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Karol Steinhouse
On March 29, 2000, Karol Steinhouse, one of two founders of Bisexual Women of Toronto, died suddenly in a car accident.
This brought shock and sadness to our group.
This web site is therefore dedicated to her memory.
Take a look at Pictures of Karol
Karol wrote this for BiNetCanada to explain her politics around bisexuality and describe her research.
"Hi Bi/Queer people out there. Its been satisfying reading people's thoughts on Bisexual identity and community. For those that don't know me I am currently at the proposal writing stage for my doctorate in sociology and equity studies at OISE/UofT. My thesis is on Bi women and community. My working title at this point is HYBRIDITY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING: HOW AND WHY BI/QUEER WOMEN FORM COMMUNITES. As one of the founding members of Bisexual women of Toronto, receiving and giving affirmation for both Bi and Polyamorous identities has helped to strengthen me in ways I had previously only dreamed of.
One of the aspects of community that I hope to understand more fully is how our social location, gender, race, class etc. impact what we want and what we get from community. I'm also interested in how lesbian/gay/heterosexual discourses impact who we think we are and who we want to be. I'm studying women only because I feel Bi men and women have unique, distinct experiences of being queer because of power and gender dynamics that prevail in society. I also believe that there is no such thing as Bi community (singular) because we really are forming different but connected communities and subsets of affiliation within what seems to be on the surface a singular community. (I think this is a good thing because we can't all fit into one box.)
I hope whatever comes out of my research will not only document all the efforts and successes and struggles over the last number of years in building Bi communities in Toronto but will also give us ideas on what our future vision is and how to get there. I think about how we can claim our identity as Bi but not get stuck in it and not force our versions of sexuality on others."
Click Here to go to a Memorial written by Krista who has been with BIWOT almost since the beginning.
This poem was written and spoken as part of a memorial service for Karol Steinhouse.
K.K.
by Susan Anderson
EYES flash bolts across the room
Hurricane strong,
Deep azure currents long to know
Connecting gaze motions for
eternity to be still
All rise, adjourn
Until next we meet - that's kewl
HANDS draw lines
On big chief tablet minds
Siren thoughts bind
Words not yet spoken
Graceful facilitator
others talk while zee listens
Writing hir truth, hir life, hir family
Righting Social wrongs
Until next we meet - so kewl
BODY PJ-clad
By what right
Wir dare tell truths
Secrets shared
Zee hands out candy bracelets
Treasuring kids stuff
Bouncing-bed gleeful
Until next we meet - sweet kewl
FEET dancing to bad buddies
Diversity rounds
Zee moves swift zebra skin bound
sexy pure, fun-tastic
With purpose even here
Wir laugh together for a moment
And then that precious time
Is memory locked
Until next we meet - ah kewl
SMILE paints proud pictures
Hir face
Echos through our space
Laughing out
Feels right
Zee passes the baton
Helping still - pain
Divine meeting called to order
Karol kewl, presiding
