Bisexuality has been used to describe a variety of different identities throughout its history, making it a widely used and, at times, controversial term. Bi101 works to define and exhibit bisexuality in order to reduce misconceptions and the stigma around the term. According to this site, bisexuality includes both heterosexual and homosexual attractions, but it can also be used to refer to a wider variety of attractions. Alternative definitions include “attraction to same and other genders” and “attraction to all sexes and genders.” You may also hear two separate terms, bisexual and biromantic, which differentiate between sexual and romantic attraction to these different genders. Bisexuality is fluid and can change and shift throughout a person’s life, so at different times they may experience attraction to different people.
The AIB model has been used to explain bisexuality and the means of identifying with certain sexual orientations. This model uses three categories, attraction, identity, and behavior, to describe the different facets of sexuality. Attraction refers to the romantic and sexual draw towards another person and is a key factor of sexuality many seek to define and uncover the reasons for. Likely, attraction is attributed to nature and nurture causes and is certainly not something anyone can change for themselves. Bisexual people may be attracted to two or more genders. Identity refers to the way in which you view your own sexuality and the way in which you wish others would view you. Regardless of attraction, people may choose to identify or not to identify with the labels of sexual orientation. Bisexual individuals may identify with this term later in life after experiencing attraction to multiple genders because it is less straightforward than other identities.
Brief History of the Term “Bisexuality”
The term “bisexuality” was first conceptualized as a deviancy of sexual behavior in the psychology field, along with other sexual and gender identities. Clinically, bisexuality has been most famously explained by the Kinsey Scale, published in 1948 by researcher Alfred Kinsey. This model outlines seven identity options that vary from “exclusively heterosexual” to “exclusively homosexual.” Through this model, all identities in the middle may be seen as variations of bisexuality and, because of this, this model has been critiqued for its simplicity; many argue that being bi is so much more complex than a ratio of gay to straight. For the time it was first published, it was forward-thinking in its notion of sexuality as a spectrum, and it continues to be a pillar of LGBTQ+ scholarly knowledge.
Another model developed in 1978 is the Klein Grid, which takes the concept of the Kinsey Scale and elaborates on it, using seven different principles of attraction over the past, present, and ideal times. It uses the same seven values which people can assign to each box in the grid, giving a more complex definition of personal identity. The principles include sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, heterosexual/homosexual lifestyle, and self-identification. This model is more accurate to bisexuality because it encompasses a wider range of attraction and experience as well as multiple times, emphasizing the fluidity of sexuality. However, it is still an attempt to classify bisexuality in terms of a binary of sexualities instead of allowing it to exist of its own volition.
Stigma and Stereotype
Bisexuality has unfortunately become a controversial identity within the LGBTQ+ community due to a misunderstanding of what the term really means. In recent years, some queer people have advocated against bisexuality, asserting that the term itself is exclusionary to those outside the traditional gender binary. This assumption ignores the more inclusive definition, which actually includes people of the same identity and identities different from your own.
The term “bisexuality,” like “homosexuality,” has been used to discriminate against people for going against the normative ideals of society. Recently, the LGBTQ+ community has been moving towards the usage of “bi” as a replacement for “bisexual” to shift from a clinical term to a more casual, everyday identity factor. This is also a response to the historical discrimination of bi people along with the rest of the LGBTQ+ community. Others have advocated for the use of “bi+” to represent the diversity of identities and attractions that exist within this letter.
Now, GLAAD hosts a yearly #BiWeek in mid-September which works to increase visibility and decrease stigma in the bi+ community. Bisexual Pride Day is September 23rd, which invites all people under the bi umbrella to celebrate their identities. These events exist in addition to June’s Pride Month and Pride parades across the world. There are several identity terms that share commonalities with bisexuality. The most popular term is pansexual, which is defined as attraction to all genders, including trans, genderfluid, and gender-nonconforming individuals. Most people who identify as bi would argue that their attraction does not exclude these people, but some pansexual individuals disagree. Some go as far as to say that bisexuality is transphobic, but this stance implies that trans individuals are not really the gender they identify as. Actually, if any person regardless of their sexuality says that they would not be attracted to a trans person because they are trans, they are transphobic. This controversy has created rifts within the LGBTQ+ community, leading some individuals to abandon these terms altogether, opting for words like “queer” and “fluid” which encompass a variety of attractions and identities. Despite the different prefixes, bisexuality, as it exists today really, is the same as pansexuality, and the difference exists in the history and perception of the two terms.
