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writer, performer and activist Julia Serano's blog! most posts will focus on gender & sexuality; trans, queer & feminist politics; music & performance; and other stuff that interests or concerns me. find out more about my various creative endeavors at juliaserano.com
Monday, November 19, 2012
Bisexuality and Binaries Revisited
In October, 2010, my essay, "Bisexuality does not reinforce the gender binary," first appeared on the internet. The main reason why I wrote the piece was to illustrate how the reinforcing trope (i.e., the notion that certain genders, sexualities or identities "reinforce" the gender binary, or heteronormativity, or the patriarchy, or the hegemonic-gender-system-of-your-choice) is selectively doled out in queer and feminist communities in order to police their borders. Since queer communities are dominated by non-feminine, cisgender, and exclusively gay and lesbian folks, these individuals are almost never accused of "reinforcing the gender binary." In contrast, more marginalized identities (e.g., bisexual, transgender, femme) are routinely subjected to the reinforcing trope. While my "reinforcing" essay received many positive responses, it also garnered some harsh criticism, particularly from within certain segments of transgender and gender variant communities. All of the critiques that I heard or read pretty much ignored my primary point—namely, the underlying forms of sexism that determine who gets accused of "reinforcing" shit and who does not—and instead focused solely on the rote assertion that the word "bisexual" (and, by association, anyone who identifies as bisexual) really does "reinforce the gender binary."
Since then, I have been considering writing a follow up piece to discuss the numerous problems with such claims (aside from the obvious fact that they single out bisexuals for being attracted to "two" sexes, but not the overwhelming majority of gays and lesbians who view themselves as attracted to the "same" sex, but not to the "opposite" sex—a notion that appears to be just as binary). In addition, since my piece was published, I became aware of an excellent blog-post by Shiri Eisner called, 'Words, binary and biphobia, or: why "bi" is binary but "FTM" is not.' Eisner's post made a number of points similar to my own, but also forwarded new arguments that had not occurred to me before, and which led me to think about this debate in new ways. For all of these reasons, I felt that it would be worthwhile to pen a new essay (this very one here!) to revisit this subject.
Before delving into this topic, let me state for the record that I am writing this piece from the perspective of a bisexual-identified transsexual woman. Since some people paint bisexual-identified folks out to be "binarist" in our partner preferences, I will mention for the record that I date and am sexual with folks who are female and male, trans and cis, and non-binary- and binary-identified. I most certainly do not speak for all bisexual, or all transgender people. My views on this subject are my own, and if you disagree with what I have to say, please consider the possibility that our disagreements may stem from our differing vantage points. Finally, over the course of this essay, I will sometimes use the word "we" to refer to transgender folks, and other times to refer to bisexual folks. Perhaps some may find this a bit confusing, but it is an unavoidable consequence when one straddles multiple identities.
Some preliminaries: monosexism, bi-invisibility and bisexual communities (or the lack thereof)
In my previous essay, I used the word "bisexual" because (both historically and currently) it is the term most commonly used and understood to denote people who do not limit their sexual experiences to members of a single sex. Of course, bisexual is not a perfect word, but then again, neither is gay, lesbian, dyke, homosexual, heterosexual, straight, queer, asexual, or any other sexuality-related label. However, perhaps more so than with any of the other aforementioned labels, people who are bisexual in experience often fiercely disavow the "bisexual" label. For instance, many prefer the labels queer, pansexual, omnisexual, polysexual, multisexual, or even no label at all, over the term bisexual. Sometimes I use the phrase experientially bisexual to refer to people who, regardless of label choice, do not limit their sexual experiences to members of a single sex. But alas, some folks may also reject experientially bisexual because it contains the word bisexual. So an alternative solution, taking a page from the LGBTQIA+ acronym, is to describe experientially bisexual folks as BMNOPPQ folks, where B = bisexual, M = multisexual, N = no label, O = omnisexual, P = pansexual, P = polysexual, and Q = experientially bisexual folks who primarily identify as queer (arranged alphabetically).
Am I advocating BMNOPPQ terminology? Not necessarily. I think that it is rather clunky and confusing. Personally, I would prefer it if we all simply accepted bisexual as an imperfect, albeit easily understood, umbrella term for people who share our experience. But since I don't expect that to happen any time soon, I will instead use BMNOPPQ here in the hopes that we can put aside the issue of label preference for a moment, and instead focus on what the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary accusation means for BMNOPPQ people.
Important disclaimer: Above, when I used the phrase "share our experience," I am not in any way insinuating that BMNOPPQ folks all share the same sexual histories, or experience our sexualities in the exact same way. We do not. We are all different. We are all attracted to different types of people, different types of bodies, different types of gender expressions. We all fall at somewhat different positions along the dreaded "Kinsey scale." Some of us are more immersed in queer communities, while some of us primarily exist in straight communities, and many (if not most) of us find ourselves constantly navigating our way within (and between) both queer and straight communities.
So if we are all so different, then why even bother to try to label or lump together BMNOPPQ people? Well, because the one thing we *do* share is that we all face societal monosexism—i.e., the assumption that being exclusively attracted to members of a single sex is somehow more natural, real, or legitimate than being attracted to members of more than one sex. Monosexism is also sometimes referred to as biphobia. While biphobia is clearly the more common term, I will use monosexism here, both because I am not a big fan of the use of the suffix "phobia" when discussing forms of sexism (as it seems to stress "fear" over marginalization), and also because monosexism avoids the pesky prefix "bi" that some BMNOPPQ folks seem to find objectionable (more on that in a minute).
Monosexism exists because most people, whether in the straight mainstream or in gay and lesbian communities, view sexual orientation as a rigid binary, where people can only ever be heterosexual or homosexual in orientation. This hetero/homo binary directly leads to monosexual assumption—that is, the assumption that all individuals are exclusively attracted to members of a single sex. (Note: the hetero/homo binary also assumes that all people are sexually attracted to *somebody*—an assumption that marginalizes asexual folks.) Because of monosexual assumption, most people automatically assume that BMNOPPQ folks must be heterosexual if they perceive us to be in an "opposite"-sex pairing, or that we must be homosexual (i.e., lesbian or gay) if they perceive us to be in a same-sex pairing. This is a foundational predicament experienced by BMNOPPQ individuals.
If we BMNOPPQ folks outwardly claim to be bisexual (or pansexual, or polysexual, etc.), monosexual assumption leads many people to doubt the validity of our identities, and to project ulterior motives onto us. This is why people will often say, "You're not really bisexual (or pansexual, or polysexual, etc.), you're just confused about your sexuality," or "...it's just a phase," or "...you still have one foot in the closet," or "...you're *really* gay/lesbian, but seeking out heterosexual privilege," or "...you're *really* straight, but just sexually experimenting, or perhaps overly promiscuous" and/or "...you're just a fence sitter. Choose a side already!"
In other words, monosexual assumption leads to what has historically been called bi-invisibility: we are presumed not to exist, and any attempt to assert our existence is immediately thwarted by accusations that we are hiding, faking or simply confused about our sexualities. Bi-invisibility is what leads many of us to simply blend into existing monosexual communities (whether straight, gay, or lesbian) rather than seek out or create BMNOPPQ communities. This lack of community has had a devastating effect on BMNOPPQ folks. For instance, even though we outnumber exclusively homosexual people, we have poorer health outcomes and higher poverty rates than gays and lesbians, and we are generally not acknowledged or served by LGBTQIA+ organizations, even the ones that have "B" in the name. Our invisibility is what allows straight, gay, and lesbian folks to regularly get away with forwarding stereotypes about us—e.g., that we are mentally deranged, predatory, hypersexual, promiscuous, deceptive and/or fickle—without being called out or challenged. But most poignantly, bi-invisibility leads many of us to identify more with the straight, lesbian or gay communities we exist in (and rely upon) than with other BMNOPPQ folks. This lack of identification with other BMNOPPQ folks, in combination with the external pressure placed on us to blend in with the monosexual communities we exist in, is a major reason why BMNOPPQ folks have historically tended to avoid calling ourselves "bisexual," often by refusing to label our sexualities at all. In stark contrast, exclusively homosexual people do not tend to outright disavow the labels "lesbian" and "gay," nor do they tend to get bogged down in philosophical battles over whether or not they should label their sexualities at all, to nearly the same degree that BMNOPPQ folks do.
I have heard countless BMNOPPQ people ask, "Why do we have to label our sexualities?" I do agree that we should not be forced to reduce our complex sexual attractions and orientations down to a simple moniker. But as an activist, I would argue that the most persuasive argument for why BMNOPPQ folks should unite around some kind of umbrella label (whether "bisexual" or otherwise) is to challenge monosexism and bi-invisibility. In this scenario, said label would not blithely detail who we are sexual with, nor claim that we are somehow inherently different from hetero- or homo- or asexual folks (because I do not think we are), but rather point out that we (and we alone) are targeted by a particular sexist double standard, namely, monosexism. Doing this would enable us to raise awareness about, and to challenge, monosexism in our culture.
Given that I am more well known for my trans activism than my bisexual/BMNOPPQ activism, I should point out that the case that I am making here is identical in form and structure to the case I made in Whipping Girl regarding cissexism. That argument goes as follows: we live in a world where trans people are unfairly targeted by a sexist double standard (i.e., cissexism, analogous with monosexism) where one group (i.e., trans people, analogous with BMNOPPQ people) is assumed to be less natural, real or legitimate than a majority group that does not share that experience (i.e., cis people, analogous with monosexual people). As I once wrote in a blog post called "Whipping Girl FAQ on cissexual, cisgender, and cis privilege":
When I use the terms cis/trans, it is not to talk about *actual* differences between cis and trans bodies/identities/genders/people, but rather *perceived* differences. In other words, while I don't think that my gender is inherently different from that of a cis woman, I am aware that most people tend to *view* my gender differently (i.e., as less natural/valid/authentic) than cis women's genders.
