Why bisexual community in Colorado matters
If you’re looking for a bisexual community in Colorado, you’ve found it. BConnected has been building Bi and Queer community here since 2016 — and the people who make it happen are our volunteer event hosts.
I came out in 2016, and around the same time, my therapist told me something that stopped me in my tracks. Bi people make up the majority of people under the rainbow, and somewhere between 50 and 70 percent of us are closeted. I didn’t know what to do with that, so I did what any newly out bisexual would do: I started a meetup to find out if we were real.
Turns out, yes. We are very much real.
For the next several years, building BConnected was honestly a coping mechanism. I was newly out, figuring out what that meant for my life, and building community was how I got through it. The group grew. People found each other. A lot of joy happened. A lot of really good brunch happened.
Now we’re a nonprofit, and the goal has shifted a little. It’s not just about finding each other anymore; it’s about building something sustainable. Something that doesn’t depend on a tiny group of people to keep it going. BConnected is still the only bisexual community in Colorado specifically centered on Bi people, and if we’re going to be here for the next decade, we need a solid core of people helping make it go. Who knows, maybe we’ll even have our own clubhouse someday.
Building something sustainable means sharing the load, and that’s where hosting comes in.
Why hosting matters
Community is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and happiness. For Bi and Queer people, that’s especially true, because we’re also the most likely to be isolated, too queer for some rooms, not queer enough for others. Having a bisexual community in Colorado that’s specifically ours matters more than it might sound.
When you host a BConnected event, you’re not just planning a hangout. You’re keeping the door open for the person who’s been working up the nerve to come out for two years. New members tell me all the time that it took them up to a year to finally show up to their first event. A warm welcome from someone who gets it can change everything for that person.
What hosting actually looks like
It looks like whatever you want it to look like. Some hosts run recurring events—a monthly book club, a regular game night, a standing coffee meetup. Others host once or twice a year. Some plan something new. Others just invite people to that thing they already do on weekends and want company for.
Here’s what some of our hosts have to say:
“Hosting an event is so easy with the app and a great way to connect with new, like-minded folks. We need all the queer events — don’t be shy!!” — Mandy 🏳️🌈
“Hosting can feel like a lot of pressure, but then I remember that this is for my friends and BConnected fam. They just want to have fun and aren’t here to be critical. Hosting is a great way to get people to do something you like doing, or an excuse to finally do that thing you’ve been putting off. Want to try a new restaurant but haven’t gotten around to it? Host a meetup! You also don’t have to do it alone — co-hosting is always an option.” — Lauren 🙌🏼
“Being a host is great for so many reasons. You can share a favorite restaurant, introduce others to a hobby, or get folks to do something with you that you already do, like paddleboarding. Attending an event and wish more people would come? Make it a meetup so we can join you!” — Tricia 🐝
“I host because I want to bring joy to others, make friends and see them regularly, do activities I love and share them with the group, and — okay, I’ll admit it — get to pick the date. Win-win.” — Jin 📚
“Hosting a BConnected event has been a very rewarding experience. We met some great people and were able to share a little bit of ourselves with the community. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to help support this awesome community.” — Daniel & Elizabeth 🛠️
You don’t have to figure it out alone
Every new host gets a best practices guide, and before your first event, we’ll connect to talk through your idea and make sure you feel good going in. And if solo hosting sounds like too much, find a buddy. Co-hosting is fun, splits the load, and produces some of our best events.
How to get started
Come to a few BConnected events first if you haven’t already. Get a feel for the vibe, see what others are doing, and meet some people. Then reach out to me at three@bconnectedcolorado.com, and we’ll go from there.
BConnected has been building a bisexual community in Colorado since 2016. Nearly 3,000 members, 600+ events, and more brunch than I can account for. None of it happens without people willing to show up and open the door.
If you’ve been thinking about it, reach out. We’ll figure it out together.
— Three Brodsky 🙌🏼 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️