 Summer 1999 cover of Anything That Moves | |
| Managing Editor | Mark Silver |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bay Area Bisexual Network |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Final issue | 2002 |
| Country | USA |
| Based in | San Francisco |
| OCLC | 25244146 |
Anything That Moves was a literary, journalistic, and topical magazine published in the United States from 1990 to 2001.[1] The magazine's mission was to confront and redefine concepts of sexuality and gender, to defy stereotypes and broad definitions of bisexuals, and to combat biphobia.[2]
The complete title of the magazine, Anything That Moves: Beyond the Myths of Bisexuality, was purposely chosen for its controversial nature. The title refers to the stereotype depicting bisexuals as willing to have sex with "anything that moves" and was suggested by Tom Geller, author of the book Bisexuality: A Reader & Sourcebook.[3] In its opening statement, the magazine stated its intent to challenge negative stereotypes about bisexual people, to create dialogue and to redefine the "anything that moves" stereotype on their own terms.[3]
The magazine has become most notable for the lasting legacy of the "The Bisexual Manifesto",[4] which spearheaded the inaugural issue and addressed common stereotypes and biphobic attitudes:
"We are tired of being analyzed, defined and represented by people other than ourselves, or worse yet, not considered at all. We are frustrated by the imposed isolation and invisibility that comes from being told or expected to choose either a homosexual or heterosexual identity.
Monosexuality is a heterosexist dictate used to oppress homosexuals and to negate the validity of bisexuality.
Bisexuality is a whole, fluid identity. Do not assume that bisexuality is binary or duogamous in nature: that we have “two” sides or that we must be involved simultaneously with both genders to be fulfilled human beings. In fact, don’t assume that there are only two genders. Do not mistake our fluidity for confusion, irresponsibility, or an inability to commit. Do not equate promiscuity, infidelity, or unsafe sexual behavior with bisexuality. Those are human traits that cross all sexual orientations. Nothing should be assumed about anyone’s sexuality, including your own."
Anything That Moves, inaugural edition, Winter 1991, p. 3 [1]
Anything That Moves was founded by Karla Rossi as an expansion of the 12-page Bay Area Bisexual Network Newsletter in 1991.[5] In her first editorial, Rossi stated that she was motivated to start Anything That Moves to combat misconceptions about bisexuals and address issues related to bisexual erasure and oppression in heterosexual, gay, and lesbian communities. She specifically highlighted the impact of the AIDS crisis on bisexuals.[6]
Rossi remained managing editor of Anything That Moves until 1993.[7] The position was then briefly held by Gerard Palmeri[8] and Tori Woodard for a special issue on Spirituality and Healing[9] until it was passed to Mark Silver in 1994.[10] Silver held the position of managing editor up until issue #16 in 1998, when it was passed on to Linda Howard (who referred to herself as the magazine's "editrix"). She held this position for the rest of the magazine's run.[11]
The final issue of Anything That Moves was released in 2001. Overall, BABN published 22 issues of the magazine, along with one special Pride edition published in 1999. Throughout the entirety of its 10-year run, the magazine was published by the Bay Area Bisexual Network (BABN).[3]
In 2020, a team of archivists scanned and uploaded all issues of Anything that Moves onto a free online archive.[12][4]
