BiCities!,
the nation's only bi community talk show,
is a 30-minute, interview-based program
offering exciting content with a fresh look
at bisexuality.
Including footage from
bi events, educating the public on bi issues
and talking with influential members of
the bi society at-large, there's nothing
out there quite like BC and Bi Tribune is
delighted to present our recent interview
with BiCities! Producer William Burleson
and co-host Margaret Charmoli, Ph.D.
Bi Tribune:
So Bill, tell us whose unique dreams, or
culmination of which, BiCities!
is founded from?
Bill:
Well, about four years ago I went back to
college to complete my BA on the 26 year
plan. Part of that for me was to make it
a point to try new and different things,
and one of those things was a class at our
local cable access. I knew friends who had
done it before and enjoyed it. Leading up
to that a friend and I started thinking
in terms of a bi cable access TV show. That
person dropped out of the project, but then
I was brainstorming with a friend in the
car about who would be the perfect hosts,
and she suggested Marge, and we both new
it was perfect. When I talked with Marge,
she suggested Anita be involved too as co-host.
Then either Marge or Anita suggested the
title, BiCities! It just all felt so right.
Here we are, three years later.
BT:
What topics and format can viewers expect
to see when tuning in?
Bill:
BiCities! is an interview show.
Anita and Marge take turns hosting and interviewing
various people of interest to the bi community.
That person or persons may be a political
person, artist, bi activist, musician, what
have you. Anita and Marge do the programming.
They are well connected and as a result
we have some amazing people on the show.
BT:
Has there been any controversy surrounding
a particular show?
Marge:
The fact that we do this cutting edge show
could be considered "controversial"
by some segments of society. I'm not aware
of any particular show that has generated
controversy. To the contrary, Anita and
I have received feedback that we showcase
guests and discuss issues in a very respectful
and informative manner which enhances the
credibility of the show. We don't avoid
controversial issues. I guess you could
say that we deal with controversial issues
without being controversial. At least that
appears to be the case so far. Perhaps a
big controversy awaits us in 2006.
BT:
Including the success of BC, a "BI
TV" trend seems to be pulling ahead
of other themes for reality TV, sitcoms
and dramas, especially this year. So, what
has changed? What is it allowing bisexuality
to finally receive both positive and negative
mass media coverage?
Bill:
Really? There's a bi TV trend? Cool. About
time, I might add. Seriously, I do know
there have been a plethora of shows offering
the situation of two women kissing or making
out. Maybe that's a step along greater
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understanding
and acceptance for bi folks, but right now
it's about offering cheep titillation for
straight guys. Maybe though I'm out of the
loop on this. All I watch is West Wing
reruns.
Marge:
I think that the political controversy over
same-sex marriage has increased awareness
of and interest in all matters queer (a
rising tide lifts all boats as they say).
I also think that a critical mass has been
built up over the years and that is reflected
in what we are seeing.
I suppose bisexuality
is still mystical enough given our relative
invisibility so that it is still novel.
It has an edgy quality for people who fear
the unknown and are therefore drawn to it.
And maybe, just maybe, Iris the Greek goddess
of the rainbow is singling out and smiling
favorably on the B's this year.
BT:
What guest and topics are the BC cast and
crew tackling in 2006?
Bill: Good question. Probably more of the
same. We've done remotes on occasion, but
we don't have anything planned right now.
You might get Marge and Anita's input on
this since they do the programming.
Marge:
I'm lining up guests who will talk about
"sexual addiction vs. sexual positivity",
crystal meth use in the glbt community,
legal considerations for bi partners, supportive
mayors, bi writers and poets and how being
trans and bi has informed some people's
bisexuality - did their bisexuality change
as a result of undergoing a gender transition.
We are also trying to
get Robyn Ochs to coordinate her Minnesota
visits to include an evening with us.
BT:
We are so proud of each of the BiCities!
volunteers; that's why we'd like to honor
each of you with Bi Tribune's 2006 visibility
award! After being compiled from our cover
activists this year, the complete list will
be printed in our winter 2006 edition. Best
of luck to all of you from all of us here
at BT.
Marge:
I can't give Bill Burleson enough credit
for creating and producing this show. He
is a gift to all of us in the Bi Cities!
and in Bi America. One of the special things
for me about doing Bi Cities! is
that it has created a family - of - choice
for those of us who do the show. It is so
difficult to develop and maintain a visible
bi community so it is especially nice to
have this bisexual enclave that is fun,
rewarding, nurturing and inspiring to be
around. I also appreciate that we are doing
something that no one else has done before
in order to raise awareness of bi issues.
Thanks so much for interviewing
us.
Bill:
Thanks so much, Natasha! We're all really
honored! We just think the world of what
you guys are doing in Indianapolis with
the Bi Tribune! These have been
some tough times for bi organizing lately,
so it's great to see such a successful project
for the community.
Found on Minneapolis
cable channel 17 on Tuesday evenings at
7:30 p.m. and St. Paul cable channel 15
on Wednesday evenings at 10:30 p.m., BiCities!
is also running the show's intro at bicities.org.
Contact Bill
for more information.
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