I would argue that the above paragraph also holds true if you were to substitute "mono" for "cis," "bisexual/BMNOPPQ" for "trans," and "sexual orientation" for "gender."
So to sum up, from this activist perspective, the primary reason why I call myself trans or bisexual is *not* to communicate things that I have done (e.g., aspects of my gender transition, people I sexually partner with). After all, it should not be incumbent upon me to have to reduce the complexities of my gender and sexuality down to a sound-bite and provide it for other people at the drop of a hat. Nor am I insisting that I am "just like" other trans or BMNOPPQ people when I call myself "trans" or "bisexual," respectively. After all, it goes without saying that all trans people and all BMNOPPQ people are different from one another. Rather, I embrace these labels in order to be visible in a world where trans and BMNOPPQ people are constantly erased by the male/female and hetero/homo binaries, respectively, and to build alliances with people who are similarly marginalized in order to challenge societal cissexism and monosexism, respectively.
How might relinquishing the term "bisexual" impact bisexual/BMNOPPQ people?
OK, so with this background in mind, let's go back to the recurring claims that calling oneself bisexual "reinforces the gender binary." Mind you, this claim is not typically made against people who gravitate toward sexual identity labels such as gay, lesbian, dyke, homosexual, heterosexual, straight, queer, asexual, and so on. Just bisexual folks. And it puts us in the unenviable position of constantly having to defend our label choice.
For example, even though my "reinforcing" essay was focused on how the reinforcing trope has been used to delegitimize both trans and bisexual communities, I still felt compelled to begin the piece with an explanation as to why I call myself bisexual. To this end, I offered both a personal and political justification. The personal explanation related to the fact that, while I am sexual with both female- and male-bodied/identified people, I tend to be more attracted to the former than the latter, and perhaps for this reason, being sexual with a woman feels very different to me on a visceral level than being with a man. For this reason, labels like pansexual and omnisexual (which imply attraction to everyone) do not personally resonate with me, because they seem to erase a difference that I experience. While this continues to be an accurate description of how I experience sexual attraction, I now realize that this comment is somewhat superfluous. After all, all BMNOPPQ folks experience our sexualities somewhat differently, and if we each had a unique word to precisely describe our internal experiences of attraction, that wouldn't necessarily help us challenge monosexism and bi-invisibility. So if I were writing the "reinforcing" essay today, I probably would have left that personal tidbit out.
It is worth noting that (perhaps unsurprisingly) a few people took this personal comment as evidence that I must hold essentialist and rigidly binarist views of gender, even though earlier in the essay I stressed that there is lots of variation among, and overlap between, female and male bodies (this includes the existence of intersex people, and trans folks who physically transition). In Whipping Girl (specifically pp.102-106), I made the case that one can acknowledge differences between female and male bodies without necessarily engaging in essentialism or binarism, so I won't bother to relitigate that here. Suffice it to say, if simply recognizing differences between female and male bodies is tantamount to essentialism and binarism, then that means that *all* heterosexual and homosexual people are essentialist and binarist, because they are sexually attracted to one sex but not the other. It also means that *all* transsexuals who physically transition are essentialist and binarist, on the basis that we choose to be one sex rather than the other. Once again, calling out a bisexual person's experience of sex differences as "essentialist" and "binarist," while paying no heed to gay, lesbian and trans people's experiences of sex differences, can only be viewed as monosexist.
The political explanation that I gave for why I choose the bisexual label stems from the fact that societal monosexism invisibilizes bisexuality, and ensures that we can only ever be read in one of two ways, namely, as homosexual or heterosexual:
...the "bi" in bisexual does not merely refer to the types of people that I am sexual with, but to the fact that both the straight and queer worlds view me in two very different ways depending upon who I happen to be partnered with at any given moment.
I admit that this is a relatively novel way of viewing the word bisexual, but it is one that I personally fancy, and it is consistent with the theme of challenging monosexism, bi-invisibility and the hetero/homo binary.
Here is another potential interpretation of the word bisexual: The prefix "bi" can mean "two," but it can also mean "twice" (e.g., as in bimonthly). So while monosexual people limit their potential partners to members of only one sex, bisexual/BMNOPPQ folks challenge the hetero/homo binary by not limiting our attraction in this way, and are thereby open to roughly twice as many potential partners. My main point here is that the prefix "bi" has more than one meaning, and can have more than one referent. So claiming that people who use the term bisexual must be touting a rigid binary view of gender, or denying the existence of gender variant people, is as presumptuous as assuming that people who use the term "bicoastal" must be claiming that a continent can only ever have two coasts, or that they are somehow denying the existence of all interior, landlocked regions of that continent.
The truth is that there are many different ways one can interpret the word bisexual (or other sexuality labels, for that matter). The bisexual-reinforces-the-binary accusation is an attempt to fix bisexual to single meaning, one that is an affront to how many bisexual-identified people understand and use that label. As an analogy, what if cis people suddenly started claiming that they do not like the label transgender because (in their minds) it seems to imply that all people should change their gender. (I actually have heard someone make this bizarre claim once before.) How would we, as transgender people, react to that accusation? Personally, I would respond by saying that transgender is *our* word: it's about transgender-identified people's experiences with gender and gender-based oppression, and it makes absolutely no claims at all about what other people are, or how other they should be gendered. Similarly, my response to the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary accusation is that bisexual is *our* word (in this case, bisexual-identified people): it is about our experiences with sexuality and sexuality-based oppression, and it makes no claims whatsoever about what other people are, or how other they should be sexual or gendered.
But upon looking back on my "reinforcing" essay, my main regret is that I failed to explicitly mention what is perhaps the most important political reason behind why I call myself bisexual. Namely, the word bisexual has a long history, and it was the word that the original BMNOPPQ activists embraced several decades ago when they fought for visibility and inclusion within (and beyond) lesbian, gay and queer communities. This activism spurred the creation of now common terms such as "biphobia" and "bi-invisibility" that have played a crucial role in challenging societal monosexism since their inception. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the word bisexual is familiar to most people, both in the straight mainstream and within LGBTQIA+ communities. Having a familiar umbrella term is critically important given that one of the biggest challenges that BMNOPPQ folks face is invisibility and societal erasure.
I appreciate the sentiments behind alternative labels such as pansexual, omnisexual, polysexual and multisexual, and I respect the right of BMNOPPQ folks to choose any of these (or other) labels over bisexual. But from an activist standpoint, the notion that we should completely abandon the word bisexual in favor of some alternative label that is unfamiliar to most people does not seem to be a wise political move. Indeed, such a move would make it significantly harder for us to come out and gain visibility in our communities, and we would need to start from scratch with new activist terminology (panphobia? poly-invisibility?) to describe how we are marginalized.
Along similar lines, I respect the right of BMNOPPQ folks to choose to identify as queer rather than bisexual. (For the record, I identify as both bisexual and queer.) However, queer is a much broader umbrella term meant to include all LGBTQIA+ people, and as such, it does not seem to be the best position from which to challenge monosexism and bi-invisibility.
Now of course, language is constantly evolving. And if this mass fleeing from the word bisexual toward alternate identity labels was simply part of a natural progression—such as the historically recent shifts from the label "homosexual" to "gay", or from "lesbian" to "dyke"—then I would not have any problem with it. However, it seems to me that the primary force driving these alternate label choices is not coming from within the BMNOPPQ community itself, but rather from external pressure exerted on us by other queer subgroups. As I've already discussed, there has always been pressure on BMNOPPQ folks to hide or subsume our identities in order to fit into existing gay, lesbian and queer communities. But these days, there is additional pressure placed on us by certain transgender voices that insist that we must stop using the term bisexual because it supposedly "reinforces the gender binary."
Lots of folks these days (both transgender and BMNOPPQ) seem to be buying into this "reinforcing" allegation, which essentially accuses bisexual-identified people (such as myself) of propagating cissexism/transphobia. And yet, virtually no one is asking what should be a rather obvious question: isn't this argument quite one-sided? Shouldn't we also be considering what affect relinquishing the label "bisexual" would have for BMNOPPQ folks and our efforts to challenge monosexism and bi-invisibility? Genderqueer-identified bisexual activist Shiri Eisner (in the aforementioned blogpost) was the first person I heard make this crucial point:
"...a discussion focusing around bisexuality solely in relation to transgender politics performs structural bisexual erasure, as it prioritizes transgender politics over bisexual politics in a discussion about bisexual identity." [emphasis Eisner's]
When put this way, it becomes clear just how brazen it is for transgender folks to claim that bisexuals should abandon an identity label that BMNOPPQ folks have been using for decades simply because it is supposedly incompatible with transgender politics. Why stop there? While we are at it, why don't we tell lesbians that they have to stop using that word? After all, few ideologies have spouted as much cissexism over the years as lesbian-feminism has. Come to think of it, what about people who describe themselves as a "woman" or a "man"—those labels most certainly reinforce the binary! Shouldn't we be calling out anyone who uses those labels? Or what about trans people who self-identify as "MTF" and "FTM"—acronyms that imply that there are two sexes. Don't they reinforce the binary?
Or, what if we put the shoe on the other foot? Cisgender feminists have long argued that gender is a patriarchal invention designed to oppress women. So what if cisgender feminists took a similar tactic and began accusing transgender people of "reinforcing the patriarchy" because the word "transgender" has the word "gender" in it? Isn't this argument is structurally identical to the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary claim? If cisgender feminists made this claim, how might we react? Would we stop calling ourselves transgender (or genderqueer, or gender variant) as a result? What would that mean for us as a marginalized group that has only recently garnered visibility and a modicum of acceptance in our society? What would happen to all the policies that now include "transgender" people, or that prevent discrimination on the basis of "gender identity" (yes, that term also has that pesky word "gender" in it)? Would we, as a transgender community, really be willing to give up all that in order to accommodate cisgender feminist politics?
