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024201/http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/previous_winners/paw_1988_1991.html#1991 |archivedate=2007-09-27}} Additionally, in 2005, Directed by Desire: Collected Poems,{{cite web |title=Directed by Desire: Collected Poems |publisher=Copper Canyon Press |url=http://www.poetryfoundation.org/article/178530 |accessdate=2011-10-16}} a posthumous collection of the bisexual Jamaican American writer June Jordan's work, had to compete (and win) in the category "Lesbian Poetry".{{cite web |title=2005 Lambda Literary Awards Recipients |publisher=Lambda Literary Foundation |url=http://www.lambdaliterary.org/winners-finalists/04/09/lambda-literary-awards-2005/ |accessdate=2011-10-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211105334/http://www.lambdaliterary.org/winners-finalists/04/09/lambda-literary-awards-2005/ |archivedate=2013-12-11}} Led by BiNet USA,{{cite web |last=Curry |first=Wendy |authorlink=Wendy Curry |title=What makes a book bisexual? |work=Curried Spam |publisher=BiNet USA |year=2007 |url=http://www.binetusa.org/curriedspam.html#bibook |accessdate=2007-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921030159/http://www.binetusa.org/curriedspam.html#bibook |archive-date=2014-09-21 |url-status=dead}} and assisted by other bisexual organizations including the American Institute of Bisexuality, BiPOL, and Bialogue, the bisexual community launched a multi-year struggle that eventually culminated in 2006 with the addition of a Bisexual category at the Lambda Literary Awards.

A 25th anniversary edition of the book was released in 2015 during Bi Awareness Week.{{cite web |last=Hutchins |first=Loraine |url=http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/9/25/25-years-bi-life |title=25 Years of Bi Life |publisher=Advocate.com |date=2015 |accessdate=2015-09-27}}