West Hollywood will launch the United States’ first ever city-wide bisexual event on Saturday, September 22. While there have been smaller bisexual pride events throughout the country, the Los Angeles event marks the first time an entire city will officially host a visibility celebration.

The event will involve a 1:30pm rally before a bi visibility walk at 2:00pm and a party in the early evening. Bisexual singer-songwriter Torrey Mercer will premiere her new single ‘Boys/Girls’ at the event, while Kai Hazelwood, the artist in residence for Los Angeles, will premiere her most recent project ‘Story Time Silent Disco’.

The event is organised by amBi, the world’s first international bisexual network. The organisation’s mission is to “build a world in which our bisexuality is a clear source of pride, joy, and strength”.

Ian Laurence-Tourinho, the president of amBi, stressed the importance of bi visibility:

“Short of carrying bi flags around all day, to be visibly bi we’d have to walk hand in hand with at least two people who aren’t the same sex.

“The general public often feels very threatened by bisexuality. We blur the clear lines between straight and gay that people find very reassuring. How can a straight person prove they are straight if just being in a heterosexual relationship isn’t proof?”

Laurence-Tourinho drew attention to the significance of the event, pointing to the status of the bisexual people within the LGBT+ community:

“Ostensibly LGBT events and LGBT organisations fail time and time again to address the bi community.

“Just a few years ago, it was common for amBi to get booed and heckled by gays and lesbians in the crowd as we marched in the LA Pride Parade. We still get hostile people coming up to us at the festival every year.”

Bi Visibility Day takes place on Sunday, September 23. The day has been celebrating bisexuality around the world since 1999.

Bi Ireland will mark the day with a Bi Visibility Variety Show in the Generator Hostel in Smithfield.