The LGBTQ+ community experiences struggle as a whole, but there are some fights that are unique to each letter. The bisexual community tends to blend in with the background at times, and there are tons of stereotypes bisexuals face. These are the struggles unique to the B in LGBTQ+.
1. “So which one do you like more?”
Giphy"Do you like men or women more?" Oh, hold on. Let me get out my handy dandy meter that determines how attracted I am to all the genders. Okay, so I'm 23% attracted to… No, that's not how it works. There's no measuring that. You wouldn't ask a straight person how straight are they, right?
2. “But you’re in a heterosexual relationship though?”
GiphyOkay. Let's get this straightened out right now. Bisexual people who are in heterosexual relationships doesn't change the fact that they are bisexual.
3. “So threesome or nah?”
GiphyNO. STOP. Turn off that X rated junk for a second and come back to reality. Being bisexual doesn't mean we want everyone all the time. Maybe some do. That's totally fine, but don't assume that being attracted to both genders means a pass at reenacting some video you watched online. Bisexual people also have boundaries of what is and is not okay in a relationship just like literally everyone else.
4. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were bi.”
GiphySome people completely ignore the B in LGBTQ+. They think what you see is simply what it is. If you're a bisexual in a homosexual relationship, they think you're gay/lesbian; if you're a bisexual in a heterosexual relationship, they think you're straight. The B in LGBTQ+ is there for a reason, everyone.
5. “You just need to find the right man/woman!
GiphyWell… yeah. Isn't that what everyone wants in their life? To have their significant other be "the one?" Oh, wait… You mean to turn me straight. No, honey. That's not how it works. Go back to number 3 please.
6. “Yeah, I’ve experimented a bit in college too.”
GiphyOne prevalent stereotypes about bisexuals is that they are simply experimenting to see which gender they like more. That's not what the B stands for. What those people are thinking of is Q, the people who are questioning and still exploring their identity. (PSA: The Q also stands for queer.) Bisexual people know they are bisexual. It's not some lifelong experiment. End of story.
7. “You’re just being greedy.”
GiphyBisexuals are not being greedy because they're indecisive, hypersexual, or whatever the stereotype claims. The idea that bisexuals are greedy for being attracted to men and women is insane. Lesbians don't want all women, gay men don't want all men, and straight people don't want everyone of the opposite gender. So why should bisexuals be singled out to believe they want everyone they're attracted to?
8. “No one is really bisexual.”
GiphyI've come to the conclusion that some people really, really, really have a hard time believing that you can in fact be attracted to both men and women. In fact, biphobia is even a problem in the LGBTQ+ community. The beauty of being human is that we are diverse. Despite our differences, we all deserve respect, even if we don't quite understand what each other. Maybe bisexuality isn't real to you, but it's very real to the people who identify as bisexual.
