A Rosa Bi Any Other Name

I haven’t been watching “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” It’s not that I have anything in particular against the show. I’ve just never been a huge Andy Samberg fan. But I enjoy the other actors. And I greatly enjoy the bi coming out storyline for one Det. Rosa Diaz. I watched both her coming out episode and her coming out to her family episodes earlier this month because, you know, it’s like a rule I have to watch all the queer lady everything. And it was good; it was very, very good. And I’m not just talking about Rosa’s tank top. Though, *low whistle* that was also good.

Stories Rosa’s are essential in showing the full range of experiences in the LGBTQ spectrum. Coming out as lesbian is not the same as coming out as gay or coming out as bisexual or coming out as transgender or coming out as queer and so on. We must note each identity, and each experience, as distinct and important. So to show Rosa struggle, as a bisexual woman of color, with the “it’s just a phase” and “you can still marry a man” stereotypes associated with bisexuality speaks for so many who maybe haven’t seen themselves before. And that is always wonderful.

http://dorothy-snarker.tumblr.com/post/168740621190

And it means even more because Rosa actress Stephanie Beatriz came out as bisexual in real life last year. Representation on screen and off, well, you can’t ask for much more than that.

Though, again, the tank top certainly helps.