I finally jumped on the bandwagon. I finally started the Netflix original, "Orange is the New Black," and though I know it's a post-humanism social commentary, the word "phase" is thrown around far too often. I believe I can speak without giving any spoilers, seeing as that I'm only still in Season 1, but the main character, Piper Chapman, calls her past relationship with fellow inmate Alex Vausse "a phase." This bout of homosexuality is just her rebellious, post-university "phase." Sure, this relationship would eventually lead to her 15-month sentence in prison, but this is "edgy Piper's phase."
Again, I get it. The show makes statements about the thoughts of society by blatantly stating the racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. That's the point; it's a post-humanism work that gives an inside look at just how terrible incarcerated women are treated by correctional officers, authorities of any sort and even their friends and family on the outside. These offensive views are simply being brought to the public to arise awareness that some people truly are that ignorant and closed-minded. That doesn't mean it doesn't arise some anger.
I am bisexual. For those of you, family or friends, who were not aware, I suppose this is my "coming out" to you. My apologies that it wasn't more personal, or that you weren't informed at all, but the "straight is the norm" idea is one that I am vehemently against, and you know what they say about when you assume. Back to topic, as a woman who identifies as bisexual, Piper's constant mention of her "phase" is something that is sure to strike a nerve. Being someone who finds a romantic attraction to both males and females, which gender is my "phase?" I have dated one man and one woman, which one is to be seen as genuine, and one as a cry for attention? A relationship being a "cry for attention" in the first place is absolutely repulsive. A love for another person fabricated to "get back" at society? Who is even capable of such heartless actions? Am I some kind of monster because I can give love to a man or a woman?
Bisexuals have a hard enough reputation in the LGBT+ community. We're "too straight" to be considered marginalized, but "too gay" to be considered "normal." Ideas like this being more scoffs and scorn. Being told that dating one gender or another is "just a phase" to overcome, to call it a "lesbian phase" and "move past it to men," is a further detriment to our identities.
With hate crimes like the one at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, we, as an LGBT+ community, must stand together in solidarity. The "B" does indeed stand for bisexuality — we are a marginalized orientation as well, and in a world that is only waking up to acceptance of natural human feelings, we all need to stand together. We stand together as humans, and that is not "just a phase."
