Tonight, we spotlight a group that makes up the majority of the LGBTQ community but remains misunderstood and marginalized—bisexual people. Did you know more people identify as bisexual than as lesbian or gay? Yet, as Tania Israel, professor of counseling psychology at the University of California, points out,
“A lot of bisexual people don’t actually openly identify as bisexual, to a large extent because of the concern about exclusion and the negativity that they get.”
Israel says bisexual folks often face skepticism—even outright denial.
“Some people will say, ‘Well, I think it’s just a phase—you’re on your way to coming out as lesbian or gay…Interestingly, people often think that bisexual women are really straight, and bisexual men are really gay. Everybody thinks people are actually attracted to men.”
Such dismissal can cause harm. When people encounter those kinds of messages, it can affect their mental health. And the stereotypes don’t stop there. Bisexual people are frequently oversexualized or asked to prove it. They’re met with intrusive questions, assumptions about threesomes, or fears about open relationships. So, what can allies do? Israel suggests starting with simple support like thanking them for trusting you, or asking them, ‘What’s it been like for you?’” There are also organizations like amBi and the Bisexual Resource Center that offer community and connection for bi folks seeking visibility and support.
The thing to remember is, believing bisexual people—and standing with them will make a real, measurable difference. You can read more about it in the article on TIME, written by Angela Haupt.
