Overview

• Founded in 1999 at the ILGA conference in Johannesburg, the day was proposed by U.S. bisexual activists Wendy Curry, Michael Page and Gigi Raven Wilbur.
• The date reflects Freddie Mercury’s September birth month and Wilbur’s September 23 birthday, and Wendy Curry recalled choosing a weekend date for the first celebration.
• Amnesty International defines bisexuality as emotional, affective and/or sexual attraction to more than one gender without requiring equal or simultaneous attraction.
• Amnesty reports that people perceived as bisexual face abuses including violence, torture, mistreatment in detention and discrimination in access to health care.
• The first observances were held on September 23, 1999, in Johannesburg and in Boston, establishing an annual global day of visibility and education.