I didn't think so. So how can we, as a transgender community, expect bisexual/BMNOPPQ folks to give up the same in order to accommodate our politics?
There is more than just one binary!
Nothing demonstrates the fact that the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary claim prioritizes transgender politics over bisexual politics more than the assumption that the "bi" in bisexual must automatically be referring "the gender binary." This is a bold assertion given that BMNOPPQ folks have our own sexual orientation binary to contend with, and that bisexual activists have long argued that being "bi" subverts the hetero/homo binary. So how is it that a debate about "bisexual" (a sexual orientation label) can wind up being solely centered on the gender binary, yet completely ignore the sexual orientation binary?
This seems to me to be a fairly new development. Back when bisexual and transgender activism were first gaining momentum in the 1990's, it was quite common for activists from both camps to point out the parallels between the way transgender folks challenge the male/female binary and how bisexuals challenge the hetero/homo binary. There was even an entire anthology (entitled Bisexuality and Transgenderism: InterSEXions of the Others) largely centered on this theme. Around the time that I transitioned (back in 2001), trans people referred to "the male/female binary" (which seems to acknowledge the possibility that there are other binaries out there) about as frequently as they mentioned "the gender binary."
But over time, this perspective has shifted. These days, many transgender folks seem to be referring to an all "caps lock" version of THE GENDER BINARY, as if it were the one and only binary from which all gender and sexual oppression stems. This interpretation reminds me of the way many cisgender lesbian-feminists talk about THE PATRIARCHY, using it as the single lens through which they view all aspects of gender and sexuality. Viewing all forms sexism in terms of THE PATRIARCHY (i.e., men are the oppressors, women are the oppressed, end of story) is precisely what led many cisgender lesbian-feminists to misinterpret trans men as "female" traitors who transition in order to obtain male privilege, and trans women as privileged "men" who attempt to appropriate women's oppressed status and/or to infiltrate women-only spaces.
When we view the world through any one single lens, we are bound to overlook many things. Viewing all aspects of gender and sexuality through the lens of THE PATRIARCHY has led many cisgender lesbian-feminists to condemn not only transgender people, but feminine and masculine gender expression, butch/femme relationships, BDSM, pornography, sex workers, sex toys that resemble phalluses, and so on. Similarly, viewing all gender and sexual oppression in terms of THE GENDER BINARY might seem to make sense to some transgender people, but it overlooks (and thus erases) numerous other gender and sexual hierarchies, such as masculinism (i.e., the assumption that masculine gender expression is more legitimate than feminine gender expression), trans-misogyny, subversivism, asexophobia, and of course, monosexism.
So, in other words, if we are going to have a cross-community conversation between transgender and bisexual/BMNOPPQ folks, then we have to talk about the male/female binary and cissexism, as well as the hetero/homo binary and monosexism. If we are not taking both communities issues and interests into account, then we are not having a conversation, we are merely engaging in one-sided slander.
One final note on this point: during the course of writing this piece, it struck me how strange it is that the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary debate, which prioritizes transgender politics over bisexual politics, has successfully proliferated for several years now, and has persuaded many BMNOPPQ folks to disavow the word bisexual without that much of a pushback. And I find it alarming that, even though the word monosexism was coined and used by bisexual activists at least a decade before the word cissexism was by trans activists, these days I find myself having to explain what the former means far more so than the latter. In other words, while the bisexual movement gained initial momentum prior to the transgender movement (which is why the B typically precedes the T in most queer acronyms), the transgender movement seems to have leap-frogged over the bisexual movement, at least within the context of queer communities. To be clear, I am not in any way insinuating that BMNOPPQ folks are "more oppressed" than transgender people (lord knows, there is nothing I loathe more than playing "oppression Olympics"). But I do think that transgender people have gelled more as a community than BMNOPPQ folks have. And this lack of cohesion among BMNOPPQ folks (in combination with the single-minded THE GENDER BINARY perspective) has certainly contributed to the one-sided nature of the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary debate.
One final observation
Finally, it must be stressed that this bisexual-reinforces-the-binary debate is not raging uniformly throughout all LGBTQIA+ communities. It seems to be largely absent from gay men's communities, and among transgender and bisexual folks who spend most of their time in straight communities rather than queer ones. As far as I can tell, this debate is primarily occurring within queer women's communities and among trans folks who also inhabit those spaces. And I think this specificity offers some insight into why this debate has surfaced and gained traction at this particular place and time.
This connection occurred to me after, on a couple separate occasions, I heard trans men claim that, in their opinion, bisexuals (as a group) tend to be more transphobic than lesbians. Frankly, this claim astonished me. Historically, transgender and bisexual activists often saw themselves on the same side of challenging exclusion within greater gay and lesbian communities and organizations. And in my own personal experience, I have found that the self-identified bisexuals in my queer community tend to be far more supportive of me (as a trans woman) than exclusively lesbian and gay folks. And while cisgender lesbians typically do not view trans women such as myself to be legitimate romantic or sexual partners, cisgender bisexual women often do. As a testament to this, *all* of my queer female sexual and romantic partners have been either bisexual and/or gender variant in some way. While I am definitely open to the idea of having a cisgender lesbian lover or partner, I have never once had a cisgender lesbian express interest in me in that way. And this experience is not specific to me—it is pervasive enough that trans women often refer to it as "the cotton ceiling."
Of course, things are different for trans men and trans masculine spectrum folks. They often feel relatively accepted (as both individuals and prospective lovers/partners) by cisgender lesbians these days. So it makes sense that, from their point of view, bisexuals might appear more transphobic than lesbians (indeed, Eisner makes a similar point). In stark contrast, from my perspective as a trans woman, I find that cisgender lesbians tend to be way more likely to be trans-misogynistic than cisgender bisexual women. These are generalizations, of course, but they seem to account for our greatly differing perspectives on this matter.
Ironically, while lesbian-feminism is typically considered to be passé these days, its foundational premise—that cisgender men are inherently oppressive, and that women who partner with them are traitors to the cause—still lives on in today's queer women's communities. Elsewhere, I have referred to this mindset as FAAB-mentality. Because of FAAB-mentality, trans women are seen as suspect because we are viewed as being "really cisgender men," and femmes are dismissed for too closely resembling heterosexual women. And of course, bisexual women are viewed as suspect because some of us choose to partner with cisgender men.
I believe that this FAAB-mentality is at work behind the scenes when trans male/masculine folks stress how different they are from cisgender men in order to be accepted in queer women's spaces, and when queer women who partner with trans men (and who therefore fall under the BMNOPPQ umbrella) go to great lengths to avoid identifying as bisexual. While I respect any person's right to choose pansexual, polysexual, queer, etc., over bisexual, I sometimes feel that these alternative labels function like code words in queer women's communities, as if to say, "I am sexual with everyone *except* cisgender men." While people are certainly free to choose not to partner with cisgender men, I am disturbed by the binary that seems to be developing here, one in which pansexual/polysexual/etc.-identified women are supposedly subversive and queer because they refuse to sleep with cisgender men, whereas bisexual-identified women are supposedly conservative and straight-minded because they do sometimes partner with cisgender men. And it seems to me that the bisexual-reinforces-the-binary trope exacerbates this binary, which is probably why this accusation has become so prevalent in queer women's communities.
While it is true that some bisexuals are cissexist, it is also true that many lesbians and trans folks are monosexist. As a bisexual trans woman who is very active in queer women's communities, I would like to see us all stop pitting ourselves against one another, and instead work together to challenge all binaries and all forms of sexism.
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23 comments:
THANK YOU! I have been struggling with this for over a decade. I now feel even more confident in my decision to return to proudly naming myself as bisexual.ReplyDelete
OMG. This is amazing. This is powerful. Thank you.ReplyDelete
Thank you for this wonderful text. I feel honored to be cited here ^_^ReplyDelete
Regarding FAAB mentality and queer women who only date people who were assigned female at birth - this is a very pronounced trend in my local queer community. I think that in addition to the subversivism issue, it's also a very straight-forward case of cissexism. For a lot of people, what ultimately determines their choice of partner(s) is the sex they were assigned at birth rather than their gender. And so some people have no problem with dating cis women, trans man or genderqueer/non-binary people assigned female at birth - but will not consider dating trans women or any transfeminine person assigned male at birth.
Thanks again for articulating so well the tangle of thoughts I've had about this over the past few years. I was surprised to hear that you've encountered trans men who've experienced bisexual folks to be more transphobic than lesbians - I've personally experienced the opposite. I'm a trans guy who has almost entirely partnered with bisexual (or that giant, clunky acronym) people because, like you, I've found them to be supportive and way more likely to find my body unproblematically desirable. This could be a geographical thing, as I'm in Toronto, but regardless... astonishing, indeed.ReplyDelete
Thank you for this. This is beautifully written and made me tear up because it resonated so clearly with my own thoughts and feelings. I have thought a lot about how my decision to identify as bi does or does not relate to the myth of a gender binary and you've articulated the issue so well here. I must admit I have a wee brain crush now. You may or may not be interested in a post I wrote on the topic a while back. (http://www.kristincraiglai.com/blog/2012/09/25/sometimes-i-think-i-should-base-my-life-on-random-quotes-from-anais-nin/) I would love to hear your thoughts on it.ReplyDelete
This is excellent. Due to the outright hostility I encountered as a baby bisexual, and my long recovery from it, the only response I can muster when I encounter monosexism of the Label Police variety is cussing. I'm glad you can be more articulate.ReplyDelete
As a cis-woman outside of the queer community who tries to be an ally, I greatly appreciate essays like this that help me understand the dynamics of the varying queer communities.ReplyDelete
I also think you've laid out your arguments in a very logical and compelling way, and hope this gets the recognition and response it deserves. There is enough discrimination and challenges facing alt-folk without us creating more of them. (I'm reminded by the equally damaging attacks by poly-folk on swingers, that swingers are 'just in it for the sex' and therefore aren't 'legitimate' or 'ethical' non-monogamists.)