There has also been discussion on whether bisexuality defines attraction to biological sex or gender expression, and the simplest answer is that it refers to whatever you want it to. It’s possible to experience attraction to any variation of identities that a person may encompass, and it’s often best not to limit yourself to the stereotypical binaries of sex and gender.
Bisexuality in Pop Culture
The bi identity has become most prevalent through representation by celebrities as they have publicly announced their sexualities in the media. Famous historical celebrities in this community include Billie Holiday, Hans Christian Anderson, James Dean, and Frida Kahlo among many others. Nowadays the list of current bisexual celebrities is continuously growing, including people like Megan Fox, Miley Cyrus, Brendon Urie, and Tyler the Creator. A more comprehensive list of famous bi people can be found here. We are fortunate enough to be gaining bi representation in so many different aspects of the media, including those who “come out” on their social media platforms where members of the community can show their support. While not as prevalent as their gay and lesbian counterparts, bi people have been increasingly portrayed in film, television, and novels in recent years such as in the show “The Good Place.” This represents a shift from a time when bisexual people were only shown in a negative light if shown at all.
Most recently, the bi identity has been a topic of discussion on TikTok following the release of a song by girl group Avenue Beat uploaded by frontwoman Savana Santos. This song included lyrics that attempted to be pro-bi but also tore down the lesbian identity in the process. The lyrics went, “I’m not a ranging full-on lesbo, well I was for like a second, but that’s what’s hot about 2022.” Santos published the video with the intention of coming out as bisexual and appreciating the fluidity of her sexuality, but the use of a slur against lesbians and the suggestion that non-heterosexual identity is a trend was extremely upsetting to many viewers. Her video went viral on the app from negative comments and response videos explaining how harmful the song was to the lesbian community. Personally, I find this song to be harmful to the bi community as well. It represents bi people as exactly the stereotypes they seek to undo, including flightiness, lacking a true identity, evading homosexuality, and seeking attention. Further, it deepens the divide between bi people and their gay and lesbian counterparts which is not only isolating but harmful to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
This song is just one small blip on this historical record of bi-media, though. Popular singers like Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie have released songs about their identities that serve as a connecting point for young queer and bi people across the world. There’s also a strong LGBTQ+ community on TikTok that includes bi people and the bi experience, including creators like @averycyrus and @marthwubbles. Young bi girls especially have found a community together, bonding over shared experiences, trends, and queer symbols. These have included style signals like cuffed jeans, listening to the song “Sweater Weather,” and fangirling over queer icons like actress Aubrey Plaza.
Validating and Supporting
Understanding your own sexuality can be a long and emotional journey, and it can happen during so many different stages of life. I remember for me, I first came to terms with my queerness early in high school, and at that moment I was desperate to find a label that fit me so that I could feel less alone in my identity. I didn’t know many other queer kids, so I turned to the Internet and social media to show me what “being queer” looked like. Obviously, it looked like so many different things, which was once frustrating to me as an anxious kid but is now so full of possibilities for identity.
It is so important to remember that at the end of the day, sexuality labels are still just words. If they help you to find a community and feel understood by others, then they are absolutely serving their purpose. But if they cause stress, insecurity, and pressure to fit into one box, then feel empowered to forgo them all together. Instead, using identity terms such as “queer” that encompass a diversity of identities may feel more comfortable. No one should ever make you feel like you need to label yourself, so don’t be afraid to just tell people, “I’m not sure what I am, I love who I love!”
I’m no expert, but I do have a few words of advice for anyone thinking about their sexuality, or for anyone whose friend or partner is thinking about theirs. First, be patient with yourself. There is so much pressure out there in the world to be and look a certain way, and the least you can do for yourself is to keep your own brain a safe space. There’s no one way to identify yourself or to dress that will make you bi or gay or whoever you are. Support your own journey and know that you are fluid and multifaceted and reserve the right to be whoever you want at different points in your life. Remember too that this can be an amazing part of your identity, but it doesn’t need to change who you are or dictate how you live your life. As long as you are leading with kindness towards yourself and towards others, you’re doing exactly the right thing.
By Sydney Sullivan