And we hope you’ll get it in the US soon too!
Dating shows. They’re not usually known for their LGBT inclusivity, let’s be fair. But British TV company E! recently announced their groundbreaking plans to launch a bisexual+ (encompassing bi, queer, questioning, pansexual and other non-binary loving styles) dating show on UK and Irish TV this October. Approached for comment by Curve/LOTL, they didn’t respond to our eager questions about when it would air elsewhere in the world, but rest assured we’ll keep you posted as and when we find out.
“As if this summer hasn’t been hot enough, we decided to crank it up another notch with The Bi Life on E!” said host Shane Jenek (better known by drag-queen moniker Courtney Act) in a statement. “It’s high time there was a dating show for the large number of young people today, like me, who are attracted to more than one gender. In 2018 we know that sexuality is fluid and sharing the stories and experiences, the laughter and the love making, of young bi people is so important. So get ready to see the true stories of bisexual singles, who are the largest part of the LGBTQ+ community, but the least known.”
Lee Raftery, Managing Director of the UK and Emerging Markets, and Chief Marketing and Content Officer for NBCUniversal International, said: “With the number of British people identifying themselves as bisexual rising by 73% in four years, we are incredibly excited to be introducing this pioneering series to our audiences in the UK and Ireland.”
Despite the fact that numerous studies show that bi+-identifying folk make up around half the entire LGBT community, there are fears that The Bi Life could turn into, as Curve/LOTL reader Nancy, 25, says “a sex-heavy parody of perceived notions of bisexual dating behavior”. But Jenek/Act’s reputation is such that most members of the bi community seem hopeful it will help to dispel some of the many negative stereotypes surrounding bisexuality. “I’m confident that with Courtney at the wheel we’ll get a measured and representative portrayal of how the modern bisexual lives and loves in 2018,” says reader Ellen, 31.
Shows such as First Dates have featured LGBT contestants before, but this will be the first time an exclusively bisexual+ dating show has appeared on our screens. Presenter Jenek/Act has previously starred in shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and RuPaul’s Drag Race, proving in the process to be a driving force as an LGBT spokesperson. The 10-part series will see contestants travelling to Barcelona to soak up the party atmosphere and hopefully snag a date from amongst their companions.
It’s hard being bi, even in 2018, with clichés including the idea that bisexuals are unable to commit to monogamous relationships still circulated in abundance. However, with any luck, projects such as The Bi Life will at the very least serve to open up a more equal dialogue and give the bi community the voice it so desperately needs and deserves in a world that largely doesn’t understand why some of us “sit on the fence”.