What does the B in LGBT stand for? I walked the streets of Wausau, WI to see what everyone thought, the answers were surprising.
“I think it stands for bagels. Bagels are very important in queer communities,” one young man said confidently.
“The B in LGBT obviously stands for Basketball, because ball is life.” another thought aloud.
Just as this young reporter was about to give up, I heard a voice from the distance: “The B is for Bee Movie!!” Jerry Seinfeld couldn’t save me this time.
Instead of throwing my hands up, I rose from the ashes with a sense of duty: I had to write this article.
What does the B really stand for? Of course, these answers are fictional, but it’s a fair representation of what it means to be bisexual. While the B does indeed stand for bisexual, many bisexuals often feel overlooked and as if their sexuality doesn’t exist. While there have been many historical queer activists who have been bisexual, for some reason the community has had a habit of making these individuals feel “unwanted” or that they aren’t “gay enough”. Sorry to disappoint, but the B in LGBT doesn’t stand for basketball, or bagels, or even the Bee Movie. It stands for bisexuality.
What are bisexuals? To be bisexual, is to have a romantic or sexual attraction to two or more genders, in plainest terms. Many think that in order to identify as bisexual, they have to only be attracted to men or women, but they can also be attracted to a gender or gender-neutral individuals. There also is a misunderstanding that bisexuals do not have a preference to who they’re attracted to. Bisexuals can be attracted to men and women, but they might have a sexual or romantic preference to men or male aligned people, or vice versa.
Understanding bisexualiy: What do I do when someone I love comes out as bisexual to me? The most important thing you can do is listen. Suspend your judgment, and show your friend, family member, or partner support. Figuring out your sexuality can be confusing, hard, and frustrating, and they trust you with this information for a reason. Avoid saying things like "I accept it, I just don't understand it", or "But you've only dated girls before! You can't know you're sexuality until you've tried it!". Appreciate that they're trusting you with this intimate information, and suppress the need to gossip about it.
I'm dating someone who is bisexual, should I be concerned about them cheating on me? You shouldn't be any more worried about your bisexual partner cheating on you, than you would of non-bisexual partner. The idea that bisexuals can't be faithful in relationships is another cruel stereotype. Bisexuals have, and can be monogamous for years! Every bisexual person is different, and they desire different things in relationships. While one bisexual prefers open relationships, another bisexual adores monogamy!
I think I might be bisexual, what should I do? It's important to remember that you don't have to do anything. You don't have to come out to anyone if you don't think you're ready. You should only come out when you're ready to do so, and when you're safe to do so. You should also remember that you are loved, and no matter what others say, your sexuality is valid and you're not alone.
With bisexuality awareness week coming to a close, everyone should be reminded that bisexuals are worthy of our respect all days of the year.
