13 Lies We Have to Stop Telling About Bisexual People

Originally published on Mic and cross-posted here with their permission.

As a proud bisexual man, for years, I’ve had to navigate the complicated gray area that my identity occupies on the sexuality spectrum.

Despite all of the gains the LGBTQIA+ community has made, bisexual people are still looked upon with confusion — or outright scorn — by gays, lesbians, and straight people alike. From people asking me if I was “full-blown gay yet” to people questioning my motivations, I’ve probably heard it all.

Unfortunately, the binary way of thinking that informs the reasoning of many who remain unconvinced by the reality of bisexuality ultimately oppresses everyone through its perpetuation of unflinching heteronormative or homonormative standards.

Being intimate with someone of the same sex doesn’t mean you’re gay, just like being intimate with someone of the opposite sex doesn’t mean you’re straight — it just means you fall somewhere in the beautiful, fluid spectrum of sexuality.

Here we are in the supposedly enlightened year of 2014 – and yet, biphobia persists. In no particular order, here are a few of the most tiresome lies society really needs to stop telling about the bisexual community.

1. “Bisexual people don’t exist.”

This is the first lie about bisexuality — and it’s a big one.

Some in the gay and straight community simply can’t fathom a sexuality in which individuals are attracted to more than one gender. Ultimately, you can test the waters, but you must pick a side, the thinking goes.

But bisexual people don’t need lesbians and gays to confirm or science to prove that they exist.

2. “Bisexual people are just going through a phase.”

Yes, it is true that plenty of gays and lesbians have used bisexuality as a stepping stone, a way to soften the blow of coming out for conservative parents.

While coming out is an intensely personal decision, the strategies of some should not invalidate the identities of the majority.

3. “Bisexual people are sexually greedy.”

Bisexual people are not automatically more promiscuous than any other person — gay or straight. Being attracted to more than one gender does provide more potential partners.

But just as having an eclectic taste in wines does not make one an alcoholic, being bisexual does not make you more promiscuous. But if someone is, there’s nothing wrong with that either. (Let’s not engage in slut-shaming!)

4. “Bisexual people are cheaters.”

A cheater is a cheater.

Bisexual people cheat, and so do people who identify otherwise.

Their sexuality doesn’t make them cheat; impulse control, poor decision-making skills, or a lack of consideration for their partner do.

5. “All bisexual people are polyamorous.”

While polyamory may stereotypically appear more prevalent in the queer community, there is no hard data that ties polyamory more directly to the bisexual community than any other orientation.

That type of relationship structure isn’t attached to any given sexuality. It’s a personal choice (and for some, it’s more innate).

6. “Bisexual people are scared of commitment.”

Being attracted to both genders doesn’t have anything to do with commitment.

Alan Cumming addressed this misconception in a candid interview last year:

“I have a healthy sexual appetite and a healthy imagination,” Cumming told Instinct magazine. “I still define myself as a bisexual even though I have chosen to be with Grant. I’m sexually attracted to the female form even though I am with a man, and I just feel that bisexual people have a bad rap.”

7. “All women are bisexual.”

The sexualization of women knows no bounds in today’s contemporary culture.

But just because magazines and the entertainment industry continue to exploit female hypersexuality in a transparent attempt to sell products doesn’t mean that all women swing both ways a la Shakira and Rihanna in “Can’t Remember to Forget You” — sorry Shakira, we’re not buying what those lying hips are selling.

8. “Bisexual people are attracted to anything that moves.”

Oh, please. Just because someone is bisexual doesn’t mean they don’t have standards.

9. “Bisexual people are only attracted to binary genders.”

Respected bisexual activist Robyn Ochs describes bisexuality as the potential “to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.”

So no, it’s not about the binary, folks.

10. “Bisexual people spread HIV.”

Men who have sex with men are at a disproportionate risk of HIV infection. But that doesn’t make bisexual people who have HIV more likely to spread the disease — taking the proper precautions is necessary regardless of your sexual orientation.

Always use protection; know your partner’s status and your own.

11. “Bisexual people live for threesomes.”

Threesomes are not a hallmark of the bisexual lifestyle.

They are merely an option, just as they are for any other sexual being.

12. “Bi-erasure is a myth.”

In fact, San Francisco Human Rights Commission released a 50-page report on bi-invisibility within the LGBTQIA+ community, proving that the phenomenon is alive and well.

As detailed by the commission, verbiage such as “gay marriage” or “homosexuality” aren’t inclusive and erase bisexual’s identity.

13. “Bisexual people are a small community.”

In 2007, a survey of 768 self-identified lesbians, gays and bisexual people found that nearly half identified as bisexual — that’s a full 48.9%.

Bisexual people might not speak out as much as their lesbian and gay brothers and sisters, but this is more due to lingering stigmas than it is to sheer strength.

Like it or not, the bisexual community is here, and it’s here to stay.

[do_widget id=”text-101″]

Eliel Cruz is a New York-based freelance journalist writing on (bi)sexuality, gender, religion, and pop culture for Mic.com and The Advocate. He is the president and co-founder of the Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization which represents six unofficial LGBT-straight alliance groups on Seventh-day Adventists educational institutions nationwide. He is currently seeking a dual degree in International Business and French studies at Seventh-day Adventist flagship educational intuition, Andrews University. Follow him on Twitter @elielcruz.