Today, GLAAD, in partnership with BiNet USA, Bisexual Organizing Project, and the Bisexual Resource Center, released In Focus: Reporting on the Bisexual Community, a resource guide to equp journalists and media experts to accurately and effectively report on the bisexual community, its experiences, and the important issues bi people face.

"Bisexual people have been at the forefront of LGBT rights throughout history, but are still too often left out of the conversation," said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO. "This guide will serve as a powerful tool to combat harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and erasure of bi people in the media."

"How bisexuality is portrayed in the media has tangible consequences on bi people's day-to-day experiences," said Alexandra Bolles, Programs Strategist at GLAAD. "Empowering the media to represent the bisexual community, its challenges, and its achievements in many dimensions is an invaluable and necessary step in shifting the cultural narrative towards bi visibility and, ultimately, full acceptance."

Despite comprising a large portion of the LGBT community as a whole, bisexual people face disproportionately high rates of physical and mental illness, and are more likely to experience sexual and intimate partner violence than gay, lesbian, or non-LGBT people. By being more cognizant of the realities bisexual people face and committing to report on the bi community responsibly and accurately, the media has the potential to help eliminate some of the misconceptions and damaging stereotypes that impact bisexual people on a daily basis.

This is why GLAAD has teamed up with BiNet USA, Bisexual Organizing Project, and Bisexual Resource Center to publish In Focus: Reporting on the Bisexual Community. The publication made its debut with a sneak preview at the BECAUSE Conference, hosted by the Bisexual Organizing Project. BECAUSE is a national conference for bisexual advocates that focuses on building an empowered bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and unlabeled (bi+) community in the United States.

Arrived @ #BECAUSE2016 & am SO EXCITED to see final, printed results of a @glaad project months in the making. pic.twitter.com/fGblqUyfEl — Alexandra Bolles (@anorianb) April 10, 2016

The resource guide makes clear the importance of fair and accurate reporting, highlights the viral digital awareness campaign #BiWeek (co-founded by GLAAD), and provides numerous story ideas that illustrate the intersecting and diverse realities of being bi. The guide also includes best practices for media coverage in addition to providing terms, definitions, pitfalls to avoid, and more for covering bi people and their experiences.

The Bisexual Organizing Project said in a statement, "BOP is appreciative of the opportunity to work with GLAAD on the media guide. We believe bisexual people need to be visible and heard. GLAAD's media guide is a valuable tool for organizations and media outlets as they message about the bisexual community. BOP is hopeful that the guide will promote greater understanding. We know our words have power as we message about the lives, stories, and needs of bisexual people."

"The release of the 2016 GLAAD Bi Media Guide marks a critical moment in the movement to save bisexual lives," said Faith Cheltenham, BiNet USA President. "It's an essential read for anyone who supports LGBT equality because there is a B in LGBT! A guide like this works to turn the tide on the deep disparities bi people face, in favor of a world that openly accepts them as they are, for who they are."

"GLAAD's hard work on the bisexual resource guide is another sure sign that the bi movement is progressing in a much-needed positive and visible direction," said Heather Benjamin and Kate Estrop, Co-Presidents of Bisexual Resource Center. "The BRC looks forward to a continued working relationship with GLAAD in the future."

You can learn more about bisexuality at glaad.org/bisexual, and check out the full guide here: