Being Bisexual: Facts and Fiction

There is something about bisexuality that doesn’t seem to pervade the consciousness of society.

It exists.

You’d think it would be obvious. That bisexuality wouldn’t even be debated as a sexual orientation or that we wouldn’t still suffer from prejudice from both hetero and LGBTQIA+ communities and bi-erasure from media in 2017. As a community, we’re met by resistance from every angle. Whether it be characters who are historically bisexual turned straight (or gay) or just the myths that are spread around about who we are and what we do we’re suffering. Still.

The Facts.

bisexuality facts

Bisexuality as a word meaning attracted to both sexes has been around since 1914. It’s not a new thing. Many famous people through history have identified as bisexual, or known to have relationships with both men and women. These include Gillian Anderson, David Bowie, Billie Holiday and more.

Bisexuality is different for everyone. Bisexuals are attracted to two or more genders. But the two or more genders one person may be attracted too can be different from what the next person is attracted to. It’s not an equal split either for everyone else. Some people may feel that way but some won’t.

Bisexuality doesn’t change when someone is in a relationship. Being in a same-sex relationship doesn’t make a bisexual person gay or lesbian, any more than being in a different-sex relationship makes us straight. It doesn’t change with experience either. Millions of people are straight without ever having any sexual experience with the opposite sex. It’s the same for lesbians and gays, and it’s the same for us. I knew I was bisexual before I’d had experience of either sex.

Bisexuals are less likely to have come out than other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Everyone has their own reasons for being in the closet but with bisexuals facing prejudice from both every angle, it’s not surprising that so many of us choose not to come out.

Bisexuality is a real and valid thing. It’s being researched by scientists, there are millions of us. We suffer from health problems in greater numbers than our gay and lesbian counterparts, and we’re more likely to suffer from domestic abuses too.

The Fiction

A bisexual pride flag with the word Bisexuality If Valid over it.

Bisexuals are not greedy. We just happened to like more than one gender but that doesn’t mean we’re attracted to more people than anyone else. Everyone has their own type, what they find emotionally or physically attractive. Yes, our pool of what we may find attractive is obviously larger but that’s about maths and not greed. And no, we’re not all into threesomes either.

Bisexuals are not all cheaters. We don’t cheat any more or less than anyone else in the world. Nor are we afraid of commitment. It’s damaging to the bisexual community as a whole. A lot of straight, gay and lesbian people believe this biphobic myth and use it as their reason not to date bisexuals. Some use it as their reasons to ostracise bisexuals too.

No one is going through a phase. Being bi isn’t being gay or straight. Sexuality can be pretty fluid, so some bisexuals do come out of gay or lesbian later on. That’s their choice, their sexuality, and their life. It does not reflect on every other bisexual person out there. For the rest of us, we’re always going to be bi.

Bisexuality, biphobia, and bi-erasure all exist. There is no debate to be had.

More Information

Today is Bisexuality Visibility Day – celebrated every year all over the world since 1999. Check out the links below for more information about bisexuality and Bi Visibility Day.

Are you a bisexual with a blog? Add your blog to this post!

3 Replies to “Being Bisexual: Facts and Fiction

  1. Wow this was an awesome post! I would love for you to elaborate more on the statement that bisexuals have more health problems and are more prone to abuse. That was interesting to me and I would love to see an article going more into that.

    Obviously I want to know more because I too am bisexual. I identify as pansexual now but I find that the scrutiny I’ve encountered is huge in the LGBT community and because of it, it’s taken me a long time to be comfortable with who I am.

    I am one of those rare individuals who falls on the Kinsey scale spectrum of being dead center. I have a husband and wife, so I am polyamorous but it’s interesting that as I share that information with people in the LGBT community I especially encounter scrutiny from ‘man hating’ lesbians. This is so confusing to me! I almost feel like they are resentful that I’m with a man. I’ve been labeled a fence sitter, noncommital, etc. It’s very interesting. I’d love an article sharing more on why lesbians in particular seem to have a problem with bisexuals… At least that has been my experience. Has anyone else ever encountered that. It makes it so hard.

    Anyway thank you for this post and I just found this blog on StumbleUpon. I LOVE it. Can’t wait to get in here and see what other content you’ve got!

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