Misconceptions About Bisexuality That Need To Stop

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There’s a large group of people out there who believe that bisexuality isn’t “real.” Or that bisexuality is something that people turn to when they’re just confused about their sexuality. A lot of people associate bisexual people with character traits like being overtly sexual, always flirty and super social. And the same people who think all of those things are still totally respectful of the gay community. How does this disparity happen? If we understand that sexuality can diverge from heterosexuality, shouldn’t we understand that it can diverge in several ways? Here are 15 misconceptions about bisexuality that need to stop.

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It’s something people just try

Bisexuality is not just something that people try for a short phase and leave. Over ninety percent of people who try bisexuality continue living a bisexual lifestyle throughout their lives.

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And open relationships

Bisexual people don’t get any less or more jealous than straight or gay people. Most bisexual people, when they’re in a relationship with one person, like to be committed to that one person.

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People only go from straight to bi

A lot of people think that the direction of sexuality is always straight to bisexual. But in fact plenty of people who spend a lot of their life in homosexual unions end up realizing later in life that they are bisexual.

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Coming out isn’t a thing

It is as big of a deal for a bisexual person to come out as bisexual as it is for a gay person to come out as gay, so treat your friend with compassion and understanding and support when he or she opens up to you.

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It’s a transition to homosexuality

Bisexuality isn’t just a stop on the way to homosexuality. Plenty of people remain bisexual their entire lives.

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Only women are really bi

A lot of people believe that only women can be bisexual while men can only either be straight or gay. No, both genders can be bisexual.

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You have to try it to know if you are it

This is simply not true. Did you have to be physically with whatever gender you’re attracted to before you knew you were attracted to them? Not likely. Bisexual people don’t need to be with both genders before they know they are bisexual.

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It’s all for attention

As a matter of fact, most bisexuals wish their sexuality did not get them attention. You probably wouldn’t like it if the entire restaurant stared at you when you were trying to flirt with somebody.

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Ratios and percentages matter

If the bisexual person is a woman who mostly sleeps with women, then she’s mostly a lesbian and not bi, right? Wrong. Percentages and ratios don’t make the sexuality. If a person is attracted to both genders, no matter how many people they’ve been from either sex, they are simply bisexual.

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It’s an excuse to cheat

Just like bisexual people aren’t more prone to having open relationships, they also aren’t more prone to cheating. Bisexuals are just as capable of committing to one person as any sexuality.

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It’s an excuse to be promiscuous

Some people think bisexuals use their fluid sexuality as an excuse to sleep with lots of people, but actually, bisexuals do not have some enormous sexual appetite that always needs to be satisfied.

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Bisexuals are attracted to everybody

Bisexuals have a filter just like anybody else (because they’re human just like anybody else). So, no, your bisexual friend isn’t checking you out.

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You can ask a bisexual anything

Some people think they can ask bisexuals all sorts of questions about their sex lives—like which gender is better at oral etc. Bisexuals value their privacy just as much as anybody else.

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Bisexuals are super social

Bisexuals can be shy, just like anybody else. Being attracted to both genders doesn’t mean they like interacting with people any more than anybody else.