In a world where bisexuality doesn't seem to fit in, the community needs a representation from a celebrity. It is difficult to be accepted as bisexual. Often, those who are bisexual are told that they do not belong. This is heard often, but was never more clear to me than when I read the comments on an article recently published by People Magazine online.
The article is in response to actress Bella Thorne coming out publicly on Twitter last week. She posted photos on social media outlets, such as Snapchat, kissing her longtime best friend Bella Pendergast. It is not yet clear if they are in a relationship. However, when asked by fans on Twitter, Thorne simply replied "Yes" to the questioning of her sexuality. She chose to recognize only the accepting and loving comments from fans, thanking them for their support.
The comments displayed on the People Magazine website are anything but accepting and loving:
This is representative of what the bisexual community experiences daily. It is saddening that people cannot find acceptance in their hearts toward bisexual people. For a long time, it has not been recognized as a sexuality, and I think it is time for a change. Bisexuality simply is a physical or romantic attraction to both sexes. It is not about being greedy. Bisexual people are dating, just like anyone else. Bisexuality does not equal polyamory. Women are not suddenly becoming bisexual, they are born this way. Bella Thorne is already established as an actress and has a great deal of films under her belt for the young age of eighteen. And for eighteen, she is old enough to understand her sexuality. Even if she was questioning, I don't believe this has to do with her age, nor is it scandalous. Being bisexual is not a way of getting attention, and hopefully someday we will live in a world where it is not controversial.
We need to care that Bella Thorne came out. Many celebrities have came out as bisexual through the years, including Megan Fox and Billie Joe Armstrong. But this is a new decade, and young people in the bisexual community need someone to look up to. Bella Thorne coming out gives bisexual youth a role model. She is a presence from both Disney Channel and teen movies, making her famous to the young generation. With any hope, Bella Thorne's announcement will help LGBTQ youth to feel comfortable in their skin. They will have someone who represents them, and will be able to ignore the ignorant comments of those who do not accept them, such as the ones we see above.
It's amazing that Thorne was brave and came out to the world, and even more so, inspiring.
