Importance Of Bisexuality

Growing up as an open gay kid had its struggles. I would like to think that my journey was easier than most. A phrase I heard a lot is that bisexuals are not real. They are either gay and are not ready to fully come out, or were people who just wanted a lot of sex. The American Psychological Association defines sexual orientation as “an often enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions of men to women or women to men (heterosexual), of women to women or men to men (homosexual), or by men or women to both sexes (bisexual). It also refers to an individual’s sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, related behaviors and membership in a community of others who share those attractions and behaviors.”

states that “bisexuality is often perceived as an illegitimate and unstable sexual orientation, such that bisexuals are perceived to be confused, experimenting, in transition from a heterosexual to a gay/lesbian identity, or in denial about their true sexual orientation.” This attitude towards bisexuality definitely creates tensions in societies. Furthermore, Feinstein et al. also states “While people have the right to choose what characteristics are important to them when they evaluate potential romantic or sexual partners, a lack of willingness to consider bisexual individuals as potential partners may represent subtle discrimination against bisexuals, especially when such unwillingness is rooted in negative attitudes toward bisexuality.” This “subtle” discrimination has definitely grown since this journal’s published date in August 2016 and only seems to grow. Lastly, Feinstein et al. also discusses about essentialist beliefs about homosexuality which the first addresses why bisexuality is perceived the way it is, that all homosexuals are similar to one another (Feinstein et al.). This ideal is very narrow and categorized all sexualities as “homosexual” when that is not the case. Therefore, this is another reason why bisexuals are seen as almost “mythological creatures,” because our society cannot seem to understand that there is more than “gays” and “straights.” In addition, this also creates a thought process for bisexuals that they must be hidden because if not, they will be ridiculed and shamed for being