Thanks everyone for all the wonderful & insightful comments!ReplyDelete
"These days, many transgender folks seem to be referring to an all 'caps lock' version of THE GENDER BINARY, as if it were the one and only binary from which all gender and sexual oppression stems."ReplyDelete
I'm very skeptical whenever someone invokes "challenging the gender binary" as part of an argument. Most of the people I've known who do this are not at all interested in making it possible for people to live outside the gender binary. They feel that using the slogan gives them academic or street cred, but they can't even be bothered to use gender neutral pronouns for people who request them.
So when people argue that the term bisexual "reinforces the gender binary", I'm skeptical that they are using a catchy slogan in a hypocritical way to further an agenda that has nothing to do with the gender binary.
Also, it seems that there is an ongoing backlash from within the trans community against the idea that the gender binary *should* be challenged. The thinking here is that some trans people -- especially ones who are poor or women of color -- derive some safety and security from the general belief that there are only two genders, deriving from two sexes.
I think such concerns are valid, and there needs to be more dialogue between parts of the trans community on this, as well as on many other things. But I remain convinced that the existing sex/gender system is the root of much evil. In challenging oppressive systems, there is always danger that marginalized people will be worse off in the short term. A time often comes, though, when the consensus is that the status quo is unsustainable.
Thank you for this essay--as a genderqueer bisexual I've struggled with the need to define my orientation to not only gay and straight people but to other non-monosexuals (which can sting especially). I read a blog entry that explained why so many non-binary people prefer to identify as pansexual over bisexual (claiming that the "bi" in "bisexual" only refers to two binary genders, and that therefore using it contributes to erasure of non-binary people): http://zanself.blogspot.com/2010/05/bisexuality-and-erasure-of-non-binary.htmlReplyDelete
I wrote a criticism in response, and bring up similar points that you do, namely that there is value in identifying as bisexual due to the bi community out there, the need to unite in order to challenge binarism, transphobia and monosexism (within the BMNOPPQ community as well as within monosexual communities), and that bisexuality should not be defined by pansexuals at the expense of bisexuals (my response follows the quote): http://center-for-chthonic-studies.tumblr.com/post/35471776348/one-reason-multisexual-people-who-are-not-bisexual
Very cool yo, an excellent articulation to a long long conversation I have had with in my own head as a GenderXueer non-monosexual person of color....I have used the term Bi before but have shied away from it. More to talk about with myself thank youReplyDelete
It's like I've been traveling in the desert for many years and your essays are like my first drink of water. Thank you!!!!! I <3 my bisexual me!ReplyDelete
a few thoughts, mostly about terms and their histories, since this seems to me largely an argument about what terminology those of us who don't restrict our sexual experience to one sex/gender category should use... (i'm using sex/gender here as a nod to an argument that FAAB-sexuality is best understood as an initial-assignment-essentialist flavor of monosexuality)ReplyDelete
i don't disagree with intervention you're making around "bisexuality" and "binarism", but i do think that there's an important piece missing in your look at the larger question the post raises: why "bisexuality" is and is not used in the umbrella/massive-acronym-avoiding way that you propose.
i greatly appreciate the post's calling attention to the history of "bisexual" as a term promoted for a specific political purpose - as all identity terms are. but the post presents a misreading of the parallel history of "queer", which makes the divergence between "queer" and "bisexual" identifications nearly impossible to understand, much less address.
"queer" is now used to a degree, as you say, as an "umbrella term meant to include all LGBTQIA+ people". this, however, is a recent product of the cooptation of some of our movements' language by 'mainstream' gay and lesbian organizations. as a public term of identification, "queer" was promoted in the 1980s and 90s very specifically as a marker of a radical politics that began with sexuality and gender but also explicitly included race, class, ability, and migration.
in terms of gender and sexuality, "queer" involved a rejection of the hetero/homo binary through a rejection of the gender binary. 'het' folks could be "queer" in part because the key line was drawn politically rather than in sexual practice, but also because that political line rejected the enforcement of at-birth-gender-assignment and the categories dependent on it.
but that wide umbrella of sexual practice and gender positioning was very specifically one that *excluded* those who see sexuality (or gender) as 'single issue' topics separable from racism, disablism, and other structures of oppression. at heart, "queer" was developed in critique of, and as a mark of active opposition to, gay and lesbian communities' increasingly limited political vision (exemplified by the marriage-and-military focus of the HRC).
and the gap between that critical political position and the aim of "visibility and inclusion within [] lesbian [and] gay [] communities" is, fundamentally, is why so many of us moved away from "bisexual" towards "queer" as a point of identification in those years.
it is, as you say, similar to the shift from "homosexual" (a term adopted by inclusion-oriented white men) to "gay" (a term rooted in slang shared with sex workers, and initially publicly adopted by folks of many genders and races). but even more so to the ongoing tensions between "lesbian" and "dyke" - which have moved from marking class difference to marking the political divergence between liberals and radicals to an uneasy overlap and uncertainty of meanings.Replies
- AnonymousSeptember 23, 2014 at 7:58 PM
Thanks for this. I love the articulation of bisexual as possibly belonging to straight & LGBTQ communities, but still have a greater affinity to the word "queer" & this helps articulate why.Delete
- AnonymousMay 2, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Thank you for writing this. I am 24 years old and still identify as a bisexual male. I've found it very difficult to be Fully accepted As a man who truly is attracted to and wouldn't mind dating either sex. This piece has helped put me at ease a little bit more.ReplyDelete
I have a pathological urge for gossip! You ID as bisexual now Julia? And are you no longer with your wife? Or are you guys polyamorous/open now?ReplyDelete
Sorry, you don't have to reply, I'm just uncontrollably curious XD
Thanks, anyway, for being awesome. I'm a big fan. Sending you good vibes,
we amicably split up a few years ago. I briefly discuss that and my bisexuality in a chapter in the next book: http://www.juliaserano.com/excluded.htmlDelete
and thanks for kind words! -j.
The way I like to interpret the "bi" in bisexual has always been that the "two things" insinuated by "bi" are "same and different genders." This is consistent with "heterosexual" (different) and "homosexual" (same). Bisexuals are attracted to both the same gender and different genders. Then it doesn't have to be cissexist or reinforce the binary at all.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks for sharing that - yes, I've heard this take on "bi" before as well & agree that it is another positive way to interpret the word! But I also (additionally!) want to encourage people to recognize that bisexual is a historical term, and that it need not be read literally. Nobody assumes that lesbians are from a Greek island, or that all gay men are happy. They are not "perfect labels", they just so happened to be the ones that activists rallied around when the movement began to take shape. Same with bisexual. I think this case needs to be made as well...Delete
- AnonymousMarch 19, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Interesting. I guess queer communities can have very different powerdynamics depending on the community. I admit, when I first heard of biphobia my immediate response was BULLSHIT. Because the worst experiences I've had in LGBT+ communities were bullying from bi/pan sexuals who made me very uncomfortable over identifying as just attracted to women.ReplyDelete
Comments like 'why would you choose to limit yourself like that' and such made it horrible for me as someone who was struggling with their own gender identity.
How could I be so horrible as to limit my own preferences when I didn't even know what I was? Why couldn't I just ignore sex/gender?
There were people outright telling me I should identify as bi because it was good for the cause and we had to make being bisexual the norm so it would be easier for transpeople.
Later on I have witnessed biphobia as well but I'll admit those bad experiences still sting.
I guess the lesson is powerdynamics in LGBT+ communities, especially in very small ones can be very different.Replies
I agree that both these dynamics exist - while many assume that monosexuality is better than bisexuality, some bisexuals flip that hierarchy around. I talk about these sorts of hierarchy-flips (and why we should eliminate hierarchies altogether) in my latest book Excluded: http://www.juliaserano.com/excluded.htmlDelete
- AnonymousNovember 30, 2015 at 9:29 AM
Thank you so much for writing this article. I came to this rather late, having found your article via the scenic route….ReplyDelete
I am bisexual and genderqueer and have been identifying as bisexual for 23 years. I feel this is important – the time invested in the label – as is has an impact on how attached I am to both my label and my own definition(s). I sometimes feel we forget this – it's not just the cultural/collective history of a term but each individual's history we encounter in conversation. 'Bisexual' (or any other label) can symbolise every moment of coming out, being rejected by partners as a result, every bit of activism, every time we defend or justify our label. 'Bisexual' is now embedded in my being and I find myself unable to change my terminology.
My reasons for identifying as bisexual follow the 'same and different' definition, although it also relates to my genderqueerness. I do not have a static or singular gender identity, and my sexual orientation varies with my gender (either in who I am attracted to, or in how I experience it). I am left with two experiences of my sexual orientation, which makes the word bisexual resonate for me. I concede that this is a personal definition which is unknown to anyone else. However, when someone tells me I ought to identify as pansexual (to avoid contributing to pan-erasure), it just doesn't fit how I feel at any given moment, within each gender identity, even though it may encompass how I am overall. I feel in recent years as though identifying as bi is like picking a side in a fight (the bi-pan war) and really wish this wasn't the case. I would love us unite with all other non-monosexuals so we can focus on the issues that really matter, such as monosexism.
Your article has helped me to articulate something I have been struggling with recently: why some lesbians won't date bisexual women (sometimes claiming that previous proximity to male genitalia makes me unappealing) but will date straight women. I realise now that dating a straight woman might been seen as subverting THE PATRIARCY, undermining the power of men by stealing their women, an attempt to convert her to the cause. A bisexual woman, on the other hand, can love 'the oppressor' as well as 'the oppressed'. Maybe when they say 'why can't you just pick a side?' this is what they really mean. Sadly this misses an important point about feminism: if you want to resolve issues around gender roles etc., you need to invite all genders to the table. It needs to be a dialogue, not a monologue (which is not meant to imply that the conversation would only involve 2 voices, as in the Greek 'di' meaning two ;) ).
