Bisexual Killjoy

S4E7: Bi+ Storytelling Across Generations with Bi Cities!

By now we know that Bi+ people are everywhere, but are there Bi+ Cities? This week, we’re getting all the tips and tricks for building a Bi+ talk show that lasts for over a decade! With project leaders, Dr. Marge Charmoli, Dr. Anita Kozan, and Bill Burleson spill the details on what it’s like to run a cable talk show on Bi+ topics. Join us in this Alice-through-the-looking-glass moment as we chat about the importance of joy and teamwork in keeping advocacy sustainable. 
Bi Cities! is the world’s longest-running show dedicated to bisexuality. Since 2002, hosts Dr. Marge Charmoli and Dr. Anita Kozan have led weekly conversations with leading experts, activists, and cultural figures in the bi+ community. Each episode shares stories, research, and advocacy that deepen understanding and visibility, making Bi Cities! a vital platform for documenting bi+ life for more than two decades. Recognized as a leader in the Twin Cities by the Bisexual Organizing Project, honored with Producer of the Year by St. Paul Neighborhood Network, and awarded Changemaker of the Year by the St. Paul LGBTQIA Community Organization, BiCities! has welcomed guests from local pioneers to international voices, including Fritz Klein and Robyn Ochs.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Learn More About BiCities!:
BiCities website: https://www.bicities.org/ 
BiCities Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiCitiesShows/ 
BiCities YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QEvUVWUvmowkoEbm6tA2A?
“How To Make a Bisexual Talk Show Last 20 Years: A Step-by-Step Guide” by Emerson Rice: https://www.biwomenquarterly.com/how-to-make-a-bisexual-talk-show-last-20-years-a-step-by-step-guide/ 
Learn More About Bill:
Bill’s Website: www.williamburleson.com
Bill’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billburl
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E6: Bi+ History in Motion with Martin Rawlings-Fein

Finding and celebrating Bi+ media is something that speaks deeply to the hearts of the Bi+ community. Today, we’re digging deep on what it means to explore Bi+ stories through on-screen adaptations with guest Martin Rawlings-Fein. From volunteering with BABPN to the founding of BiCONIC, we reflect on what it means to bring together Bi+ history, art, and activism.
Martin Rawlings-Fein (MAR-tin RAW-lingz-FYN) is the founder of BiCONIC, a film festival celebrating Bi+ stories and filmmakers, and a longtime organizer with the Bay Area Bi+ & Pan Network (BABPN). Through BiCONIC, Martin uplifts underrepresented voices in cinema, fostering visibility and pride within the bisexual+ community. With BABPN, he builds local community, organizes events, and advocates for Bi+ inclusion across the Bay Area. A bisexual trans man, educator, and activist, Martin brings decades of experience in LGBTQ+ leadership to this work. His commitment to justice, storytelling, and connection drives his vision for a more inclusive future.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Where to Find Martin Rawlings-Fein
BiCONIC Film Festival: https://biconicsf.com 
Bay Area Bi+ & Pan Network: https://www.babpn.org 
Bay Area Bi+ & Pan Network Chat: https://www.facebook.com/groups/babpn 
BiCONIC Film Festival FB/IG: @biconicsf
Martin FB/IG: @feinmentsch
Martin’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3345325/ 
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E5: Building Bi+ Power in the ‘90s with Barry Saiff

Bi+ people are everywhere, and we know networks are crucial to our survival. This week, we’re diving into the history of BiNet USA, and the ripple effects of Bi+ collectives with our guest, Barry Saiff. From reflections on what makes an organizing team run smoothly, to tips for Bi+ fundraising, we’re determined to figure out what makes or breaks Bi+ collectives over the long term.
Barry Saiff has spent more than three decades shaping bi+ history as an activist, organizer, and community leader. He began his bisexual activism in the early 1990s with the Alliance of MultiCultural Bisexuals in Washington, D.C., and went on to co-produce the 1993 National Conference Celebrating Bisexuality, held alongside the historic March on Washington. With four keynotes, 50 workshops, and over 600 participants, it was the largest bi+ conference of its time. Barry later served as president of BiNet USA, where he helped secure the funding that made it possible to hire the organization’s first executive director, a turning point in national bi+ organizing. He has continued to speak at conferences and webinars across the U.S. and internationally, carrying bi+ visibility into new spaces. Beyond activism, Barry has led a long career in technical communications as a writer, manager, and entrepreneur. He founded Saiff Solutions, a technical writing firm in the Philippines, and currently works as a manager at DocuSign. Barry is also a dedicated volunteer and fundraiser, having raised millions for causes such as The Hunger Project. He is married to his Filipino husband and remains active in progressive organizing, including the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Saiff, B. (2018, October 20). Outsourcing Technical Writing: A Primer. XML Press. 
Take a trip down memory lane from the BiNet USA website: https://web.archive.org/web/20070818050105/http://www.binetusa.org/faces.html
Where to Find Barry Saiff
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrysaiff/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magicbarry 
Saiff Solutions: https://www.saiffsolutions.com
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E4: Making Bi+ History in the UK with Jen Yockney

