In this day and age, it seems that bisexual people are definitely increasing in numbers. However, all of us bisexuals go through the same types of struggles. Every day brings a new struggle. Here are some of mine, and if you’re bisexual, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

The joke isn’t on you, it is you.

Everyone assumes that your sexuality is just a joke, something that is meant to be made fun of. I’ve never understood this, and I don’t know why someone would ever think that I was joking when I say I’m bisexual, but it’s something that actually happens. People automatically ask stuff like, “Are you sure you’re bisexual?”, “Since when?”, “Why would you do that?” and other degrading forms of inquiries. If I was joking about it and I wasn’t serious, I would be laughing along with you and making jokes of my own. But I’ve never done that because I’m actually bisexual. Yes, I’m sure I’m bisexual. I’ve known since the fifth grade. And I would do that because I feel like both sexes are attractive. It’s not really that hard to understand, is it? I don’t think so.

The new “trendy” thing to do

Once people actually get past the jokes and laughter, which takes way too long if you ask me, the next thing they start thinking is that you’re just bisexual because it’s the new trend that’s been going around. I’ve never been one to follow any kind of trend unless I actually like it. I’ll never do something simply because it’s in style. Maybe other people are different, but I can assure you my sexuality isn’t a trend. The only trend I’ll ever follow is the “be yourself” trend because I believe that being who I am is the best way to live. It’s not a trend. And it’s definitely not a phase, Mom.

“Bi” sexual doesn’t exist.

When you tell people you’re bisexual, they’ll do the two things I said previously and they’ll also group you with lesbians/gays. There is no “bisexual” group to put us into. They automatically assume that you’re only into girls if you’re a girl and only into guys if you’re a guy. False. The meaning of the word “bisexual” is a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes. It even says so if you Google it. Why that’s so hard for anyone to understand either, I have no clue. Being bisexual doesn’t mean that I only like girls, it means I like both guys and girls.

Bisexual = attention whore.

This is, yet, another thing I don’t understand. People think that bisexuals are after everyone, trying to date everyone and get as much attention as anyone will give them. We’re not after everyone. Being bisexual just means we’re open to more people, not that we’re trying to prey on innocent people who clearly aren’t into us. We know who we’re into, what kind of people we like, and if you’re one of those people you should be honored instead of disgusted. You should feel lucky if we like you, because we might be omnivores but we’re picky eaters.

Scarce pickings.

Because we’re into two sexes, that means that statistically there are more people we have the option of being with. Sadly, that is not the case. People just don’t like it when someone is into them and they’re also bisexual. Seems to be it would be a rather interesting relationship, but not everyone thinks that way obviously. It seems to be a dealbreaker when you’re talking to someone you’re into and you mention that you’re bisexual. Maybe it’s because typically we’re more bitchy? Who knows. We might be a little harder to handle, a little more high maintenance, but that doesn’t mean we’re not worth it. I don’t know why people would think that way either, it’s not like we bite or anything. Hard, that is.

“That’s hot”.

The complete opposite response that we get when telling people we’re into both sexes is almost worse than people not liking us for it. It’s when you’re talking to a guy who you think is really cute, and you finally tell him that you’re bisexual, and immediately he rambles off with the typical, “that’s hot”. No. No, it is not. We aren’t bisexual so that your dick can get hard off the thought of us making out with another girl, we’re bisexual because we like both sexes. We don’t care that you think it’s hot. It’s not to get more attention from you, it’s not a ploy to ask for a threesome. We don’t want threesomes. We just like both sexes, we can’t help it. And also, we would appreciate it if you wouldn’t think about us that way. It’s really disgusting.

Preferences are definitely a thing.

There are some bisexual girls who prefer girls. There are some bisexual girls who prefer guys. There are some bisexual guys who prefer girls. There are some bisexual guys that prefer guys. Everyone has their preferences. I won’t disclose mine here, but I do, like every other bisexual person, have preferences. That shouldn’t affect anything.

The LGBTPQ+ community neglect.

This sounds a little negative, and maybe it’s not as negative as it seems, but it always feels like the LGBTPQ+ people always tend to not care about us. They don’t include us in a lot of things. A great example would be that when people think of LGBTPQ+, they think about three things mainly: gays, lesbians, and transgenders. Bisexuals aren’t included on that list. It doesn’t make any sense to me. We should fit in, but in most cases, it seems like we just don’t. We're not gay enough to be the G in LGBTPQ+, and we're not lesbian enough to be the L in LGBTPQ+, and even thought we have our own letter in the acronym, we definitely don't feel like we do.

There definitely downsides to being bisexual, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I love myself for who I am, sexuality and all. If no one else does, so be it.