Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma ?

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I agree there is a stigma and its why very few people know i also like women. If im asked i will say I'm straight because i know alot of people think bi equals unfaithful, slut, can't make up your mind, wants to sleep with more than one person at a time ect...... I don't want to be associated with any of those things because they are not true of me. Some people just can't get their head around the fact that all it means is that i can fall for someone regardless of weather they are male or female, they also have a hard time understanding that im 100% faithful to whoever im dating and that if im dating a woman its doesn't mean i want to go be with a man and if im dating a man it doesn't mean i want to go be with a woman. Its really annoying having to explain this to everyone i have told so far. The only ones who know im bi are a few family members and whoever i date.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I notice. Trust me, i notice. I am bisexual, i cant say I'm "proud" or necessarily "Ashamed" but i have noticed on the rare occasion i cme out to someone they give me a tough time about it, from both the LGBT side and the Straight side

---------- Post added 12th Jun 2014 at 02:53 PM ----------

^ this

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I do think it's a stigma because people think bisexuals are greedy and etc. Personally I think people should be more accepting of the whole community it's self.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

This is how I feel too, although for me I've had a more negative reaction from the LGBT side in person than on here.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I think I heard that once or twice but in context of a joke, I dont think anyone especially in the LGBT community think that bi people are "greedy" ? if there are ppl who think that I think they r just jealous :dry:

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

ive never heard greedy, but i have been assumed to be "slutty and unfaithful" as well as had girls say theyd never date me because i also like men

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

It doesn't make sense lol ... I guess they ARE jealous ?
Just ignore them I guess, if thats their point of view then u don't wanna date them anyway!

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

People think bi means slut, unfaithful, greedy, secretly straight (if female)/gay (if male) and will always leave you for a man. Which is BS.

There are some straight girls that pretend to be bi, that actually do follow these stereotypes, which is unfortunate.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I avoid the word like the plague. It grates against the ears, opens you up to all kinds of asinine assumptions "Oh, I went through a bisexual phase when I was young too / Oh I see, so your a slut, wanna have a threesome / That doesn't exist and your on a pitstop on the way to gay town". Not to mention it implies that there are only two genders that I could be attracted too, like there aren't any others out there.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I wasn't and am not worried about a stigma. I like what I like. If there's some sort of negative connotation, that's not really my fault. Just trying to pick the most accurate label. And I hate labels, so society is lucky I'm even willing to "classify" myself so narrowly.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

it's simple really...confusing but simple

bi/pan...we get the good fortune (sarcasm) to get discriminated from outside AND inside

IT amazes me really and sorry for my tirade

So the outside world sees LGBT as ugly and offensive

Then we seek friends inside the LGBT and get told we are fakers, or greedy and selfish, or just "on the way to gay."

yeah I am not starting the discrimination Olympics but it sucks

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

Heh, try being trans and bi/pan.

The reason why both gay and straight shun bisexuals is because they are either "not straight" or "not gay enough" or "wishy washy".

I suppose that same dynamic exists between cis trans and genderqueer...

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

I think it's because bisexuality threatens people in a couple of ways. First, it upsets the nice balance we have between gay and straight, since most people can "understanding" attraction to one gender, and we pretty much throw that all flying out the door. We're seen as harder to understand and categorize, almost devious, since others are always wondering what we're thinking.

Then, you have the idea that liking guys makes a person 'feminine' and liking women makes a person 'masculine', but with bisexuals? Where do they fit in the hierarchy? It's so much easier to portray bisexual women as really straight, and only together to please straight male fantasies, and likewise, it's far less problematic to think of bisexual men as closet gays, since it takes the threat of coming too close to home for straight men, yet again. You other them, and suddenly, they're a part of that deranged, diseased minority.

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

Yeah, I avoid the term too... Usually I come out by saying "I don't mind gender" or something like tht... but people have labelled me as bi and they sy it in a bad way, believe me.
Like "you like her? beware, dude, don't mess with her, she's BISEXUAL". lol

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

Actually I think is the opposite: gay people are afraid to come out as gay so they lie saying they're bisexual because it's more tolerated

 

Re: Is it me or are a lot of people scared to identify as bisexual because of stigma

Huh, have you been living under rocks? Calling yourself bisexual is absolutely not "more tolerated" by mainstream society. At least when a guy comes out as gay, people generally believe him, there are a wide variety of support networks available to him, and it's easier to find role models and a community to call home.

Bisexual? You get comments like the one you just typed.