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! This week, we’re exploring what it takes to begin a Bi+ history-keeping project and keep it going with the founder of Bi Community News, Jen Yockney. With stories of bridging tradition with contemporary times, and fabulous fashion tips, Jen brings laughter and joy to the long process of Bi+ history keeping. Together, we navigate multiple facets of the journey, from early volunteer days to finding trustworthy team members that can keep the vision alive. Join us as we uphold Bi+ legacy across the pond. 
Jen Yockney was born and raised in Wales before moving to Manchester, England, for university. That was meant to last three years, but more than thirty years on, she still hasn't reached escape velocity. Most notably, Jen notched up a double-first when she received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for "Services To The Bisexual Community" from Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. It was the first bi activism honour, and the first time the title Mx appeared in the Honours List, which she says cemented Mx in the English language - as if anyone decides what constitutes "the Queen's English" then surely it was the Queen. The MBE reflected what is now over three decades of bi volunteering, centred on BiPhoria - the UK's longest running bi social and support group - and Bi Community News, the British print magazine which turns thirty this year. There are side projects too: having organised the only UK event to mark September 23 as a bi holiday back in 1999, two years later she started bivisibilityday.com, which to this day lists events marking the date around the world.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Bi Community News Magazine: bicommunitynews.co.uk  
Yockney, Jen. “Getting Bi In A Gay/Straight World: 2019 edition.” 4th ed. Biphoria. https://issuu.com/biphoria/docs/getting_bi_web_2019 
Where to Find Jen Yockney
Bi Visibilty Day Website: bivisibilityday.com 
Jen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenyockney 
Biphoria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biphoria 
Bi Community News Magazine: https://www.instagram.com/bicommunitynews 
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E3: Nothing New: Bi+ Erasure in History with Mel Reeve

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! This week, we’re digging into the politics of memory, archives, and erasure with Mel Reeve of the Bi History Project. Mel’s work shines a light on the stories that have been fragmented, forgotten, or deliberately erased, making sure bi+ people are recognized in the past as much as in the present.
Together, we explore why bi+ history so often slips through the cracks, how power shapes what gets remembered, and why accurate representation matters, even when historical figures didn’t use the word “bisexual.” We talk about the labor of piecing together stories from fragments, the challenges of pushing back against erasure in LGBTQ+ archives, and the power of recovering the lives of those who came before us.
Mel Reeve is an archivist and award-winning writer. She is the founder of the Bi History project, host of the Bi History podcast, and an editor at Fear of Making Art Press. Mel works in archives with a focus on improving access to digital collections and LGBTQ+ histories. The Bi History Project shines a spotlight on the rich and complex past of the bisexual+ community. Through training events, workshops, lectures, podcasts, and consulting, it brings LGBTQ+ and bi+ history to life and encourages inclusive heritage practices. The project empowers those within and outside the heritage profession to engage with bisexual+ and LGBTQ+ history.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi History Podcast: https://bihistory.buzzsprout.com/
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Madams: Bawds & Brothel-Keepers of London by Fergus Linnane
“The Many Ways F. Scott Fitzgerald Made an Absolute Fool of Himself.” Kaz Rowe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lhUMjqyOgU
Bi-ble: An Anthology of Essays on Bisexuality. Edited by Lauren Nickodemus.
It Ain't Over Til the Bisexual Speaks: An Anthology of Bisexual Voices. Edited by Vaneet Mehta and Lois Shearing. Jessica Kingsley Publishing. 2024.
Where to Find Mel Reeve
Bi History Website: https://bihistory.com
Mel Reeve Website: https://melreeve.my.canva.site/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bihistory/ 
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E2: Bi+ Activism and the Long Haul with Robyn Ochs

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! This week, we’re exploring what it means to be a Bi+ activist who’s in it for the long haul with the one and only Robyn Ochs as our guest. This Bi+ visibility month we’re focused on sustaining our efforts by honoring their inherent fluidity. We discuss how Bi Women Quarterly began and its transformation throughout the years, the importance of crafting intentional legacy, and what happens when Bi+ voices are centered as a collective. From the lives recorded in Getting Bi to those in RECOGNIZE, we know that history is remembered when we’re together.
Robyn Ochs is an educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. Her writings have been published in numerous bi, women’s studies, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ anthologies, and she has taught courses on LGBTQ+ history & politics at Tufts University, MIT, and Northern Vermont University. Among other things, she crafted the definition of bisexuality that is used by many bi+ activists around the world: “I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge in myself the potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree.” Robyn is deeply committed to intersectional and sustainable activism, to working with others to build coalitions across identities and across social movements, to supporting emerging leaders, and to learning and growing. She is particularly interested in bi+ health, the experiences of bi+ people in the workplace, the global bi+ movement, bi+ elders, and bi and LGBTQIA+ youth. An activist for 50 years (so far), she is in it for the long haul. In 2024, she was named an LGBT History Icon. 
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Getting Bi: The Voices of Bisexuals from Around the World, Second Edition 2009. Edited by Robyn Ochs and Sarah E. Rowley.
RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men, 2014. Edited by Robyn Ochs and H. Sharif Williams.
Bisexural Resource Center: https://biresource.org/ 
Bi Women Quarterly: http://www.biwomenboston.org/ 
Where to Find Robyn Ochs
Website: https://www.robynochs.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pixel.ochs/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynochs 
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@robynochs 
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robynochs.bsky.social 
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S4E1: Bisexual Killjoys Lost in History

