Last updated: 2000-09-11

The annual business meeting of BiNet/USA will be critical this year because BiNet/USA is at such a crossroads.

I think we need to look at the purpose of BiNet/USA rather than the structure. Once we agree to a new purpose for BiNet/USA then finding the right structure is the easy part.

The purpose of BiNet/USA has always seemed to me to try to be all things to all people, an umbrella organization. I think this was a good idea at the time BiNet/USA was created, but that was a decade ago. It doesn't make sense anymore.

I think it is time for BiNet/USA to pick 1-2 things that it can do well, that aren't being done by other organizations, and focus on those 1-2 things.

In particular, we need to create a high-profile national voice for the bisexual community.

When BiNet/USA started there were NO OTHER national bisexual organization. Deciding to be the group that did a little of everything was the right thing to do because there was so much that needed to be done. However, over time this has muddied our ability to answer the simple question, "What is BiNet/USA?" When I try to recruit people to join BiNet/USA I rarely get beyond that question. I've been a member of BiNet/USA since just after it started and yet I can't define what it is.

Another difference is that ten years ago was the level of acceptance from the gay/lesbian community. Ten years ago we were actively hated. Now we're tolerated and accepted. Yes, it isn't perfect but it is tons better than it was ten years ago. Today is different than 10 years ago.

In the last decade a number of new national groups have started. Most of them are very focused. I think we should not duplicate their efforts. Instead, we should leverage off their good work and be the organization that they can leverage off of when they need, um, well, whatever it is that we do end up doing. For example, I'll pick on the Bisexual Resource Center because they know me and know that I love them (though I can't stand driving in Boston. Sorry, I just had to say it.) BRC creates some great educational material on how to start a local bi group. Great! So, if someone comes to the-new-BiNet/USA and says, "Hi! I want help starting a new bi group in my area!" we should cheer and hug them and tell them how wonderful they are for wanting to do this. And then we should show them the great stuff on the BRC web page and wish them luck. On the other side, BRC would do the same in return. We should be the resource that other groups would want to have on their side. In effect, we would be a very strong and powerful community of national organizations. Sort of like the League of Superheroes: each person doing what they are good at. You know, like the way that if the crime took place underwater they'd bring in Aquaman and if solving the problem required an invisible airplane they'd bring in Wonderwoman. Everyone does their own thing well; each is a part of the puzzle, or mosaic, or whatever analogy you want to use. Heck, I'm struggling with the League of Superheros analogy but you're following me. Right?

So let's take a fresh look at what a national organization CAN do. We'll subtract out what is already being done by other groups, remove anything we don't want to do, and what we have left will hopefully be something great. (It is, trust me' I read ahead to the last paragraph.)

Here are all the things that I can think of that a national bisexual organization can/could do:

• "A network of activists": Everyone uses this phrase but nobody can define it. Neither can I.
• PAC: Endorse candidates and raise money to be donated to them to influence elections
• Conferences: produce and promote conferences, big ones for everyone; small ones for leadership training, etc.
• Educational Organization: Educate within the community, outside the community
• Educates national G/L groups: Providing anti-biphobia training to HRC, NGLTF, etc.
• Grants: We can raise money and issue grants to fund great bi projects
• Help New groups: We can provide resources for starting new bi groups
• Lobby Congress: There are these dudes in Washington D.C. that are supposed to represent us and, well, you know the deal.
• Media Watchdog: Watch for anti-bi stuff in the media and respond.
• Media Barker: Every time there is a bi/gay/lesbian/transgender/sex/whatever issue in the news be one of the groups that responds to the media.
• Produce a newsletter: That would mean, dear reader, that they produce a newsletter.
• Represent bi interests at national round-tables: There really are secret meetings where the left wing gets together and strategizes to bring about positive change. Just like the radical right claims! There are roundtables on religion, race, and other issues. A national group can represent our point of view at these meetings so that NGLTF and HRC aren't the only queer influence there.

• PAC
• Educating national G/L groups
• Lobby Congress
• Media Barker
• Represent us at National Round-tables

If you think about this "short list" its basically focusing BiNet/USA as being a political/activist organization. That's what we need right now and that is something we can do.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN:

For the next 24 months we should focus on being the media barker that speaks up on "all issues bisexual" as they happen. This would take a single part time staff person plus the group of national coordinators that support that person. The 6 national coordinators will have time to do this because they won't be distracted by a zillion other projects. When someone comes to them with a distraction they will be empowered to say, "Gosh, what a great idea but it isn't in our focus right now! In the meanwhile, have you considered taking that idea to BRC, AIB, or your own local group?"

After 2 years of staying focused we should be able to have built a solid reputation of being fast to respond and always on top of things. The first year will really be spent getting up to speed. The second year will be focused on executing well and fine-tuning.

Two years from now we can reexamine our priorities. We can grow in whatever directions we feel are important at that time. In two years we will have a different president, a new congress, and the world will be a different place.

What about a newsletter, website, etc? It is likely that we will want to have those but they should be tools that communicate what our media barker is doing rather than a project onto itself that "wags the dog." That is, we must "let go" and rely on the other newsletters, websites, etc. to take up some of the slack while ours becomes focused on relaying information about what we are barking about, who we are barking to, etc.

One more thing. I'm always saying, "bi conferences build our movement more than anything else." So where do conferences fit into this? I think the national groups should work together to support conference but conference should be controlled by the local organizations running it. The next international bi conference is in Canada, and there are no scheduled national bi conferences in the U.S. until after this 24-month focus period is over (sneaky of me to pick 24 months, eh?).

SUMMARY:

Note: When I refer to "the national organization" I don't just meant BRC (The Bisexual Resource Center), AIB (Fritz Klein's American Institute of Bisexuality), BWB (Bi Without Borders), BMMA (Bisexual Married Men of America), but I mean truly every group that acts nationally. A lot of groups act across state boundaries even if they are in denial about how much great work they do!

Note: One person commented that they "would always explain that the purpose of BiNet to me was to support development of the bi community." I respectfully reply that that is so vague that an organization can't do anything with it.