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Alex Eats: Saladby Alex Guarnaschelli in Food Network Chef, How-to, August 16th, 2011
Every week, Alex Guarnaschelli, host of Alex's Day Off, shares with readers what she's eating — whether it's from the farmers' market or fresh off the boat, she'll have you craving everything from comfort food to seasonal produce.
Choose lettuces that are bright green and firm — saggy, browning leaves are the hallmark of vegetables on their way to the compost pile. If the outer leaves of a head of lettuce are ragged, peel away a layer or two to see if the heart is worth saving. To make lettuce last longer, keep it dry and cool in a dark place. It's important not to wash or mix lettuce with anything acidic (lemon or vinegar) until right before eating.
Iceberg: I really love iceberg lettuce. I love a good wedge with blue cheese; it makes me feel American. I also love chopping iceberg and mixing it with scallions, fresh chiles or a really vibrant dressing. It has a great, juicy texture and, on its own, is pretty bland. To me, it's nice to have a lettuce that can meld with bold flavors.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kendrick twirls gem, blanks Mets on just three hits
Howard provides offense, belting three-run homer in four-run sixth
NEW YORK -- Kyle Kendrick has always liked pitching in Citi Field, but then what pitcher doesn't?
"One of the deeper [ballparks] we play in," said Kendrick, no deep thinking apparently required about the four earned runs he has allowed in 27 2/3 career innings here. But the real key to the 107-pitch, three-hit shutout Kendrick threw in the Phillies' 4-0 victory over the Mets on Friday night had to do with the depth of his counts, not the outfield fences.
"My sinker, changeup, cutter was OK," he said. "But it helps when you get ahead and get some early contact.
"It's a lot easier to pitch when you get strike one."
Kendrick has walked just eight in 33 2/3 innings and allowed only four runs and 21 hits in his last 28 innings, after pitching at Citizens Bank Park (twice) and Great American Ball Park in his past three starts. Those venues play small and Kendrick (2-1, 2.41 ERA) has been coming up big regardless.
Allowing only singles only to Ruben Tejada in the first, David Wright in the fourth and pinch-hitter Justin Turner in the eighth, Kendrick was dominant before and after the Phillies' four-run sixth was culminated by Ryan Howard's three-run homer to center.
"The last three games, he has been absolutely outstanding," said manager Charlie Manuel. "Tonight he faced a lot of left-handed hitters and he did a good job of making those left-handers hit the ball away from them for fly balls to the opposite field."
It was Kendrick's second career shutout (May 26, 2012, in St. Louis) and Philadelphia's first complete game since Cole Hamels beat the Marlins, 4-0, on a seven-hitter last August in Miami. With the Phillies victimized by consecutive come-from-behind wins by the Pirates to close a sour 3-5 homestand, Kendrick's timing was as perfect Friday night as that four-run sixth was overdue.
The Phillies had not gotten their last four baserunners in from third when Michael Young singled sharply between third and short to chase home Jimmy Rollins -- who had singled and moved to third on Chase Utley's hit -- with the game's first run. Howard then hit a 1-1 changeup from Dillon Gee a little bit to the right of straightaway center for his third homer of the year.
"Shows he's still got it," said Manuel. "Maybe he needs to hit a few to convince himself.
"He has been swinging better [.282, 12 RBIs], just hasn't been hitting them out of the yard. If he hits balls hard, he will get his stroke back where his power is there."
Howard insists his homer swing has not been misplaced, only his results.
"The power stroke has always been there," he said. "You just can't control where the ball goes sometimes.
"I had some balls that were mis-hit and some that could have gone out in Atlanta early on. But we are where we are."
And that, for the Phillies is 10-14, losing consecutive well-pitched games by Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee to Pittsburgh this week for lack of not just the big out from the bullpen, but the big hit. They got two of them Friday from Young and Howard, which were a lot better than none and still not as many as Manuel wants to see.
"We put together four straight hits and then we shut it down," he smiled. "We must have thought we hit a jackpot or something.
"I wanted them to stop and play a song for us."
The manager's tune may change if the Phillies, who won for only the fourth time in 12 games, do it again Saturday and Sunday.
"This was big, hopefully the start to where we want to be," said Howard. "It's kind of been up and up and down, but we'll try to build off that."
Kendrick, with four straight excellent starts after giving up five runs in 5 2/3 innings in his season debut, has laid his part of a foundation.
"Kyle has always had confidence, but he has taken what he has learned out onto the field," said Howard.
"He has better tempo in executing his pitches. You can see the maturation that has taken place."
The Mets, held to three earned runs or fewer in 13 of 14 starts by Kendrick in his career, likely do not see any such metamorphosis. All they know is that against this guy, they always have had trouble seeing pitches they can drive.
"The guys were all saying he really hit his spots," said Mets manager Terry Collins. "Cutting and sinking it. Good changeup.
"He really kept us off balance. You've got to tip your hat to him tonight."
Jay Greenberg is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Pedro Lourenço Fall 2012
Fresh-faced young designer Pedro Lourenço is just beginning to establish himself on the Paris fashion scene, and the image of the open road projected at the end of the runway was a mirror to the myriad of possibilities that lie ahead for his label. Before the show, the 22-year-old Brazilian said that the countryside was the starting point for his collection. For a designer who first wowed editors and buyers with his precisely tailored, techno-tinged take on an urban wardrobe, it was an unexpected point of departure. But as the first looks emerged on the runway—puffer jackets and overcoats that were sculpted around the shoulder and collaged with sleek patent leather and wool panels, like a structural roadmap for the body—his endgame was clear: clothes to protect a woman from the harshest elements in the city.
There are aspects of Lourenço's designs that connect to futurists of yore like Paco Rabanne and Courrèges, and his knee-high black-and-silver leather boots were a modern and very chic spin on a classic sixties silhouette. With their comfortable and sturdy two-inch heels, this was footwear built to go the distance at street level. Lourenço also turned his hand to an office mainstay that we've seen come around again this season—the sheath. And while the grainy, VHS-inspired prints on asymmetrical dresses were a welcome update, the mixed-media flourishes and transparent draping could have been pared back. Regardless of age, Lourenço's technical abilities are undeniable and impressive; resisting the temptation to overthink some of his strongest ideas is sure to help him move his label forward.


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A hatchet used to bust up saloons, the verdict sheet from Al Capone's trial, and lawman Eliot Ness' sworn oath of office are among the more sobering artifacts in a new exhibit documenting the driest period in U.S. history.
But the items help tell a lively tale as part of "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition." The installation now on view at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia also includes a re-created speakeasy, where visitors can learn the lingo and fashions of the Roaring '20s and even how to dance the Charleston.
"We've never had as much fun building an exhibition," said Stephanie Reyer, one of its developers. "Of the 27 amendments we have to work with, this is by far the sexiest."
Exhibit organizers describe the 18th Amendment, which essentially banned alcohol from 1920 to 1933, as the country's "most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup." Yet they say the lessons of Prohibition remain relevant in current debates over issues like legalizing marijuana and the role of government in private lives.
To that end, the exhibit aims to answer a simple question: "How did this happen?" And the first step, of course, was admitting the nation had a drinking problem.
In 1830, the average American downed 90 bottles of 80-proof liquor per year -- three times current consumption. Women were among the imbibers, as evidenced by the exhibit's bottle of Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound: The remedy for "female complaints" was nearly 21 percent alcohol.
A combination of social pressures led to the temperance movement headed by hatchet-wielding Carry Nation (sometimes spelled Carrie). Her weapon of choice and one of its victims -- a mirror from a Kansas barroom -- are both on display.
(Editor's note -- Carrie Nation visited this region on several occasions, according to local historian William Casteel of West Lafayette. Reportedly, she came storming into Newcomerstown in the early 1900's, and laid her hatchet to the Sam Douglas Saloon. The bar from that saloon is currently a feature piece at the The Olde Main Street Museum on Canal Street in Newcomerstown. Then, in July of 1904, Carrie was a guest at the Newcomerstown Fourth of July celebration held at the Central Ohio District Fairgrounds west of Newcomerstown (currently the Kistler Lake area). Carrie gave her speech promptly at 1:30 p.m., introduced to the crowd by the Newcomerstown Mayor Fryer, and left that same afternoon on the train for Cambridge.)
The exhibit uses dozens of artifacts and creative displays to propel the story forward, from lobbying and ratification to the emergence of rumrunners and organized crime. There's also a section on products that filled the alcoholic void, from Hires root beer to perfectly legal "malt syrup." Ahem.
An interactive quiz set amid "church pews" lets visitors see if they'd be considered a "dry" or a "wet." One custom-made video game illustrates the difficulties of intercepting illegal booze, while another tests knowledge of loopholes that permitted alcohol consumption.
Also on view: A letter from Susan B. Anthony seeking a partnership between suffragists and temperance crusaders; Pennsylvania's original ratification copy of the 18th Amendment; and bootlegger Roy Olmstead's phone, the subject of a landmark wiretapping case.
The final sections of the exhibit deal with the repeal of Prohibition and its legacy, which includes the radical variations in liquor laws found among states today.
America's dry era left an "indelible mark" on the country, according to exhibit curator Daniel Okrent, author of "Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition."
"And though it may have been a wild card in our constitutional history, it came into being through the invention and deployment of political tactics and strategies still in play today," Okrent said in a statement.
The exhibit, which Reyer described as the center's biggest and most ambitious, runs through April. It will then travel to museums in Seattle; St. Paul, Minn.; St. Louis; Austin, Texas; and Grand Rapids, Mich.
Reyer hopes for at least one more stop.
"I'm trying to get it into bourbon country," she said. "I'd love to get it into Kentucky."
