My name is Riley.

I’m a 17-year-old girl, and I am a senior in high school.

I have three jobs.

I am actively participating in band, choir, speech, bowling, softball, and I am a part of many other social groups as well.

I’m a straight-A student — always on the honor roll.

I’m eighth in my class rank, and I love school.

I’ve already planned where I’m going to college, and I’m paying for it by myself.

I’ve never done drugs, and I hate the taste of alcohol.

I’m really funny and smart.

I have my head on my shoulders.

Now, knowing all of this about me, you’d say I’m probably a really good kid.

Now, let’s say theoretically that you had a daughter, would you allow us to be friends?

I promise, I’m a good influence.

Would you let us hang out at my house and yours?

Would you let us have sleepovers and all that fun stuff that teenage girls do?

Most people would have said, “Yes.”

But what if I told you I was bisexual?

Yeah, now a lot of people are changing their minds about letting their daughters be my friend — well, at least my best friend’s mom did.

I’ve been ‘out’ as bisexual since I was 11-years-old.

When I was a freshman in high school, my best friend’s mom had finally recognized that I was bisexual.

Prior to her finding out, my best friend stayed the night at my house every single weekend.

When her parents went on vacation for two weeks, she stayed at my house.

We were inseparable.

Then, one day, my best friend dropped me off at my house, and I asked her if she wanted to stay the night that night after the football game.

I noticed her eyes light up, then stopped. She turned gray and looked down.

She said, “Uh.. sorry. I can’t.”

I knew something wasn’t right, so I asked what was going on.

She told me not to tell anyone that she was telling me this, but her mom didn’t want her hanging out with me or staying at my house anymore.

When I asked her why not, she gave me ‘the look.’

I knew exactly why not, but I sat in silence and waited for her reply.

She said, “Because she found out you were bisexual. She doesn’t want me to be that way. My parents think that we’re going to do... stuff... like that.”

I couldn’t even look at her another second. I flew out of the car towards my house with an epitome of emptiness in my stomach.

This is the first time I had ever experienced the lump at the back of my throat and tears burning my eyes.

This was the first time I had ever experienced discrimination because of my sexuality.

This story did, in fact, happen to me. Not just me, but millions of other bisexual people around the world face this treatment.

It is assumed that just because we like both sexes, we are going to sexually target our friends.

This is beyond incorrect and, quite frankly, offensive.

Just because we don’t have a sexual preference does not make us offenders.

Just because a girl likes boys doesn’t mean she is going to make sexual advances toward every guy she meets.

No, I am not a boy, so I shouldn’t be treated as one.

No, I don’t want to have sex with your daughter.

Yes, I like girls.

No, I am not gay.

Yes, I like boys.

No, I am not straight.

Yes, I like both.

No, I am not "half-and-half."

I am bisexual.