S4E4: Making Bi+ History in the UK with Jen Yockney

Welcome back to Bisexual Killjoy! This week, we’re exploring what it takes to begin a Bi+ history-keeping project and keep it going with the founder of Bi Community News, Jen Yockney. With stories of bridging tradition with contemporary times, and fabulous fashion tips, Jen brings laughter and joy to the long process of Bi+ history keeping. Together, we navigate multiple facets of the journey, from early volunteer days to finding trustworthy team members that can keep the vision alive. Join us as we uphold Bi+ legacy across the pond.

Jen Yockney was born and raised in Wales before moving to Manchester, England, for university. That was meant to last three years, but more than thirty years on, she still hasn't reached escape velocity. Most notably, Jen notched up a double-first when she received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for "Services To The Bisexual Community" from Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. It was the first bi activism honour, and the first time the title Mx appeared in the Honours List, which she says cemented Mx in the English language - as if anyone decides what constitutes "the Queen's English" then surely it was the Queen. The MBE reflected what is now over three decades of bi volunteering, centred on BiPhoria - the UK's longest running bi social and support group - and Bi Community News, the British print magazine which turns thirty this year. There are side projects too: having organised the only UK event to mark September 23 as a bi holiday back in 1999, two years later she started bivisibilityday.com, which to this day lists events marking the date around the world.

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by subscribing to our Substack, joining our Patreon, and following us on Instagram.

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Resources

• Bi All Accounts: An Anthology of Bi+ Voices, Volume 1. Edited by Bailey Merlin, Bi+ Book Gang. 2025. Order your copy today!
• Bi Community News Magazine: bicommunitynews.co.uk
• Yockney, Jen. “Getting Bi In A Gay/Straight World: 2019 edition.” 4th ed. Biphoria. https://issuu.com/biphoria/docs/getting_bi_web_2019

Where to Find Jen Yockney

• Bi Visibilty Day Website: bivisibilityday.com
• Jen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenyockney
• Biphoria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biphoria
• Bi Community News Magazine: https://www.instagram.com/bicommunitynews

Sound engineer: Richie Smith