You’d think bisexual people would naturally feel at home within the LGBTQIA+ community— after all, the “B” is right there in the acronym. But ask many bisexuals about their experiences, and you’ll often hear a different story. Along with prejudice from the straight world, many also encounter skepticism, stereotypes, and exclusion from within queer spaces themselves due to biphobia.
Biphobia’s prejudice, discrimination, or negative attitudes toward bisexual people. Some researchers and advocates also use the term “monosexism,” the belief that people are only capable of being attracted to one gender and that anything outside of that is less legitimate. According to Medical News Today, bisexual people can experience these attitudes from both heterosexual society and from lesbian and gay communities, making them vulnerable to what some describe as “double discrimination.”
One of the most common forms of biphobia is erasure, which happens when someone’s identity is dismissed or ignored. A bisexual woman dating another woman may be assumed to be a lesbian. A bisexual man married to a woman may be labeled straight. The assumption is that your current partner determines your sexual orientation, when in reality, orientation doesn’t disappear because you’re in a particular relationship. Researchers have argued that this constant invalidation contributes to feelings of invisibility and isolation, even among people who are otherwise accepted as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The stereotypes don’t stop there. Bisexual people are frequently told they’re “just going through a phase,” “confused,” “unable to commit,” or more likely to cheat because they’re attracted to more than one gender. Healthline notes that these myths persist despite having no evidence and continue to shape how bisexual people are viewed by both straight and queer communities.
One of the hardest realities for many bisexual people is discovering that prejudice doesn’t disappear after coming out. While LGBTQIA+ spaces are often welcoming, some bisexual people report being questioned about whether they’re “really queer enough” if they’re in a different-gender relationship. Others have been told they have “straight privilege” and therefore don’t belong in queer organizations or conversations. Those in same-gender relationships sometimes find their bisexual identity erased entirely, with others assuming they have “picked a side.”
Academic research published by Cambridge University Press argues that bisexual erasure is embedded in discussions about sexuality and can cause significant psychological harm by making bisexual identities effectively invisible. The research notes that bisexual people make up a substantial portion of the LGBTQ+ population, yet their experiences are often overlooked.
That’s a dramatic contradiction considering that bisexual people represent one of the largest identity groups under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. Yet visibility hasn’t always translated into acceptance. Many advocates argue that bisexuality occupies an uncomfortable middle ground where people are viewed as “too queer” for straight spaces and “not queer enough” for some LGBTQIA+ spaces.
Fortunately, awareness has grown significantly over the past decade. Organizations, researchers, and bisexual activists have pushed back against myths by emphasizing that bisexuality’s a complete and valid sexual orientation, not a stepping stone to being gay or a temporary stop before settling into heterosexuality. Publications like Them also highlight the diversity of bisexual experiences, reminding readers that no single relationship defines a person’s identity.
Combating biphobia means recognizing that the LGBTQIA+ community is strongest when every letter is treated with equal respect. Inclusion is about believing people when they tell you who they are, rejecting stereotypes, and making sure that bisexual voices aren’t lost in conversations that’re supposed to represent everyone.