Berkely, a California city best known for academic achievement, free speech and the arts, made history this week when its city council officially declared 27 September to be Bisexual Pride Day.

It is believed to be the first time any US city has taken this formal step and given bisexuals a day separate from the gay pride celebrations that typically take place in June.

Councilman Kriss Worthington said the idea was 'conceived as a response to the prejudice and marginalization of the bisexual persons by some in both the straight and greater LGBT communities.'