Perceptions and discrimination Bisexuality

like people of other lgbt sexualities, bisexuals face discrimination. in addition discrimination associated homophobia, bisexuals contend discrimination gay men, lesbians, , straight society around word bisexual , bisexual identity itself. belief bisexual (especially women opposed men), or bisexuality not exist unique identity, common. stems 2 views: in heterosexist view, people presumed sexually attracted opposite sex, , reasoned bisexual person heterosexual person sexually experimenting. in monosexist view, believed people cannot bisexual unless equally sexually attracted both sexes, regulating sexual orientation being sex or gender 1 prefers. in view, people either exclusively homosexual (gay/lesbian) or exclusively heterosexual (straight), closeted homosexual people wish appear heterosexual, or heterosexuals experimenting sexuality. assertions 1 cannot bisexual unless equally sexually attracted both sexes, however, disputed various researchers, have reported bisexuality fall on continuum, sexuality in general.

male bisexuality particularly presumed non-existent, sexual fluidity studies adding debate. in 2005, researchers gerulf rieger, meredith l. chivers, , j. michael bailey used penile plethysmography measure arousal of self-identified bisexual men pornography involving men , pornography involving women. participants recruited via advertisements in gay-oriented magazines , alternative paper. found self-identified bisexual men in sample had genital arousal patterns similar either homosexual or heterosexual men. authors concluded in terms of behavior , identity, bisexual men exist , male bisexuality had not been shown exist respect arousal or attraction. assertion of bailey men arousal orientation criticized fairness , accuracy in reporting (fair) simplification neglects account behavior , self-identification. further, researchers hold technique used in study measure genital arousal crude capture richness (erotic sensations, affection, admiration) constitutes sexual attraction. national gay , lesbian task force called study , new york times coverage of flawed , biphobic.

the american institute of bisexuality stated bailey s study misinterpreted , misreported both new york times , critics. in 2011, bailey , other researchers reported among men history of several romantic , sexual relationships members of both sexes, high levels of sexual arousal found in response both male , female sexual imagery. subjects recruited craigslist group men seeking intimacy both members of heterosexual couple. authors said change in recruitment strategy important difference, may not have been representative sample of bisexual-identified men. concluded bisexual-identified men bisexual arousal patterns indeed exist , not establish whether such pattern typical of bisexual-identified men in general.

bisexual erasure (or bisexual invisibility) tendency ignore, remove, falsify, or reexplain evidence of bisexuality in culture, history, academia, news media , other primary sources. in extreme form, bisexual erasure includes denying bisexuality exists. manifestation of biphobia, although not involve overt antagonism.

there increasing inclusion , visibility of bisexuals, particularly in lgbt community. american psychologist beth firestone writes since wrote first book on bisexuality, in 1996, bisexuality has gained visibility, although progress uneven , awareness of bisexuality still minimal or absent in many of more remote regions of our country , internationally.