Hello, my name’s Rylee, I’m 16 years old and I️ like girls... and boys. Yes, I️ am a real life bisexual female. We’re real. And we’re mad. Mad that we are not represented properly. Mad that we're not understood. Mad at those who chose to ignore our exsistence.

We tend to be erased in the LGBT+ community. We’re not gay enough to be accepted and too gay to be straight. If we go to pride with someone of the opposite gender, we are told that we don't belong, or are only there as an ally. If we go with someone of the same sex, we are told we are gay. Both are wrong. Both hurt.

We are only present in media to please the men that are watching. We only ever date men, but we will make out with a girl if asked politely. We never have any true substance. We are never real people. They don't give us story lines. We are usually only exploring our sexuality, not ever really bisexual. In real life, we are treated just as badly.

Do you know how many times I’ve been asked insulting questions? Are you sure it’s not just a phase? Are you too afraid to come out as gay? But do you really love girls or just think they’re hot? People question my sexuality, something that took me years to accept, and then get mad at me when I️ tell them they’re being insulting. I've also been told by just about every guy I've come out to that that is soooooooo hot. Please don't do that.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on the things other girls say to me when I️ come out to them. “Oh my god, you don’t like me like that, do you?” No, I️ don’t like you like that, and now I️ don’t like you at all. I do have the ability to be around other girls without losing my mind. So don't act like I can't.

People in relationships with us also tend to treat us badly. They tend to think that we're going to cheat on them with every person we see. Or that we're secretly gay/straight and just using them as a beard.

I don't need to be told about that one time in college you kissed a girl and thought you liked girls. I'm not the same. I actually and truly find myself both romantically and sexually attracted to girls. So please stop doubting it.

I am, in no way, trying to compare the struggles of bisexual people to the struggles of gay, transgender, or any other alienated peoples. I am just saying that we face struggles both within and out of the LGBT+ community and have yet to been fully accepted in either.

So, if you see one of these rare bisexuals out in the wild, acknowledge their existence. Believe in them. We're like Tinkerbell, believe in us and we'll fly.