Bisexuality Awareness Month: 5 Facts About the Bisexual Community

Bisexuality is an often misunderstood and underrepresented identity, so it's becoming increasingly crucial to use Bisexual Visibility Month as an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding. From outdated stereotypes to mental health statistics, here are five key facts about bisexuality to promote visibility, acceptance, and inclusivity for an overlooked identity within the LGBTQ+ community.

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Bisexuality is the Most Common Sexuality in the LGBTQ+ Spectrum

According to research from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 50% of people in the queer community who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, identify as bisexual. This makes bisexuality the most common sexuality within the LGBTQ+ community.

The Continued Presence of Biphobia

Biphobia is still prevalent within much of the queer community, with many disregarding it as a valid or even a real sexual orientation. It’s time for the entire LGBTQ+ community to take a firm stand against bi-phobic stereotypes and behavior.

Misconceptions Around Bisexual Attraction

Identifying as bisexual doesn’t necessarily mean attraction to men and women, split 50/50 both ways. Lots of bisexual people can experience a strong preference for a particular gender. The term also doesn’t strictly mean attraction to only men and women, but simply to two or more genders.

Tackling Stereotypes

Despite stereotypes, a bisexual person dating someone of the opposite sex does not make them straight, nor does dating someone of the same sex make them gay. Regardless of who they are or are not romantically involved with, they are always bisexual.

Mental Health in the Bisexual Community

Studies from the Royal College of Psychiatrists show that bisexual people suffer significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety than gay, lesbian and heterosexual people. It’s suggested that this is because they face discrimination from both cisgender heterosexual people and from members of the queer community.

September is Bisexual Visibility Month, when we uplift the voices of the Bisexual community to explore how we can better support them. In honor of Bisexual Visibility Month, myGwork is hosting a panel discussing the experiences of bisexual professionals.

From exploring biphobia - within the LGBTQ+ community, and beyond it - to looking at some of the myths and harmful stereotypes that people have about Bisexual people, we'll be listening to our panelists to find out how we can be better allies and combat bi-phobic narratives anywhere we see them.

Sign up for the panel here!