Follow Kathy Matheson at www.twitter.com/kmatheson


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Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse several seconds until smooth. Pour into freeze pop molds and freeze a minimum of 2 hours or until frozen solid.
Note: Instead of making freeze pops, simply pour the mixture into glasses for a delicious smoothie.
Per serving - 112 calories, 1 gram fat (11% calories from fat), 3 gram protein, 21 gram carbohydrate, 0 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 38 milligram sodium


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321st BG, 446th BS, T/Sgt Woodrow Haley, B-25 Radio/Gunner MTO
1943 — Italy
T/Sgt Woodrow H Haley was a Radio/Gunner that flew Combat Missions in the B-25 Mitchells of the 321st Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Squadron.
Woodrow flew 50 Combat Missions and on one Mission was injured and awarded the Purple Heart; Next is one such dangerous Mission!
5 Jul 43 - 446th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 69/mission 68) Group Mission # 81: Groupmission 68, Sqdn 59 composed of 10 planes led by Capt. Griffith. The target was the Gerbini L/G #6, Sicily. 300 lb bombs were carried but only one corner of the field was hit. Flak was heavy and accurate, but there were no fighters. Lt. Bradley's plane was hit by flak and he was forced to land it in the sea. S/Sgt. Sheldon received a broken leg and S/Sgt. Lovell received cuts on his face. The crew was picked up by a British ASR launch and taken to Malta. Capt. Griffith's plane was also badly hit by flak and S/Sgt. Billy Dykes was injured by it.
A/C No. 42-64526
P; Griffith, Frank J. "Grif", Capt
CP; Carlisle, Howard L., 1Lt
N; Caldwell, Herman B., Jr., 1LtBMarek, Joseph R., 2Lt
E; Mitchell, Lance M., S/Sgt
R; Haley, Woodrow H., T/Sgt
G; Dykes, Billy, S/Sgt
HQ 321st BG War Diary: Additional Narrative for August 1943: The first of August was a big day for the 321st Bombardment Group. The group was on that day one year old. The Group had come a long way in that year and had already dealt a number of heavy blows to the enemy. The aerial bombardment of Sicily and Italy was one of the deciding factors in convincing Italy that she might soon be wise to get out of the war.
Premier Mussolini had resigned and was replaced by Marshal Badoglio. The 321st Bombardment Group played an important part in the bombardment of military objectives on Italian soil. A program was held on this Sunday of August 1st, 1943, in the headquarters area. General Ridenour, 47th Wing Commander, and Captain Lund, Engineering Officer of the 47th Wing were guests at the festivities. Talks were given by Colonel Knapp and other staff officers of the group in addition to a talk by General Ridenour, guest on the program. Colonel Lowell presided as master of ceremonies and very ably so, keeping the program from becoming too serious a matter. General Ridenour commented on and praised highly the achievements of the 321st Bombardment Group and the enviable records that they had attained. Col. Knapp also presented Purple Hearts to the following named personnel who had been wounded in operational missions against the enemy: Major Bailey C. Cook, Captain Robert W. Manley, 1st Lt Ralph L. Axson Jr., 1st Lt. Vergil L. Seawell, 1st Lt. Charles M. VanArtsdalen, 2nd Lt. James M. Meehan, 2nd Lt. Walter G. McCone, 2nd Lt. Jack P. McLeod, 2nd Lt. William H. Shaw, 2nd Lt. Roy W., Tate, T/Sgts. Joseph E. Eagan, James A. Shields, S/Sgts. Billy Dykes, Ronald A. Grant, Aage E. Jensen, Curtis L. Lovell, Russell E. Murphy, Walter E., Porter, **** T/Sgt. Woodrow H. Haley *** and Pvt. Michael A., Poranda. The program closed with the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" and the rest of the day was declared a holiday.
On August 1, 1943, Col. Knapp addressed the entire Group
At Souk-El-Arba, Algeria in celebration of Anniversary Day.


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Tax exemption debate continues in Parksville
Parksville council has often discussed the future of their permissive taxation program in the context of fiscal constraints and austerity, but have unanimously agreed to update and keep it intact.
Introducing the item at their Nov. 19 town hall-style meeting, mayor Chris Burger said the discussion should be about the policy in general, not about whether specific groups should or shouldn't be included.
However, most of the half dozen people who spoke at the meeting pointed to specific groups.
At at previous meeting, council had passed almost $245,000 in property tax exemptions for 2013 for 23 community and not-for-profit organizations, ranging from churches and senior care facilities to the Society of Organized Services, cadets and the lawn bowling club.
The exemptions are equivalent to roughly 2.5 percent of the city's annual budget and are meant to support organizations that add services and value to the community.
Burger pointed out the city is also the tax collector for other organizations like the regional district and school board, so a $1 city exemption is actually a $2 benefit to the organization.
Two key proposed changes in the staff report include requiring a demonstration of financial need and introducing the possibility of granting a partial exemption, rather than the current all or nothing.
Audience members speaking unofficially for some of the organizations in question said they would be happy to provide more financial information.
Using Victoria's program as a model they will also look at various ways to cap the cost of the program.
"We lowly taxpayers are getting money pulled from our pockets from every direction," said Peter Simkin from the audience at the town hall-style meeting, cautioning the city to consider all spending decisions carefully.
People spoke in defence of the exemptions program, pointing out the services those organizations provide with volunteer labour cost the city a tiny portion of what it would cost their unionized staff to provide. Staff will return a report on option to council in the future.


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Old Grovians 34, Burley 12
With Old Grovians sitting comfortably in eighth place with 45 points, thoughts are already turning to the 2014-15 campaign.
After the fourth win in their last six matches, last season's SSE Yorkshire Division Four champions only need two victories from their final six games to be mathematically safe.
Old Grovians' director of rugby Martin Whitcombe said: "We have achieved credibility as a club in our first season in this division, and we want a top-six finish, which gives us something to focus on for the rest of the season.
"We have some talented lads at this club - this is the most enjoyable coaching experience I have had so far - and we want to have a real go at promotion next season as the players will be a year older and a year wiser.
"We will give it a real shot but we need more strength in depth."
In fact some of Whitcombe's squad are so highly thought of that they are on the radar of other clubs.
He said: "Look at Ben Magee, who played full back for us here. We are delighted that players like him play for us, but we would never stand in his way if he wanted to move on.
"There are two sorts of club in rugby union - a coaching club and a buying club, and we are a coaching club."
The downside of their initial campaign in the ninth tier has been the number of injuries that the team have suffered.
"We have used 52 players in the first team so far this season due to injuries and unavailabilities, and that is far too many.
"We have lost eight players alone in the two matches against Bramley Phoenix - and the injuries I am talking about this season have not been pulled hamstrings. They have been broken limbs or bones."
On a day when just 12 games in the five Yorkshire divisions survived being ioff due to waterlogged pitches, Old Grovians' Elm Tree Farm pitch stood up remarkably well to 80 minutes' of action, and credit for that must go to groundsman Simon Wood, whose tireless work ensured the game went on.
When these two sides met earlier this season, Burley edged a thrilling contest by a single point, and in the opening moments it looked as if they may they pick up where they left off in October - dominating possession and scoring the first try after just seven minutes.
Old Grovians' back-line has been razor sharp since the turn of the year though, and with brothers Aaron and Ben Magee re-united, they now have pace in abundance, possessing a scoring threat from anywhere on the pitch.
Burley were cut open twice in as many minutes. Firstly, winger Aaron went on a mazy run from halfway to score in the left corner, and moments later Old Grovians took the lead when Ben came into the line from full back, and from 55 metres out burst through four would-be tacklers to cross the try-line.
Again the visitors hit back with a sustained period of pressure, and that brought its reward in the shape of a try for their full back, but Old Grovians who went into half-time with a 13-12 lead thanks to Adam Weaving's penalty.
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first, with Burley pressing, but this time they couldn't find a way over the line, and from then on the home side took control.
Three tries followed as lock forward Tom Dalton bulldozed his way over to score before centre Dom Copsey benefited from some great work at the breakdown by the forwards to turn over the ball and give Old Grovians their bonus-point try.
Finally Aaron Magee grabbed his second try of the game, brother Ben's dancing feet and upper body strength helping him to supply the pass which gave the winger a clear run to the line.
Old Grovians have now won five of their seven matches in 2014 - a remarkable turnaround for a team which won only three of their first 14 fixtures this season.
Finally the performance of referee Coralie Greaban shouldn't go unnoticed.
The sight of a female official taking charge of a men's rugby game is always sure to cause a stir on the sidelines but her performance was, by some distance, the best witnessed in an Old Grovians game this season.
Constantly up with play, she was decisive in her decision-making and clear in her direction to the players. It was a display of officiating which brought praise from players and supporters alike.


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Gratuitous Puppy Shot: Prince William + Lupo Get Cuddly (Awwww!)
Your daily dose of cute: Prince William and puppy Lupo got all cuddly at a polo match for charity. Awwww!
-Lucia Peters
No, this is not breaking celebrity news; it is, however, incredibly cute, and because everyone needs more puppies in their lives, here you go. Gratuitous puppy shot. All together now: Awwwww!
So what exactly is going on here, other than a moment of extreme cuteness? According to People, Prince William's and wife Kate Middleton's adorable cocker spaniel puppy, Lupo, had an adventure on Sunday: He went to a royal polo game in the Gloucestershire countryside. And it was for a good cause, too—William and Prince Harry both played on opposing sides at the Beaufort Polo Club to raise money for the various charities they support. Kate, meanwhile, was busy taking inner-city kids on camping trip in Kent, after which she brought Lupo to the game to say hello.
Read Hot or Not? Rachel McAdams' New Short 'Do
An observer told People, "In true spaniel fashion he was very playful." We bet! The pup got a chance to stretch his legs as he ran along the sidelines—though he wasn't above leaping into William's arms for a bit of a rest and a cuddle. That's when the picture above was snapped. Just a boy and his dog!
