{"id":56476,"date":"2017-09-23T12:00:32","date_gmt":"2017-09-23T16:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/5-quick-biweek-tips-for-not-being-biphobic\/"},"modified":"2017-09-23T12:00:32","modified_gmt":"2017-09-23T16:00:32","slug":"5-quick-biweek-tips-for-not-being-biphobic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/5-quick-biweek-tips-for-not-being-biphobic\/","title":{"rendered":"5 quick #BiWeek tips for not being biphobic"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 quick #BiWeek tips for not being biphobic<\/b><\/p>\n

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GLAAD<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The bisexual<\/a>+ (bisexual<\/a>, pansexual, fluid, queer, etc.) community continues to face pervasive erasure, invisibility, and stigma from both gay<\/a> and straight communities alike . This stigma has serious, real-life consequences for the bisexual<\/a>+ community, including suffering from higher rates of depression, substance-abuse, and suicide than their gay<\/a> and straight peers. Here are five pitfalls for you to avoid in order to not be biphobic.<\/p>\n

1. Avoid calling bisexual<\/a>+ people gay<\/a> or straight<\/h2>\n

If someone clearly states that they identify as bisexual<\/a>+, do not identify them as gay<\/a> or lesbian<\/a> instead. Simply because a person is currently in a same-sex<\/a> relationship, that does not negate one’s bisexual<\/a> orientation. Similarly, if a person is in what appears to be a heterosexual relationship, it does not negate one’s bisexual<\/a> orientation. A person\u2019s orientation is not defined by who that person is dating, but rather by how they identify.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

2. Avoid forcing bisexuals<\/a>+ to “prove” their sexuality<\/h2>\n

A person does not need to have had sexual or romantic history with people of multiple genders to identify as bisexual<\/a>+. Someone may have had relationships with people of the same gender or a different gender exclusively, and still identify as bisexual<\/a>+ because they feel attraction to people of multiple genders. Relationship history does not define a bisexual<\/a>+ person’s identity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

3. Avoid suggesting bisexuality+ is a phase<\/h2>\n

Do not imply that being bisexual<\/a>+ is a phase and that bisexuals<\/a>+ are “on their way” to being gay<\/a> or lesbian<\/a> or straight. People who self-identify as bisexual<\/a>+ are not confused, indecisive, or lying. Studies consistently show that bisexuality+ is a distinct sexual orientation and not an experimental or transitional stage.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

4. Avoid calling bisexuals<\/a>+ \u201cpromiscuous\u201d<\/h2>\n

A common stereotype is that all bisexual<\/a>+ people do not want to be, or cannot be, monogamous. This is simply not true. Bisexual+ people are just as capable of forming monogamous relationships as straight, gay<\/a>, and lesbian<\/a> people. It is inaccurate and harmful to imply that bisexual<\/a>+ people are more “promiscuous” than others. Since the 1990s, there has been a tendency to blame “promiscuous” bisexual<\/a>+ people for spreading HIV and other diseases to the “general population.” This is a blatantly false and harmful stereotype. One’s type of relationship or sexual activity do not relate to sexual orientation. Heterosexual, gay<\/a>, lesbian<\/a> and bisexual<\/a>+ people may choose to be non-monogamous for various reasons during their lifetime.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

5. Avoid claiming bisexuality+ doesn’t exist<\/h2>\n

Bisexuality+ is a sexual orientation with a long history and a large population. In fact, more than half of people who are not straight identify as bisexual<\/a>+. Bisexuals+ often have their identities erased by people outside and inside the LGBTQ community who claim being bi<\/a>+ is a phase, not a distinct identity, or changes depending one’s relationship status. The assertion that bisexuality is a fake identity is actively harmful and often results in bi<\/a>+ people being excluded from services or social spaces, or feeling unsafe in disclosing their identity. People in same-sex<\/a> relationships can be still bisexual<\/a>+, and people in different-sex<\/a> relationships can be still bisexual<\/a>+.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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All tips are adapted from GLAAD’s Bi Media Resource Guide<\/a> . Have other tips for not being biphobic? Tweet us @GLAAD with the hashtag #BiWeek.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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September 23, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n