Celebrate Bisexuality Day, or Bisexuality+ Day, was first celebrated in 1999, by bisexual activists Wendy Curry, Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur. The day was first observed at the International Lesbian and Gay Association Conference in Johannesburg, and grew in recognition over time.
The goal of Celebrate Bisexuality Day was to make people more aware of bisexual people at a time when sexual orientation was often viewed as a binary of gay or straight. Michael Page also created the bisexual flag in 1998. According to Page, the pink represents same-sex attraction, the blue represents opposite sex attraction, and the purple where the pink and blue meet represents attraction anywhere along the gender spectrum.
Bisexual people continue to face biphobia, and are stereotyped by both within and outside of the broader LGBTQ+ community. Stereotypes about bisexual people are pervasive and harmful. Bisexual people may also have their identity reduced to the relationship they are currently in, being referred to as straight when they are with an opposite sex partner or gay when they are with a same-sex partner. However, bisexual people are bisexual no matter their relationship status.
This day is to support all people under the bisexual or multi-sexual umbrella. People who are attracted to two or more genders may identify in different ways that best reflect their feelings and experiences, including bisexual, omnisexual, pansexual, and polysexual, all of which are valid identities.