While Lupo was busy dashing around, Duchess Catherine took the opportunity to catch up with some of her royal in-laws. Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn brought their 18-month-old daughter (and the Queen's great-granddaughter), Savannah Phillips, to the match; Kate apparently got along famously with the little girl. Between the puppy and the baby, we're not sure which is cuter!
Happy Tuesday, Bettys!
Lucia Peters is BettyConfidential's associate editor.


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A CUP of tea and a slice of history is on offer at a new cafe opening in Colchester.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ornamental Roman arcade under the floor of the property in Colchester High Street.
And the owners, the Flying Trade group, are installing three glass panels into the cafe's floor so the centuries-old foundations can remain visible to the public while being protected.
The new cafe is opposite Colchester Castle and stands on the site of an unique monumental arcade which was south of the Temple of Claudius.
The arcade formed the front of the precinct in which the temple, the largest classical-style temple known in Britain, stood.
Philip Crummy, director of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, said the temple, arcade and monumental arch were part of a grand architectural scheme designed make an extravagant statement about the power and authority of Rome.
He welcomed the decision to keep them visible.
Mr Crummy said: "The remains of the monumental arcade are extremely unusual.
"The arcade would have been made up of a series of arches, maybe 24 of them, and would have been about 100 metres long and eight metres high.
"The Temple of Claudius had no equal in Britain.
"The arcade goes with that. It is a really interesting structure."
Mr Crummy said the foundations of the arcade had been unearthed during excavations carried out in the 1950s and 1960s but had been re-covered both times.
He said: "I think it is great the public will be able to see the foundations. That is what Colchester needs.
"It needs more physical evidence of the fact it is a Roman town."
He added: "The novelty value alone of this project is bound to bring success.
"Witness Firstsite. One of the most enduring memories which visitors to that building will take away with them will be the Roman mosaic under the glass floor.
"And this is despite the fact that Firstsite is an art gallery, not a museum.
"The same is likely to be true here. Hopefully this unique project will not only benefit the restaurant commercially but it will also help broaden and deepen the tourism portfolio which Colchester has on offer and must substantially improve if tourism is to become a major economic force for the town.
"The remains under 97 High Street may not be pretty.
"After all, it's only a foundation and stumps of wall, but what we have here is the real thing, genuine Roman ruins, and they can bring atmosphere and a sense of great antiquity to the place."


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Business Tenant Recycling
All nonresidential buildings (businesses, schools, hospitals, etc.) in Fairfax County are required to recycle mixed paper and cardboard.
The tenant is responsible for:
- reviewing the educational materials, provided by the property owner or manager, that explain the recycling system.
- participating in the recycling system provided by the property owner or managing agent. At a minimum, this will consist of recycling cardboard and mixed paper.
- If the tenant provides their own trash service – such as sole tenants or some shopping centers – then they are responsible for establishing their own recycling system.
More Resources
- Property Owner or Manager Responsibilities
- Recycling System Requirements
- Nonresidential Recycling
- Nonresidential Recycling Publications
- Business Recycling FAQs


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With walking stick in hand, Raymond Spillman, the 2013 starter for the Derby Dash 5K race; strides through his memories as he strengthens his body at the Williamstown Cemetery. But, Spillman has not always walked his way to health.
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Topic: 2 months since my Tom passed
The day you left me, two months ago,
was the saddest day of my life.
Although I knew in my heart and mind, that one day you would leave
I was praying that it would not be so soon.
You knew that you meant the world to me
You were my sun, my moon and my stars.
And I know that you felt the same way about me.
On our first day back together you spoke from your heart
and said "I love you and want to be with you until the day I die".
A few days later you had a tatoo put on your right arm. It said:
1977- 1999
and had our zodiac signs.
It represented the last year we were together and then the year we got back together.
Remember how I always teased you and said it looked like I was born in 1977 and died in 1999?
It should have said 1970 - 1999 (our first time together and when we finally got together for real)
You never broke your promise to me as the day before you passed
you opened your beautiful blue eyes and said "I need a hug" and as I sat on the bed and hugged you, you then said "I love you, more today than I did yesterday, and more than I did the day before, and all the days before that"
As I held you in my arms that day, we hugged and I felt your love
flow into my heart and mind. And I know you felt my love do the
same to you.
The day that you left me I asked you to open your eyes and you did, then your last words were "I love you".
Over the years, We were the couple that many people envied because of that love.
Many will never find the true love that we shared, no matter how hard they try.
I sit in your chair each day
reflecting on our life together
trying to remember each and every thing
that made our life together complete.
Was it the looks we shared? The long talks we had?
Was it our love that we neverlost sight of? Was it us doing everything together?
Was it the love we had for our children and our grandchildren?
The love we had for our friends? Was it the "In so Hon" that you ended a lot of your
statements or comments with?
No matter how bad things got, no matter how sick you were, I never wanted you to leave.
I promised I'd stand by you and I would take care of you for as long as was necessary.
I was there for you in so many ways.
In ways that many people will never be able to comprehend or understand.
I held you when you were sick, I cried with you when you were sad. I helped you to shower and dress
when you could not do it for yourself. I saw you at your worst, and at your best. I cleaned you up when you
had accidents. You always apologized, but it was not necessary, because that is what a spouse does for the one
she loves. I would do it again in a heartbeat if given the chance. Just as I know you would have done for me.
Even thinking of us being apart now brings tears to my eyes.
As that one lone tear rolls down my face
I struggle to not let the other tears follow.
I needed to be strong for you, for I was your strength
when you were weak.
I could not be sad, for I was your happiness
when you were sad.
I was always there for you, even when others were not. I was your rock, the one you could
always depend on. You saw me struggle at times to keep it together, you knew that some of the things
I did for you were rough on me. You depended upon me for so many things, but that was ok because you needed someone.
You saw me at my worst, in the middle of the night when you needed help. You tried so hard sometimes to do it
yourself because you were thinking of me. You always had me first and foremost in your thoughts, just as I did you.
It's kind of ironic isn't it. But that is what love and marriage is all about!
I will alway remember the DASH, the years between your birth and your death. Because the DASH is what was the most
important. The way you lived your life. The way you impacted others. After our marriage in 2001 you accepted my family, my children and my grandchildren as your own. As I did yours. We always treated them all fairly, be it birthdays or for Christmas. You loved them all equally! As I did too. That worked for us, always.
My darling, my thoughts will be of you all day today, even as I'm working. I love you and miss you so much, no one will ever know just how much that is. That is between you and I. And when I get to that high mountain I know you will be waiting for me with open arms, ready to continue our journey together.
All my love, thoughts and prayers are with you on the eve of the two month anniversary of your passing into your eternal life.


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LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas - Just before the sun set Friday, a DPS helicopter from Austin circled two-year-old Devon Davis' home. On Saturday, an unmanned drone from Texas Equusearch will take to the skies again searching the 27,000 acres surrounding the home.
"The best benefit of that is unmanned and it can fly for hours," Liberty County Sheriff's Capt. Rex Evans said. "Whereas the aircraft that we've been able to have come over can only stay for a short amount of time."
Volunteers and law enforcement officers ended their search at about sundown Friday. Some carried guns for their protection from alligators and wild boars in the wilderness. The search wrapped up about the time Devon's mother, April Davis, returned home with what appeared to be dinner.
An Amber Alert was issued for Devon Davis on Tuesday. Liberty County sheriff's deputies said Devon wandered off into a wooded area while his mother, April Davis, and 1-year-old sister were napping at their new home in the Sam Houston Lake Estates area near Tarkington at about 3:30 p.m.
Davis said she found the door open and her son was gone. Investigators said Davis told them that Devon opened a latch on the door.
Davis spoke to reporters Friday morning.
"I'm April. I'm Devon's mom. If you know anything, if you've seen anything, please just call somebody. Bring him home with me. He needs to be home with his family. Somebody has to know something, somewhere. Please, help me find my son," April Davis said.
Davis said her son was recently ill and asked that he be taken to a hospital if he's found.
"He's just getting over pneumonia," she said. "He might be sick. Bring him to a hospital."
Davis indicated that she thinks someone has her son.
"If you're scared, I understand there's a lot of stuff going on," she said. "Do the right thing. Bring him to the hospital. Call somebody. People do not vanish. There is something out there and somebody knows something, somebody saw something somewhere. Please find him. Please help me."
Two sources close to the search and investigation told KPRC Local 2 Friday that Davis failed parts of a polygraph test. The sources declined to elaborate on which parts where failed. They stressed that does not mean anything nefarious happened and polygraphs can be imperfect, especially since she is in a very emotional state.
"He is the sweetest child you could ever meet," Davis said of Devon. "He's happy, he's friendly. He's a good kid."
Officials and volunteers have searched by air, land and water, but found nothing. On Thursday, Liberty County officials said the search changed to a recovery mission, meaning that they don't expect to find the boy alive.
Capt. Rex Evans said he had to have a difficult talk with Devon's parents Thursday morning.
"There is a negative end to this that you kind of have to prepare yourself for," said Evans.
Texas EquuSearch has used sonar devices to look for Devon.
"The problem with doing the sonar is there's just so much debris underneath the water," Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller said. "You get a false image and you have to go back over it two or three times to determine what it is."
Miller said the terrain is difficult to search because of the woods, water, and wildlife. He said his volunteers have seen alligators, snakes, and wild boars. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents armed with rifles are standing on the banks while divers search the water to protect them from alligators.
Detectives said they have searched every building in a one-mile radius of the home without luck. The search was widened on Thursday. Dozens of dogs were used to search the area for any signs of the boy.
Investigators have searched Devon's home looking for clues, too.
Investigators said they have not ruled out anything, including the possibility of foul play.
