Leeds City Council flies the flag in support of Bi Visibility Day

Leeds City Council will be marking Bi Visibility Day by lighting the Civic Hall purple and flying the flag in support of the bisexual community this week.

Bi Visibility Day, which is marking its 18^th anniversary on Friday (23 September), is a chance for the community to come together in celebration and raise awareness of issues affecting bisexual people. A number of events are planned to enable bi voices to be heard louder than ever before.

Leeds Bi Group, supported by Leeds City Council’s LGB&T* Hub and Touchstone, will host the main focus, a free Bi Voices event at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in the city’s LGB&T* quarter. From 5pm and 7pm, Bi Voices will give a chance to watch short videos and hear readings and quotes which aim to challenge misconceptions of bi people across the globe.

The council, in conjunction with the LGB&T* Hub and Leeds Bi Group will be lighting the Civic Hall purple to also mark the day, and will also be hosting a marketplace event on Saturday 24^th between 12 and 4pm, located on Lands Lane.

Other events on Saturday include the Bi Visibility Roundhay Rambler, a steady traffic free social cycle ride which includes a café stop for a coffee and a piece of cake. The Leeds Frontrunners, an inclusive LGB&T* running club, will be holding their regular run at Roundhay’s Waterloo Lake and are encouraging participants in both events to wear purple in recognition of Bi Visibility.

Social media will also play a key role in the day and Emily Metcalf, Chair of Leeds Bi Group, has urged people to join the Bi Visibility thunderclap on Twitter. The thunderclap, a pre-set message, will send a tweet from accounts that register in advance in the attempt to get both #BiVisibilityDay and #BiPride trending across social media.

Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s LGB&T* Champion, said:

“We are committed to giving a voice to all within the LGB&T* community, and we are therefore delighted offer our support in order to mark the day.

“Bi Visibility Day is important for a number of reasons, not least because it is giving a platform to a community that has struggled to be heard in the past. We hope that both flying the bi flag and lighting the Civic Hall will give greater visibility to this important day.”

Emily Metcalfe, Chair of Leeds Bi Group, said:

“I’m very excited to be involved in showcasing the work of bi+ people at the Bi Voices event. Leeds is embracing Bi Visibility more and more every year, celebrating the bi+ community and raising awareness.”

Further information about the day's events and the Leeds Bi Group can be found here www.leedsbigroup.org.uk and If you’d like to support the event on Twitter, you can sign up to the thunderclap at www.bivisibilityday.com/tweet or follow these other social media links: www.facebook.come/leedsbigroup www.twitter.com/lfrontrunners