Shawna McNamara
“Be the role model that you needed when you were younger,” says Shawna McNamara. “I didn’t have a bisexual role model growing up, so once I figured out I was bi… I decided to take action, became visual and vocal to represent the bisexual community, and work every day to be the type of role model I needed for our queer youth.” Minnesota native McNamara works with LGBT artists as a talent agent, and she’s also a member of the Minneapolis High Femme Society as well as serving on the board of the Bisexual Organizing Project—BOP (“promoting femme visibility in the queer community”). From her place as a visible person in the community, she can often be found performing at special events like First Avenue’s Grown & Sexy Pride, and always advocating for bisexual visibility, especially for a new generation. “I’m a strong believer that inclusivity should be a life goal, and this includes all groups,” McNamara says. “As a bisexual, I am often ostracized in the queer community because of biphobia and bi-erasure. I would love to see the LGBTQ community become more inclusive and supportive of each other.” —TB
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