"A third party or foul play is still certainly part of our investigation," Evans said.
Crews said they will continue to search until they find Devon to help give the family closure.
"I need my son," Davis said. "I need to know. I need some answers."
Officials said there is no more need for civilian volunteers. However, water donations are needed because conditions are so harsh.
Devon is 30 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds with red hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a red and gray jersey T-shirt, jeans and Spiderman tennis shoes.
The Davis family has only lived in their home a week. They moved to the area from Virginia.
Anyone with information regarding Devon's whereabouts is asked to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
The rooms were well kept and had everything I needed the weather that day
Nothing good to day Rude staff, this place is for drunk teenagers looking to party.........do not stay here....dont be tempted by the cheap price its not woth it
Nothing good to day Rude staff, this place is for drunk teenagers looking to party.........do not stay here....dont be tempted by the cheap price its not woth it
friendly and helpfull staff, good pizza and spaghetti carbonara. lovely all round.
It was cheap, there was a nice bar area to hang out in, and the shuttle to venice was very convenient. The walls are thin, you can hear neighbors easily. Should probably have a bath towel to step on, and the shower head sprayed sideways at certain points. Also, why only being able to pay with the card? Inconvenient to have to go to the office to fill the card and then be able to buy things around the campsite.
Helpful staff, youth atmosphere, facilities in the village Very basic room, beds, sheets, blankets...etc. But acceptable for a camping village.
This place had a hostel type atmosphere with the ability for privacy as well. The staff was friendly, the facilities within camp jolly are excellent and the shuttle made getting to and from Venice very easy. This place had many different types of people from all ages and places. It was a greay way to see Venice and make some friends along the way The breakfast at camp jolly was average. You might be better off buying your own somewhere else
Nice friendly stuff, location is ok. Not everything is working like it should. E.g. sever was blocked.
I have been there only 2 days. Everything was ok. Cleanliness great. I would return there if I liked Venice;)
Very good and nice kamping. Wery good food excellent kitchen staff. Special thanks for very nice and helpful Monica from reception
The rooms were well kept and had everything I needed the weather that day
The camping was really far from public transportation. Good thing is the shuttle service to Venice. Bungalow as such is really good and has all facilities for sleeping and spending the night comfortably.
We arrived at Jolly in early morning and were able to enter the room emediately, which ws very kind from their staff. Location is a little bit critical especialy if you are coming to Jolly late at night.
Location is quite far from Venedig but still easy to find The room is far too small for 4 persons, it's more suitable for 2 persons. Most of the equipments are not in good conditions anymore.


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Nava's blast helps make winner of Buchholz, Sox
BOSTON -- With the shadows hovering over home plate for hours, the big hit seemed all too elusive for both teams in Monday's Fenway Park opener.
But Daniel Nava emerged with one out in the bottom of the seventh and unloaded for a three-run blast that soared over the Green Monster and into a garbage bin on Lansdowne Street for the game-breaking hit that led the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Orioles, Boston's ninth straight win in its home opener.
The moment was somewhat symbolic because Nava's career also seemed lost in the shadows at various times.
Last year at this time, Nava wasn't even on Boston's 40-man roster. This, after a rough 2011 washed away his dream start in '10, when he smashed the first pitch of his career over Boston's bullpen for a grand slam against the Phillies on national television. And to find Nava in the first place, the Red Sox had to scour the roster of the Chico Outlaws, an independent league squad.
"It's special because it's Opening Day, which is a special experience just to begin with," said Nava. "And then for me, it's special because of the journey I've taken. I wasn't trying to hit a home run. It just worked out like that."
Speaking of that journey Nava has taken, consider that Monday was his first Major League home opener and he is 30 years old.
Yes, it's been a tricky path, but Nava has found a way to navigate it to prominence.
His moment came when he stepped up with two on and one out against Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who had been marvelous for most of the day.
With the count 1-1, Nava got a 91-mph fastball and belted it for his second homer in the last two days, snapping a scoreless tie in the process.
"Knowing that the shadows were in play, I wasn't sure how I was going to pick the ball up," Nava said. "And knowing the game situation, I was trying to get on him early, because who knew what was going to happen in that situation, so the first ball I fouled off and was a little late on it, and maybe they just read into that and thought they could get inside. Fortunately he left it a little over the middle and what happened happened. It worked out. I won't complain."
Though Nava has made an imprint in spurts for the Red Sox -- both in 2010 and last year -- he has looked like a far more polished player during the early part of 2013.
Interestingly, Nava -- a switch-hitter who is better from the left side -- sat in the three previous games Boston faced lefties this season. But with highly touted prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. going into a slump over the weekend in Toronto, Nava got the start against Chen, and the move by manager John Farrell certainly paid dividends.
"Well, the way Chen has been effective against lefties, the way Jackie has been pitched to pretty consistently here of late, and, really, the way Daniel has swung the bat of late [made the decision]," Farrell said. "I think he's done a much better job of picking out some pitches and getting a pitch to drive."
Thanks to Nava, Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz was able to get the win he deserved instead of a no-decision.
Buchholz fired seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and no runs. He walked four and struck out eight, improving to 2-0 while lowering his ERA to 0.64.
"Always good to win. We were sort of going inning by inning, both guys running out there," said Buchholz. "It's tough. Each out you do get going up to that point, you don't want runners getting on because all it takes is one pitch, as you saw. Those are fun games to pitch in, especially when you come out on top at the end."
Dustin Pedroia (infield single) and Mike Napoli (double that scraped the wall in center) started the winning rally. Chen got a temporary reprieve when he struck out Will Middlebrooks.
Instead of going to the bullpen, Orioles manager Buck Showalter gave Chen the chance to get out of his own jam, but Nava didn't let him.
The Red Sox didn't get a hit off Chen until the fourth, when Shane Victorino led off with a single. But that hit was immediately erased when Victorino was caught stealing.
Buchholz ended his 113-pitch performance with a strikeout of Steve Pearce with two outs in the seventh, stranding Matt Wieters on second.
Adam Jones got the O's on the board with a solo homer off Joel Hanrahan in the ninth before Boston's closer recorded his third save of the season.
But the moment of the day belonged to Nava. Victorino, who played for the Phillies in 2010 when Nava made that spectacular debut, was glad he was on the other side this time.
"I told him I had deja vu, because I remember his first pitch. I was standing in center field and watched him hit that grand slam off of [Joe] Blanton," Victorino said. "In a clutch situation, he came up and hit a three-run home run today. I told him it brought me back some flashbacks of his first Major League at-bat."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Wellness in the cold season
Hardly a hotel group in Europe can boast such a diverse range of wellness and beauty offerings as Dorint Hotels & Resorts! If you have already realised that well-being means more than just a yoghurt or a drink, then our wellness and well-being oases will seem like paradise to you.
How would you like an aromatherapy meridian massage - a gentle stroking massage along the meridians of the whole body? It's just one of the things we have on offer, along with the classics of the European sauna culture: sanarium, Finnish sauna and steam bath.


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Wow !! The 2012 deer results are in and Illinois harvested about 5,000 more deer this year than was harvested in 2011. The top county, again, was Pike with a harvest of 2, 018. The top five rounded out to be Fulton, Adams, JoDaviess and Randolph.
There were 334,000 permits issued this year and the ratio for bucks was about 60 percent. Bureau County was up by slightly over 100 more than last year. If the weather is decent for the next four-day season, Illinois could top the 100,000 whitetails mark this year.
Locally, I received information that two Bureau County residents did well this first season. While having a cup of coffee with Peanut Isaacson, he pulled out his telephone and showed me a picture of his son, Aaron, and his buck. Whoa, I had to find out more about this one. It seems that Aaron had taken the week off to archery hunt and look for this big buck he saw on his trail cam. He passed on several shots during the week waiting for the big boy. Didn't see him.
Friday afternoon, Aaron took his 50 caliber muzzle loader and headed for the field. About 4 p.m., he spotted the big buck walking out of the timber about 180 yards away, just kind of cruisin' around looking for does. He checked with his binoculars and, yes, it was the one he was looking for. The buck came out from behind a tree and Aaron grunted. The buck stopped in a broadside and looked right at Aaron. Aaron shot, the buck did a "mule kick," then ran about 50 yards and dropped by a ravine near the edge of the pasture. Aaron could not see him.
He waited about 30 minutes and then walked to the pasture to look for blood. He followed the blood trail in the pasture to the edge of the ravine. Aaron was really fortunate. The buck did not fall into the ravine and was at the edge of the pasture. Then he called his buddy, Jeff Robbins, to help him get the deer back home.
The buck was an 11-point whitetail with split brow tines. It had a 22-inch inside spread and 5 1/2-inch circumference at the base.
Ike has become quite a hunter since his days at PHS. He continues to broaden his horizons by travelling to Texas to hunt deer, sheep and pigs. He has now accomplished what they call a "Texas Slam." To get the slam, one has to get four different sheep. They are new to me, but here they are: Black Hawaiian Sheep, Texas Dall Sheep, Corsican Sheep and Mouflan Sheep. Congratulations on the great Bureau County buck and your Texas Slam.
No sooner had I got word of Ike's fine buck, than I got wind of another great buck. Adam Gutshall was helping push deer for some friends when this big boy came out of the brushy ravine in his direction. He followed it with his scope, as it was in a slow jog. He picked a moment and fired. Even though it was a long shot, Adam got him. They found the buck a little farther in the ravine and finished him off.
Listen to these stats. The buck was a 15-pointer with a double drop off of the back right beam. The rack had a 17-inch spread and the G2s and G3s were over 12 inches. He field dressed out more than 200 pounds.
Congrats, Adam. What a trophy!!
In lieu of some happenings to Bureau County people this week, please practice HUNTER SAFETY!!
Lee Wahlgren is the BCR outdoor columnist, contact him at email@example.com