P.R.I.D.E holds first education night of the year

People Respecting Individuality & Diversity in Education (P.R.I.D.E.) held their first education night on Sept. 20 in the memorial Union. Lyros Babcock, junior psychology major and education chair for P.R.I.D.E., helped to celebrate bi+ week by presenting their research over the history of bisexuality.  

Bi+ week, first observed in 1999, is a celebration of people who are bisexual. The community purpose is to promote awareness of bi+ history and culture according to Babcock.  

“I find it really interesting how bisexuality, in a way, has always existed and people who say that it’s a new thing or that it’s just a phase (are) wrong,” Babcock said. “If they look at the history, they can see that that’s not true.” 

Bi+ is an inclusive “umbrella term” that includes anyone attracted to two or more genders. Because of this, members of P.R.I.D.E. created their own miniature umbrellas as a reminder of this. While members worked on their umbrellas, Babcock continued to share the history of bisexuality. 

“Homosexuality and heterosexuality were seen as incompatible and bisexuality was not accepted,” Babcock said. “Specifically Freud wrote about how bisexuality and heterosexuality behaviors could not exist within the same person.”  

Historical figures who were likely to have been bisexual include Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman, Malcolm X, Josephine Baker, Alfred Kinsey, and Frida Kahlo, according to Babcock’s research. 

Senior biology major Aaron Hunt is a new member of P.R.I.D.E. this year and attended the education night. 

“It’s new, it’s different, it’s something to do every Tuesday and be around like-minded people,” Hunt said. “I think it’s good, especially, to have a sense of community in any minority group.” 

More education nights will be held every month in the Memorial Union and will be open to anyone who wants to learn.