Every community has their own stereotypes, even the LGBTQ community. Though possibly applicable to some, it doesn’t mean bisexual stereotypes are true.
Even though the LGBTQ community has made major strides forward, bisexual people fall into this category that confuses people. Are they gay? Are they straight? Are they just confused? So, I’m here to debunk some bisexual stereotypes.
Stereotypes are everywhere. Literally everywhere. There’s no community that runs short of stereotypes. Now, some of you may be thinking, yeah, but stereotypes start from somewhere. And you’re right, some people do specific things that fall within the stereotype. However, that doesn’t mean the entire community is like that. [Read: Understanding the different types of sexual orientation]
Bisexual stereotypes you need to know
Most people understand the concept of homosexuality. When it comes to bisexuality, confusion reigns, and they can’t comprehend what it means exactly. Sexuality runs on a spectrum. On both extremes, you have heterosexuality and homosexuality. It’s not so black and white.
Bisexuality falls within the spectrum and closes the gap between homosexuality and heterosexuality. To gain a better understanding, here are some bisexual stereotypes floating around. Ugh, when will stereotypes die already?
#1 Bisexuals are going through a phase. Bisexual people are confused, they just can’t decide, right? Nope. Okay, yes, many gays and lesbians do use bisexuality as a stepping stone in order to come out. At the same time, there are some people who identify as bisexual until they figure out their orientation while others strongly identify as bisexual. [Read: Are you bisexual? How to understand your true desires]
#2 Bisexuals are selfish people. They must be greedy, right? They just want everything. They can’t decide on the gender, so they’ll take them all. No, it doesn’t work like that. Being bisexual doesn’t make people feel the need to “take over” and have as many partners as possible of either gender.
#3 They don’t exist. I’ve heard many people say that they don’t believe bisexual people exist. You’re either one or the other. However, it’s extremely black and white thinking to apply to sexuality. Many people struggle with believing that you can be on a spectrum of sexuality. However, the sexual spectrum does exist. [Read: Commonly accepted sex myths that are so wrong]
#4 Bisexuality spreads STIs. Yes, men who have sex with other man are at a higher risk of contracting STIs such as HIV. This doesn’t mean bisexual men are more likely to spread diseases. Whether straight, gay, or bisexual, it’s your responsibility to take the steps in order to having safe sex. This means wearing protection and using contraception.
#5 Bisexuals are cheaters. If you’re attracted to men and women then you must love to cheat, right? Wrong. A cheater is a cheater. Shockingly, they exist in every community, regardless of sexual orientation. If someone is attracted to more than one gender, this opens their options to eligible partners. It doesn’t increase the likelihood for them to cheat.
#6 They are polyamorous. Yes, polyamorous activity is more apparent in the LGBTQ community. However, that’s simply because they’re more open when discussing it. There are no ties that bisexual people are linked to polyamorous behavior in comparison to other people, straight or gay.
Over the past couple of years, monogamy has been challenged with more people creating their own relationship structure. [Read: What is polyamory and why are so many people switching to it?]
#7 The bisexual community is small. It’s actually not as small as you think. Since bisexuality is not fully accepted, there are more bisexual people than you think. The bisexual community isn’t as vocal as the other LGBTQ members, because of the stigma attached to them.
#8 Bisexuals are commitment-phobes. Of course, if you like both genders then it must be because you’re scared to commit. However, news flash, your sexual orientation doesn’t have anything to do with your commitment issues. Any commitment issues anyone has is not because of their sexuality, but issues related to past experiences.
#9 A bisexual is confused. They don’t know what they want. Instead of figuring out their sexuality, they say they’re bisexual. It’s easier that way. Many people think bisexual people are confused. You know, maybe they’re having a hard time and they don’t know where to turn, so they start experimenting. Listen, if someone comes out as bisexual, they’re not confused, they’re simply attracted to multiple genders. [Read: Am I bisexual or lesbian? How to understand your true desires]
#10 All women are bisexual. Ah yes, apparently all women are bisexual. But listen, this is just because the mainstream media loves to sexualize women for marketing purposes. Just because Madonna and Britney made out, doesn’t mean all women are bisexual. Remember, it’s called ratings. Ratings make money.
#11 All they want are threesomes. This tends to be a very common stereotype, even flowing into the lesbian scene. Apparently, if you’re not straight, you want a threesome. Bisexuality doesn’t mean all you want is a threesome. This is simply a sexual need available for everyone, regardless of the sexual orientation. [Read: 10 answers to dumb questions people ask lesbians]
#12 They’re only attracted to binary genders. Here’s the thing. Bisexual individuals are attracted *romantically or sexually* to people with more than one gender/sex. Now, this varies. Some people may be attracted to one gender more than the other. But the point is, bisexual individuals are not only attracted to binary genders.
[Read: 12 things you should never say to a bisexual]
Bisexual stereotypes are everywhere, and they aren’t going anywhere. Make sure you don’t fall into believing them.
