As my earlier attempts 1 and 2 Here and 3 Here relate, I'm trying to work through my sense of how/why/when/where/etc. I came to define myself as bisexual. And why I'm now wondering about the limits of that term.

( Where I First Found Queer )

OK, the first part of what is turning into what seems to be my sexual autobiography and a bunch of replies and comments and suchlike can be found "Here". Anyone interested is invited to jump right in to the discussion which started when someone asked me in another thread (flocked) to define bisexual and bisexual slash since I'd said I was a bisexual and considered that I wrote bisexual slash. *sigh*

Note to everyone out there: Please never never never ask me to define anything again. *whimper*

This is more theory talk, about language, naming, Idaho culture in the fifties and sixties (if anyone waxes nostalgic around me about this time, I slap them. Twice.). Next installment will be more personal stories as I try to figure out what the hell I'm talking about. And given some of the comments in the responses to my first attempts, I may have to give up "bisexual" and just go with "queer." Except that I think a lot of people who aren't (hah) theoretically informed will assume I'm just saying I'm a lesbian which I am *not.* *sigh* Cue: "It's not easy being green."

( Attempt #3 )

Definitions are both easy and hard. Definitions are in dictionaries and are usually the "lowest common denominator" (just look up "feminism" in any standard dictionary, and then try to talk to feminists about it). But most people want to argue with dictionary definitions. I'm not going to be able to define bisexuality OR speak for other people who identify as bisexual. All I can do is talk about me and my sense of the word's connotations/associations/aspects. And that means telling stories as well as talking "theory."

Warning: Attempt #1 contains theory and lots of inconclusiveness. Attempt #2 contains personal stories, and I'm afraid this may be only the beginning. I was asked to define terms like bisexual and bisexual slash in a flocked post elsewhere, and when I started thinking about it, well, this HUGE multi-part essay started shaping itself. Argh.

Added Later Someone asked if I minded them adding their 2 cents, and I thought I should add an invitation here. Of course, I don't require/expect anyone to comment, but anyone who wishes to jump in and talk about "theory" or "life" and "bisexuality" or any related topic, please feel free! *hands around tea and cookies and settles down hoping for nice long talks though won't be around much today--going to see RETURN and then um the Academy Awards show..*

( Attempt #1: Me and Bisexuality )

( Attempt #2: Bisexuality and Me )

Names deleted to protect the guilty. The innocent...are not the people I was hanging out with. Let me see, the year was 1981. The city was Bellingham, Washington. And the friends were four...it was the year we stopped celebrating...

( Valentine's Day )