In Southern Europe, LGBTIQ+ communities have historically played a pivotal role in advocating for equality and the recognition of sexual and reproductive rights, providing safe spaces and supportive networks free from cisnormativity and heteronormativity. However, despite their unquestionable relevance to the LGBTIQ+ population, studies reveal tensions and contradictions within these spaces, particularly concerning bisexuality. Bisexual individuals often face heightened levels of minority stress due to societal misconceptions prompting them to seek or create bi+ communities where they can express themselves fully and safely. In this way, they resist not only in individual terms but also in political terms (Monro, 2015; Hemmings, 1995; 2002). This presentation delves into the dynamics of exclusion within Pride politics in Portugal and examines the privileging of certain forms of (in)visibility over others. Drawing on qualitative research with bisexual activists, anchored in an ongoing PhD project, the study sheds light on perceptions surrounding bisexual communities in Portugal and identifies elements of tension within LGBTIQ+ spaces. Furthermore, it explores discourses surrounding the creation of autonomous spaces for those who identify as bisexual. This presentation offers a relevant perspective to reflect on bisexual politics, providing insights into the challenges and strategies employed by bisexual individuals such as the emergence of informal care networks outside traditional LGBTIQ+ communities as a response to the need for acceptance and recognition. Moreover, it reveals attempts to resist normative gender and sexual principles both within society at large and within LGBTIQ+ spaces.

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Portugal,LGBTI+ communities,Bisexual citizenship,bisexual activism,binegativity,social support