Kirsty & Natalie: Creating a thriving community, bisexuality & fragmentation within the LGBTQ+ community

Only 20% of bisexual people are out to their entire family, compared to 63% of gay and lesbian people. Kirsty and Natalie know that statistic intimately — both have been in long-term relationships with men for years, and both say their families still haven't clocked that they're bisexual.Kirsty and Natalie run Bi+ Leeds Social Group, a grassroots community that grew out of a monthly cafe meetup into something nominated for LGBT Community Organisation of the Year at the National Diversity Awards. They talk candidly about their own bisexual awakenings, coming from very different upbringings — Kirsty an only child raised in Leeds who's never felt the need to track down the father she never knew, Natalie one of potentially eight siblings from Newcastle who spent years bouncing between undiagnosed ADHD and not quite fitting in — and how straight-passing relationships mean the question of their sexuality almost never comes up at all.They open up about the fragmentation within the LGBTQ+ community, the loneliness epidemic affecting one in five queer people, and why they build every event around affordability and accessibility, from free monthly meetups to pom-pom making workshops. It's an honest, funny conversation about building a chosen family from scratch, and what community really means when you've spent years feeling like you don't quite belong anywhere.GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK IN OUR LISTENER SURVEY ⚡️Bi+ Leeds Social Group is a social space for Bisexual, Pansexual, Queer, exploring or otherwise people within Leeds to come together, attend events and create a thriving community. They've been nominated at the National Diversity Awards for LGBT Community Organisation of the Year 2024 and have been an integral part of the Leeds Queer community. The organisation is run by four inspiring individuals, and I'm joined by two of the key drivers who spearhead the project. Follow Eden on Instagram 💕Follow Bi+ Leeds Social GroupSUPPORT THE PODCASTEden funds this podcast to bring the highest quality content, the most interesting guests and inspiring conversations whilst working full-time. Please support the podcast by checking out the links below:Sign up to MisterBnB as a guest or host to support the podcast and find your next adventure.Use my code BBQUEERLOVE at checkout to get 85% off your entire purchase at Skin + Me!Show your support for the free content we create by buying us a coffee - mine's a brown sugar oat shaken espresso 😉CREDITSQueer Love Stories is Hosted and produced by Eden Heath, and mixed by Benji Antonio. Follow Queer Love Stories on Instagram 💕If you or someone you know has a story to share we'd love to hear from you, send us a message on Instagram or email [email protected] your love story started with Kindling Dating Coaching now 💗 Get your first and fifth Daily Doser for just £3.50 from Skin+Me to finally feel confident in your skin!Support the show