S4E1: Bisexual Killjoys Lost in History
Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! Season 4 opens with a reckoning: what happens when your history keeps getting erased? Bailey and Jace reflect on how far the podcast has come, why bi+ history matters, and what it means to build legacy in a world that constantly pushes us to the margins. From Stonewall to the AIDS crisis, from forgotten activists to speculative bisexual icons, we’re taking a messy, curious, and determined dive into the cracks where our stories have been buried.
In this episode, we talk about how bi+ erasure shows up in history books, archives, and movements that claim to be “for all queers,” but consistently leave us out. We trace six generations of bi+ activism, dig into the blessing and curse of being a decentralized community, and wrestle with what legacy-building actually means. Spoiler: it’s hard, it’s frustrating, and it’s essential. 
This season is all about history, erasure, and resilience. Our goal isn’t to create a perfect archive but to give bi+ listeners a sense of place, belonging, and possibility. Allies, you’ll hear concrete ways to show up beyond rainbow reposts. Bi+ folks, this one’s for you: your history is here, your community is here, and you deserve to see yourself in it.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram.
Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week (or since we saw you last)? We want to hear from you! Chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
Bisexual Resource Center: https://biresource.org/ 
Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality. Pantheon Books, 1978.
Sedgwick, Eve. Epistemology of the Closet. University of California Press, 1990.
Sound engineer: Richie Smith

S3E9: Pride in the Messy Middle

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! Here we are at the end of another season, and boy, are our arms tired. We ran the gamut from mental health, from race to economics, spirituality, class, parenthood, and neurodiversity. And by talking about these big topics, we were able to learn more about ourselves and each other. In this episode, we recap the season, meditate on community, and make predictions on Pride.
We’re off for the summer but are already planning for season 4. Until we meet again, keep being a Bisexual Killjoy. Stay bisexual, and stay strong.  
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Send us a message, chat with us on our Discord server, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Bisexual Killjoy Substack: https://www.bisexualkilljoy.com/ 
Bisexual Killjoy Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/BisexualKilljoy 

S3E8: Liminality as Labor: Class and Bi+ Survival with Alicia Ortiz

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! What does it mean to survive as a bi+ person in a world structured by class? In one of our most expansive and layered conversations to date, Bailey and Jace are joined by educator, activist, and musician Alicia Ortiz to unpack the taboo of talking about class, especially in queer spaces. Together, we explore how class functions as a sticky object in our lives, how bi+ people uniquely navigate systems of poverty and power, and why the myth of meritocracy doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
From identity politics and the legacy of the Combahee River Collective to Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò’s Elite Capture, we examine how movements are co-opted, how queerness is commodified, and how bi+ people are often excluded from both straight and gay narratives of respectability. We also dig into how upward mobility—whether through the military, education, or sex work—is often pathologized, and why coalition-building is essential for a liberated future.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Send us a message, chat with us on our Discord server, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Dalke, Anne. “Classism and the Queer Community.” Serendip Studio, 2013. https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/critical-feminist-studies-2013/ep/web-event-2-classism-and-queer-community 
Gaskins, TY. “Black Dandyism Explained—From Its 18th-Century Roots to Modern-Day Expressions.” Vogue. 8 May 2025.  https://www.vogue.com/article/what-is-black-dandyism 
Stop Soldier Suicide. “Veteran Suicide Stats.” https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/vet-stats 
Táíwò, Olúfẹ́mi O. Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else). Chicago: Haymarket Books. 2022.
Where to find Alicia Ortiz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicia.vida.ortiz 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicia_vida_ortiz/
Classes: https://impactboston.org/in-person-classes/

S3E7: Too Much & Never Enough: Being a Bi+ Woman

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! What does it mean to become a bi+ woman in a world that says you’re either too much or not enough? In this episode, we dive deep into the messiness of womanhood, gender socialization, and bi+ identity. Grounded in Simone de Beauvoir’s iconic quote, “One is not born, but rather becomes, woman,” we unpack the violence of gender norms, internalized misogyny, femmephobia, and the social construction of sex itself.
We talk about the personal and political stakes of being bi+ and femme in a world that demands your compliance—and punishes your refusal. From the erasure of bi+ women in relationships to survival strategies shaped by patriarchy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that womanhood isn’t a fixed truth; it’s a battlefield of expectations, agency, and becoming.
Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram. 
Were you a Bisexual Killjoy this week? We want to hear from you! Send us a message, chat with us on our Discord server, or email us at hello@bisexualkilljoy.com  
Buy us a Coffee or leave us a tip here.
Resources
Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. Vintage Classics, 2015.
Stone, Alison. An Introduction to Feminist Philosophy. Polity Press, 2007.
Ward, Jane. The Tragedy of Heterosexuality. NYU Press, 2020.