Bi+ Men
Sam Lawton on bi+ men's relationships, experiences of prejudice, and negotiations of identity
Sam Lawton is a sexualities researcher at the University of Glasgow, completing a PhD project looking at bi+ men's relationships, experiences of prejudice, and negotiations of identity. Sam is part of the Bisexual Research Group.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Bisexuality is real
Bisexuality is not a phase
Bisexuality does not exclude attraction to trans and nonbinary people
Why are you interested in research on bisexuality?
I'm interested in any sexuality which is marginalised or misunderstood in society, and especially motivated to research under-explored areas which are overlooked by mainstream academia.
What does your research explore?
My work focuses on sexual identity, discrimination, and technology. I’m interested in how people come to their sexual identities and how they maintain and negotiate these over time. I’m also interested in what drives prejudice against sexual minority folk, including geographic differences, and how people use internet technology to explore their sexualities.
“My current research focuses on bi+ men and their partners’ experiences of romantic relationships and how bi-negativity impacts these relationships.”
This includes the experiences of trans folk, partnerships practicing consensual non-monogamies, and individuals with multiple sexual identities. I've conducted 18 interviews with bi+ men and their partners as a part of this.
How do you define bisexuality?
I define bisexuality as attraction to more than one gender. I also view it as an umbrella term encompassing a variety of sexualities in which attraction (romantic or sexual) is not limited to a single gender.
What are the most pressing concerns within the bisexual community in 2020?
Establishing a community in its own right, as distinct from the lesbian and gay communities
Being recognised by LGBT+ organisations as a community that has distinct challenges issues
Allyship and solidarity with trans folk
Anything else you want to share?
“I think it's difficult for people to be read as bisexual, so it's important not to be presumptuous about people as heterosexual/homosexual, try and think beyond binaries.”
Also, politically speaking, it's important to recognise that some bi people are non-monogamous, and the more we do to destigmatise non-monogamous relationships, the more bisexuality will become destigmatised, as it's often presumed that bi people are non-monogamous.
Not all bi people are, but the bi community should not distance itself from bi people who are non-monogamous in the way that they respond to bisexual stereotypes.
What bi research would you like people to know about?
Surya Monro's book Bisexuality: Identities, Politics, and Intersectionality is probably the best book I've read on bisexuality.
Meg-John Barker et al.'s The Bisexuality Report is free to read and sums up a lot of the issues (both positive and negative) that face bi people in the UK.
Getting more personal…
Are you bi? I am 100% bi.
Does being bisexual change how you approach your research or work?
My previous research focused on asexuality, and I think I always felt a slight tension that I was speaking on behalf of the asexual community whilst not being asexual myself. I feel, whilst I can't speak for the bisexual community as a whole, I'm certainly closer to a lot more of the issues that most bi folk face.
“During my doctoral research, there were also challenges about whether I disclose my bisexual identity - I wanted to make sure that my participants felt comfortable, but I didn't want people to not tell me things because they would presume that I already knew.”
I did opt for full disclosure in all cases, as I felt rapport was more important.
Can you tell me a bit about your experience?
I probably knew I was bisexual quite early on in my life. I was brought up in an environment in that both my parents were not prejudiced or judgemental towards non-heterosexual people. My grandparents and other family don't know that I'm bisexual, I feel like it would change my relationship with my grandparents, and I don't feel like it's something that they need to know. I'm completely open about my sexuality at work, my colleagues are all lovely. I came out as bi to my parents in my late teens. I didn't have any particular reason to do so, I just wanted to tell them.
Follow Sam Lawton on Twitter: @bimenresearch