Bi+ Info: What it Means to Be a B(ee)
Bisexuality and Bi+
The BRC uses “bisexual” and “bi+” as umbrella terms for people who recognize and honor their potential for sexual and emotional attraction to more than one gender (bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, fluid, queer, asexual, and other free identifers). We celebrate and affrm the diversity of identity and expression regardless of labels.
It’s a common misconception that people who identify as bisexual are only interested in the binary genders of male and female. While it’s true that this may have been the origin of the word, we prefer the broader definition of “being interested in genders like yours and genders different from yours.” These help create a more inclusive model of bisexuality.
“I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge that I have in myself 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.”
Challenges for Bi+ Folks
Bi+ people are less likely to be out than their gay counterparts, and at a higher risk for mental health struggles and intimate partner violence.
Discrimination, isolation, and stress contribute to higher smoking and substance use disorder rates in the bi+ community.
Our identities can be forgotten about or even "fetishized" in negative ways, such as a straight man assuming a bi+ woman will always want to have a threesome with another woman.
Celebrations for Bi+ Folks
Pride is only one of the places bi+ folks gather to celebrate their culture and identities.
Bi+ Mythbusting
If I'm in a relationship with a different gender, doesn't that make them straight? Or gay, if I'm with a person of the same gender?
To answer this, let's consider the werewolf - whether they are currently in human or wolf form, they haven’t stopped being a werewolf. Similarly, in the same way that straight people are still straight when they’re single, bi+ people are still bi+ when they’re dating someone.
So you think you're bi+...now what?
Congratulations on your self-exploration! Now is the time to read up as much as you can! We especially recommend the below links!