Everyone, stop what you’re doing. Actress Evan Rachel Wood has an important message about bisexuality.
For Bisexual Awareness Day, which is on Sept. 23, Barefoot actress Evan Rachel Wood wants to let people know that despite other significant world matters, being bisexual is still a thing.
According to a website for the larger weeklong event, the purpose of the special day is “to accelerate the cultural acceptance of bisexual people around the world.”
Wood, who revealed back in 2011 that she is bisexual, turned to her Twitter page this week to share statistics and personal struggles she faced when dealing with her own sexual orientation.
“The reality is that bisexual people face discrimination not only outside of our own community, but also from within,” Wood wrote, quoting Human Rights Campaign. “And that can discourage them from engaging in and benefiting from the work that LGBT advocates are doing to address mental, physical, and sexual health.”
“Bisexual adults have double the rate of depression than heterosexual adults, and are more likely to engage in self-harming behavior, including attempting suicide,” she continued.
Bisexualweek.com reports the White House held its first bisexual community issues Roundtable on Bisexual Day in 2013.
Those who observe the day identify as bisexual, pansexual, and gender fluid, per the site.
Check out Wood’s tweets below:
Bisexual people are the largest single group within the LGBT community, yet we are hardly recognized.
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
I can assure you that whatever "straight privilege" I sometimes get accused of having, gets erased by #biphobia.
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
Remember, bisexuality doesn't mean halfway between gay or straight.
It is its own identity.— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
I think in some cases people don't want to be labeled because they are ashamed to be bisexual.
And this needs to stop.— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
I have battled with myself most of my life because I wasn't gay or straight enough. I used to think I would never be happy. #biphobia
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
I had to go through the same panic and shame and depression a lot of people in the LGBT community go through–
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
— but when I came out a new found shame took over. Bi-shame. Feeling like people are judging you all over again but for different reasons.
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
— A weight was lifted but not completely. I still feel like we have to constantly prove ourselves & our worthiness within the community.
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
Point being, its ok. We do exist.
Don't let anyone make you feel unworthy.
No one knows your journey but you. #BisexualAwareness— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) September 17, 2015
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