Finally! You can Google 'Bisexual'

You can Google it -- at last.

Google officials announced this week the giant search engine will no longer block the word "bisexual." Since 2009, "bisexual" has been blocked on Google's Auto Complete and Instant Search features. LGBT groups expressed glee that such a seemingly arbitrary rule was finally rescinded. The Mary Sue, a self-described "guide to Geek Culture", reported got the scoop on the Googleplex's decision.

Among the organizations is BiNet USA, a bisexual advocacy group, which led the successful campaign.

"It's not every day one of the biggest companies in the world changes its mind, but we are thankful that Google now sees bisexual people just like everyone else," BitNet USA President Faith Cheltenham said. "It will take time for bisexual search terms to be ranked as they were before the ban, but now bisexual people and their allies have a fighting chance to be seen, heard, and understood."

In August, Cheltenham criticized Google for having "bisexual" on its list of banned naughty words in a Huffington Post op-ed.

"One of the biggest issues facing bisexuals is isolation and lack of community," Jim Larsen, secretary-treasurer of the Bisexual Organizing Project, told Cheltenham. "When the No. 1 search engine in the world makes it harder to find information and a community, it is terribly unfortunate."

The search engine's banning of a word that most people would consider hardly inflammatory or obscene puzzled observers. Google has geneally been a vocal supporter and steadfast supporter of LGBT issues.

In July, EDGE reported that Google's officials announced the launch of a worldwide gay rights campaign called "Legalize Love" that would support workers in countries that criminalized gay men and women. The campaign is going out to nations such as Singapore that have banned same-sex activity; and Poland, which does not recognize gay marriage and has oppressed Pride events.

"We want our employees who are gay or lesbian or transgender to have the same experience outside the office as they do in the office," a Google executive, Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe said at the time. "It is obviously a very ambitious piece of work."