Bisexuality: Not Just A Myth

Our society seems to be in denial of bisexuality. Often, people can comprehend if a person is straight or gay, but not bisexual (or another sexual orientation that doesn't fit either). However, the truth in it all is that sexuality isn't black and white. Being bisexual is having an attraction to both males and females. The concept seems easy enough, but there are still people who don't get it.

There are so many myths out there about people who identify as bisexual. For example, in television shows especially, bisexuality is shown as a "phase" that teenage girls go through. And while some people may experiment during their teenage years (which is not wrong at all), sexuality is not ever set in stone. As people go through life, they might find who they like changing. And that's completely okay. I am sure that every single person was once attracted to one person who they no longer are to anymore, or becomes attracted to someone they never were to before. Alike that, sexuality can change.

Here are some myths and facts about bisexuality:

1. Bisexuality is all about sex.

Wrong. Attraction is a key word that I have been using. When looking at anyone within the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans) community, the media often portrays bisexual relationships as entirely physical, revolving around sex. While being physically attracted to someone may be important, there are other ways of being attracted to them too. After all, you can be attracted not only physically and sexually, but emotionally, spiritually, and other ways as well.

2. Bisexuality isn't real - it's just people who can't make up their mind.

Wrong again. I've heard it many times too, when people ask, "Why can't you just choose one?" That's speaking as if it were a choice in the first place. A person who has the potential to love either gender doesn't mean that they just can't make up their mind. That's just like saying a person who likes two different flavours of ice cream should pick one and never be allowed to have the other. It makes no sense.

3. Bisexuality is just an excuse for cheating. 

Wrong, yet again. Many people think that people who are bisexual are just being greedy. It has nothing to do with greed. Just because a person is bisexual, it does not mean that they are attracted to every single person, or have the inability to be part of a committed relationship (That being said, it's not always 50% attraction to females and 50% attraction to males, often it varies.) Cheating isn't something that is caused by sexual orientation, but by the will to cheat, something that can happen with a person with any sexuality.

It's extremely important to refer to someone the way that they identify. If someone comes out to you as bisexual, they are not coming out as being gay. Refer to them however they identify themselves. They are the experts in their own lives.