Earlier this month, New York-based author Eliel Cruz published an article called “13 Lies We Have to Stop Telling About Bisexuals.” In it, he examines the ways that biphobia pervades our culture, a reality that continues to perpetuate unfair stereotypes about bisexual people, and eliminates their autonomy. “Despite all of the gains the LGBT community has made, bisexuals are still looked upon with confusion – or outright scorn – by gays, lesbians and straight people alike. From people asking me if I was ‘full-blown gay yet’ to people questioning my motivations, I’ve probably heart it all,” explains Cruz.
Despite being part of the LGBT umbrella, bisexual people are marginalized in ways that gay, lesbian, and transgender people are often not. Bisexual erasure is one of the biggest issues the bisexual community faces; without giving a voice to bisexual people, their own narratives and experiences are replaced by media misrepresentations, stereotypes, and outright discrimination. Here are Cruz’s 13 lies we have to stop telling bisexuals:
- Bisexuals don’t exist.
- Bisexuals are just going through a phase.
- Bisexuals are sexually greedy.
- Bisexuals are cheaters.
- All bisexuals are polyamorous.
- Bisexuals are scared of commitment.
- All women are bisexual.
- Bisexuals are attracted to anything that moves.
- Bisexuals are only attracted to binary genders.
- Bisexuals spread HIV.
- Bisexuals live for threesomes.
- Bi-erasure is a myth.
- Bisexuals are a small community.
If you identify as bisexual, or if even you’re just an ally, you know that these myths about bisexual people range from downright hurtful to completely false and statistically incorrect. This LGBT Pride Month, let’s do our best to be inclusive of all identities that exist within the LGBT community. If we’re fighting for a more equal world, there is no room for discrimination of any kind to exist.
What other myths are you tired of hearing about bisexuals?