Biphobia and Bisexuality Erasure

Stigma and its negative effects on bisexual and pansexual people; with some resources that can help.

In the United States, approximately 7% of the population identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ umbrella, and 4% of this percentage identified as bisexual, making them the largest group in the LGBTQ+ survey, including more than gay and lesbian respondents. (5) Bisexual and pansexual people are attracted to people of more than one gender.

What is Biphobia and Bisexuality Erasure?

Bisexual and pansexual (who can be attracted to a multitude of genders and gender expressions) people can experience biphobia from heterosexual and homosexual people alike. (11) Biphobia is an umbrella term that can encompass negative (and unfounded) stereotypes and opinions that people can have toward bisexual people, such as that they are more promiscuous than monosexual people, “haven’t decided what sexuality to choose,” “going through a phase,” or that they are untrustworthy. (8) On the other hand, “bisexuality erasure” is the experience that bisexual or pansexual people can face of invalidation that their sexuality is “real,” and they can experience a lack of visibility in the LGBTQIA+ community, facing discrimination from both heterosexual and homosexual people. (8)

Bisexuality and pansexuality are very real sexual identities and shouldn’t be marginalized. The marginalization and the discrimination that bisexual and pansexual people face just because they can be attracted to more than one gender can have detrimental effects.

Effects of Biphobia

When compared to people who are sexually attracted to one gender, bisexual or pansexual people can experience increased mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression. (1, 7, 12, 11) One study posits that negative symptoms and mental health concerns for bisexual and pansexual people are caused by them denying their sexual identity due to potential or lived discrimination and prejudice by people who are only attracted to one gender - they have likely experienced their sexuality being perceived as a “stepping stone” toward “choosing one gender to be attracted to” or have their sexuality perceived as illegitimate or abnormal when compared to heterosexual or homosexual people. (2, 12) Bisexual and pansexual people can experience anticipatory stigma, expecting that they will be stigmatized due to their sexuality, which, in turn, generates poorer mental health. (12) Additionally, as part of the sexual and gender minority community, bisexual people can experience discrimination and negative bias and be stereotyped by both heterosexual and homosexual people, generating a sense of “not belonging” or loneliness. (2, 9) Alarmingly, being bisexual can increase the vulnerability that cisgender women will be dehumanized by others and sexually assaulted. (3, 6)

Resources to Help Bisexual and Pansexual People

Although the above information looks pretty dire and bleak, there is hope! Some things can help bisexual and pansexual people so that they feel more accepted and decrease and mitigate negative experiences.

Therapy: Therapy with a therapist who is culturally competent about the possible stigma and corners of LGBTQIA+ people, in this instance, mainly what can come up for bisexual and pansexual clients, is critical! (7) Although not all therapists will disclose, you can ask your therapist any questions. You can check in with them regarding any training, lived experience, knowledge, or preconceived notions that a therapist may have regarding bisexuality or pansexuality. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and it’s essential for you, as a client, to feel comfortable in therapy.

Self-Compassion: If you are struggling with your sexual identity as a bisexual or a pansexual person, please keep in mind that sexuality is fluid, and there are no rules! You are just attracted to who you are attracted to, and gender may or may not affect your attraction to others. Increasing a sense of self-compassion for yourself and integrating positive feelings about your sexual identity, along with receiving support from friends and resources, can combat stigmatizing views that you could receive from other people or ones that you may have internalized over time. (13) Please be kind to yourself.

Building Community and Resources: Building a community with bi and pan-inclusive people is essential! Below, I’ve noted some national and local Los Angeles organizations and resources. If you know of anything else, please let me know!

• American Institute of Bisexuality: Organization that helps foster bi-visibility, inclusivity, research, and community involvement.

• Bisexual Resource Center: An organization that helps bisexual and pansexual people connect; they were created and have been a non-profit since the 1980s. They have a wealth of resources, and I recommend checking them out!

• amBi Los Angeles Meetup Group: A Meetup group for bisexual and pansexual people and activists in the Los Angeles area. In addition to activism, they have many social events so you can build your community!

• Los Angeles Bi+ Task Resource: As noted on their website, they are “a grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes education, advocacy, and cultural enrichment for the bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and other non-monosexual ("bi+") communities and allies in the Greater Los Angeles area.”

• Still Bisexual: An organization that aims to increase bi-visibility, educate people about bisexuality, and work to improve the mental health of bisexual/pan people by advocating in Los Angeles.

Books:

• Claiming the B in LGBT: Illuminating the Bisexual Narrative, edited by Kate Harrad and Symon Hill

• Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality by Julia Shaw

• Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much by Jen Winston

• Bisexual Married Men: Stories of Relationships, Acceptance, and Authenticity by Robert Cohen

References

1. Cavanaugh, C., & Wismar, A. (2024). Examining whether the impact of different types of interpersonal violence and mental disorders on attempted suicide is greater for bisexual women. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(5), 810–816. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001448

2. Godfrey, L. M., & Whitton, S. W. (2024). A latent profile analysis of bi+ women’s minority stress experiences: Associations with partner gender. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000738

3. Grove, M., & Johnson, N. L. (2023). The relationship between social group prejudice and vulnerability to sexual violence in bisexual women. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 10(4), 549–559. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000561

4. Israel, T., Choi, A. Y., Goodman, J. A., Matsuno, E., Lin, Y.-J., Kary, K. G., & Merrill, C. R. S. (2019). Reducing internalized binegativity: Development and efficacy of an online intervention. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6(2), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000314

5. Jones, J. M. M. (2024, April 3). LGBTQ+ identification in U.S.. now at 7.6%. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/611864/lgbtq-identification.aspx

6. McConnell, A. A., & Messman-Moore, T. L. (2019). Hazardous drinking, antibisexual prejudice, and sexual revictimization among bisexual women: A moderated mediation model. Psychology of Violence, 9(5), 526–535. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000211

7. Monceaux, C. P., Wilcox, M. M., & Abbott, D. M. (2021). The role of moral reasoning and attitudes regarding bisexuality in the development of bisexual counseling competence. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 8(4), 472–486. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000433

8. Pitt, M., Taylor, P., & Dunlop, B. J. (2023). Bisexual women’s experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy: A qualitative exploration. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000638

9. Salim, S. R., & Messman, T. L. (2024). Suicidal thoughts among young bisexual women: Sexual violence, minority stress, and interpersonal factors. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000752

10. Skakoon-Sparling, S., Cox, J., Lachowsky, N. J., Kirschbaum, A. L., Berlin, G. W., Gaspar, M., Adam, B. D., Brennan, D. J., Moore, D. M., Apelian, H., Sang, J. M., Jollimore, J., Grace, D., Grey, C., & Hart, T. A. (2022). Minority stressors and connectedness among urban gay, bisexual, and queer men. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 23(2), 245–256. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000388

11. Tavarez, J. (2024). 'There’s people out there doing more than me…’: Activist burnout among bisexual college students within LGBTQ campus spaces. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 17(4), 588–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000442

12. Thöni, C., Eisner, L., & Hässler, T. (2024). Not straight enough, nor queer enough: Identity denial, stigmatization, and negative affect among bisexual and pansexual people. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 11(2), 237–249. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000606

13. Woulfe, J. M., & Goodman, L. A. (2020). Weaponized oppression: Identity abuse and mental health in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Psychology of Violence, 10(1), 100–109.