The LGBTIQ+ community is extremely well-known as a close-knitted group for all individuals that identify as anywhere in the queer spectrum of sexuality and or gender. Indeed, the community regards it as a fostering hub for all to support and love one another, especially for those who do not feel accepted within the general populace or even face discrimination for who they simply love or identify as. As such, one may not expect any kind of prejudice for those within the community and would assume that every member supports one another unconditionally. This feeling can especially be the case nowadays, as more people are coming out, resulting in the community growing steadily.
Unfortunately, that isn’t always true, even within a group considered openly accepting, as surprising as it sounds. Individuals who identify as bisexual, in particular, are the ones who often feel neglected or even suffer from discrimination by other members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Discrimination and Neglect
Biphobia is an issue that is much more rampant than many may realize. In a report completed by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, many bisexual individuals “experience high rates of being ignored, discriminated against, demonized, or rendered invisible by both the heterosexual world and the lesbian and gay communities” (Martin Rawlings-Fein et al.). This has resulted in the coined term “bi-invisibility,” which means “a lack of acknowledgment and ignoring of the clear evidence that bisexuals exist” (Martin Rawlings-Fein et al.). As such, bisexuals often have to endure intolerance that ends up isolating them from other members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Emilie E. Doan Van and her colleagues also describe the concept of “binegativity.” Van explains that “binegativity includes the belief that bisexuals are confused about their sexuality or that bisexuality does not exist, concern that bisexual individuals are promiscuous, and the belief that bisexual individuals do not make trustworthy partners” (Van et al.). She lists common forms of discrimination that they go through, including “microaggressions, brief daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities that communicate hostile or derogatory slights toward members of oppressed groups” (Van et al.). People who lack understanding of bisexual individuals will often unfairly label them as untrustworthy.
Furthermore, in a study conducted by Corey E. Flanders and other colleagues, thirty-five women who identified as bisexual were interviewed about their negative experiences within the LGBTIQ+ space. Many of them had expressed strife between them and the other members. One woman had specifically discussed her experiences attending a Pride event with her boyfriend; she mentioned how they “did a march” together and kissed her boyfriend in happiness (Flanders et al.). However, instead of receiving support, she mentioned how “people started booing us” (Flanders et al.) in the assumption of them being a heterosexual couple.
Through these interviews, Flanders and their colleagues concluded that bisexual women often “report worse mental health outcomes in comparison to young heterosexual and lesbian women” and that they “perceive monosexism and biphobia as significant challenges to their mental health at the institutional, community, interpersonal, and intrapersonal level” (Flanders et al.). Therefore, the LGBTIQ+ community discriminates against bisexual people for their attraction towards the opposite sex in a similar manner that those outside of it ridicule them for their attraction towards the same sex.
Effects and Results
Emilie E. Doan Van and her colleagues go in-depth to explain the negative results and effects of discrimination against bisexual individuals. Van mentions how “bisexuals have the most adverse physical health outcomes among sexual minority groups” and that “compared to heterosexual women, bisexual women are more likely to report back problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, and digestive complaints” (Van et al.). She also mentions how “bisexual-specific minority stress is associated with more psychological distress and suicidality among bisexuals” and that “greater bisexual-specific minority stress is significantly associated with poorer overall physical health, greater pain, and poorer general health among bisexual adults beyond the effects of sexual minority stress alone” (Van et al.). These effects become even more challenging when exacerbated by other life factors, such as poor living conditions, a hostile work environment, and living with unaccepting family or other people.
Overall, bisexual people – and especially bisexual women – experience a range of distress due to outside mistreatment against them, compared to other members of the LGBTIQ+ community as well as heterosexual people.
Healing and Support
There are a plethora of ways that bisexual individuals can heal and improve from the fatigue of discrimination. They can do so by attending mental health therapy or counseling. Van mentions that “mental health counseling may be positive and strengthen individuals’ resilience to discrimination” (Van et al.). As such, having a trusted medical therapist hear one’s concerns and lend some advice and comfort can significantly improve one’s mental health.
Another way that bisexuals can heal is by finding a support group or a group with like-minded individuals. These days, it is relatively easy to find people of the same sexuality and experiences online on social media or other apps where you can connect with others. Not only does it let you meet different people with the same sexuality for genuine support, but it also may offer you a chance to meet them in person one day and an opportunity to learn more about them and their different areas of residence.
Lastly, consuming media with accurate representations of bisexuality can improve one’s feelings of bisexuality. Being able to see proper depictions of others with the same sexuality and experiences can give one a sense of comfort and acceptance, as well as boost confidence in themselves and an outlet they can relate to. Bisexual individuals can find representation in books, video games, television shows, movies, and comics.