From Silence to Loudness: A Personal Perspective on the Bi+ Equal Conference and Founding General Meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, October 20-22, 2025
By Farnaz Abdoli
When I was 19, I already knew I was bi, but at that time I didn’t have the words or knowledge to understand what it really meant. It was a truth I carried in silence, a secret that stayed hidden for years.
Eight years ago, things began to change. I started working with Spectrum—an anti-racist, intersectional feminist, trans, and gender diverse inclusive organization—as a graphic designer. One of my first projects was creating a handbook for journalists on reporting LGBTQ+ issues with an inclusive bi+ perspective. While designing the pages and editing the materials, I came across the term “bi+” in a way I had never seen before. It wasn’t just a label; it was a framework, a community, a history. That handbook opened a huge window for me. Through that work, I began to recognize myself, to name the part of me that had been hidden, and slowly I found the courage to speak it out loud.
That’s why being invited to the Bi+ Equal Conference and Founding General Meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, felt so meaningful. For eight years, I had worked with Spectrum mostly behind the scenes as a designer. But this time, I was not only preparing the graphics before the event—I was also there during the conference itself, with my camera, documenting sessions, managing communications, and being part of the team that told the story of the gathering. It meant moving from backstage to the front row. And beyond that, it meant being part of the founding general meeting that created the first pan-European bi+ umbrella organization.
It was my first time in such a space: rooms filled with bi+ activists, researchers, and community members from across Europe and beyond. To be honest, I felt both excited and a little overwhelmed. There was so much energy, knowledge, and solidarity in the air. I kept thinking back to my nineteen-year-old self, who didn’t even know how to describe her own identity. If she could see me there, she wouldn’t believe it.
The conference sessions covered many topics: racial inclusivity, bi+ visibility in the queer community, building inclusive healthcare, youth voices, and transnational organizing. Each one gave me something new to reflect on. I especially remember sitting in a workshop about how propaganda shapes public opinion, holding my camera as I tried to capture the faces of people determined to resist it. It was a reminder that my role as a designer and communicator is not only technical, it is political: the way we tell our stories matters.
There were also moments of joy. The queer walking tour through Vilnius, for example, gave me a sense of visibility in public space. Walking together, laughing, and seeing the city through rainbow-colored perspectives felt simple and beautiful, yet also powerful.
For me, the most important part of the conference was not only what I learned, but what I felt. Being surrounded by bi+ people, listening to their stories, sharing meals and conversations, I realized that I was part of something much larger than myself or the few people I already knew. It was both comforting and inspiring.
And now, I want to be that accomplice for others. Just as Spectrum opened a window for me eight years ago, and just as Bi+ Equal opened a door for me in Vilnius, I want to keep creating openings—through my art, my writing, and my work in design and fashion. Because solidarity is not just about standing by someone; it is about standing with them, even when it is difficult.
As I left Vilnius, I carried with me the warmth of the people I met, the lessons from the workshops, and a renewed sense of responsibility. For me, this was not just a conference. It was a milestone—a reminder of how far I have come, and how far we can go together when we show up not only as allies, but as accomplices.
Farnaz Abdoli is an activist and multidisciplinary Iranian artist. Her activities in Iran led to conflicts the Iranian government. In 2013, when she was only 26 years old, Abdoli was selected by CNN as one of the ten most influential women of the year.
Featured Image: Conference participants celebrate the establishment of Bi+ Equal
