International Bi Perspectives
What does bisexuality research look like around the world? What do international bi+ researchers wish everyone knew? What are the most pressing bi community concerns in 2020?
Researchers from various countries responded to our (English-language) questionnaire, and while definitions were very similar around the world, the most pressing issues for the bi community in 2020 varied widely.
Germany
Julien Grub has a master’s degree in contemporary history from the University of Freiburg, Germany. His research has focused on the history of masturbation in Germany since 1945, media coverage of bisexuality, and the approach towards bisexuality in sex education within a historical context. Julien is part of the bisexual research group.
How do you define bisexuality?
Bisexuality is the sexual and/or romantic attraction to more than one sex and/or gender. This attraction can vary over time.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Bisexuality can be very fluid and developing
Biphobia exits and it hurts
Bisexuality is legitimate and I think it is not good that I need to reassure this, but it is sadly something not everybody accepts
Most pressing concerns within the bi community in 2020?
There is still a lack of recognition towards bisexuality in public and media. Far-right and fascist groups are getting stronger and are a threat for sexual freedom and equality.
Turkey
Idil Ugurluoglu is a Clinical Psychologist in Turkey, and is writing her master’s thesis at Middle East Technical University on bisexual women’s relationships.
How do you define bisexuality?
Bisexuality is a sexual orientation involves various characteristics of identities. It is a range of an attractions to multiple gender identities.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
It is not a transition phase
Bisexual people do not have to promiscuous unless they define themselves like this
Bisexual people are not privileged but invisible
Most pressing concerns within the bi community in 2020?
Invisibility and double discrimination.
United Kingdom
Sakura Byrne is completing her PhD at The Open University, researching the experience of monogamous bisexuals in relation to mental wellbeing and bi identity. Sakura is part of the Bisexual Research Group.
How do you define bisexuality?
Attraction to more than one gender. For myself, someone's gender doesn't play much of a role in my attraction to them.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Bisexuality doesn't just go away because you're in a monogamous relationship
It doesn't exist purely for the enjoyment of a heterosexual male gaze
Negative stereotypes around bisexuality can have a dangerous impact on bisexual people's mental wellbeing
Most pressing concerns within the bi community in 2020?
Bisexual people have high rates of mental ill health compared with people of other sexual identities, and I think this is in no small part because people still struggle to understand what bisexuality actually is. There are still a lot of negative stereotypes around bisexuality, or many people still think it simply doesn't exist. And this can have a dangerous impact on the wellbeing of people who are, in fact, bisexual.
USA
Allison Cipriano has a Masters of Arts in social psychology and is currently a social psychology PhD student at the University of Nebraksa-Lincoln, with a concentration in women’s and gender studies.
How do you define bisexuality?
Attraction to more than one gender.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Bisexuality is a legitimate sexual identity
Bisexuality people are not inherently non-monogamous
Bisexual people, particularly bisexual women, experience sexual violence at extremely high rates
Italy
Dr Aurelio Castro studies the social construction of sexual orientation and masculinity in bisexual and straight men in Italy. He has previously published research on the experiences of bisexual people of colour in Italy.
How do you define bisexuality?
I consider the Bi+ umbrella as the most versatile and inclusive term, defining bisexualities as "attractions/desires to more than one gender". Regardless of having the chance to translate these desires to actual behaviours and, following Robyn Ochs insights, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree. Let's not try to hold a river of experiences with just two hands. There are infinite possibilities for non-exclusive attractions and identities
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Bi+ orientations are valid, empowering and proud
Sexuality isn't binary. Gender and sex are not binaries so let's stop considering them like that in scientific and public discourse
Bisexuals have fought for equality and civil rights from the very beginning so let's be proud of ourselves. Everyday we fight against biphobia and mononormativity, we don't hide or take an "easy option
Most pressing concerns within the bi community in 2020?
Reinforcing our support with the ace, trans* and non-binary communities to dismantle the binaries within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Fighting for civil rights and legal protections transnationally, and cooperation between national communities to fight the rise of sovereignism and white supremacy.
Promoting positive visibility, Bi+ representation, and discussing how to achieve it without making use of rainbow capitalism.
Taking a position against hateful discourses and the persecution of refugees, migrants and migrations. These are human rights violations happening all over the world that are also affecting LGBTQIA+ people who are asylum seekers and refugees.
New Zealand
Tara Pond is a PhD Candidate in Psychology at AUT University, New Zealand. Her thesis examines bisexual and other plurisexual identified women's identities and experiences. Tara is a member of the bisexual research group.
How do you define bisexuality?
I personally believe that describing bisexuality as the attraction (or potential for attraction) to multiple genders as the most befitting.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
There are more bisexual people than there are gay and lesbian people
Bisexuality is not a binary or lesser sexuality than other plurisexual identities
Bi-negativity is just as harmful and consequential as homophobia and transphobia
Most pressing concerns within the bi community in 2020?
Within the community I think the continued gatekeeping of bisexuality is a large problem. Constructing bisexuality as a seperate, and lesser identity than identities such as pansexual is very harmful for all involved.
I also see the current ubiquity of anti-trans sentiment within the queer community is harmful for all involved and needs to be actively fought. Finally, I always think that drawing public awareness to the structures that marginalise and sexualise bisexuality are crucial to their deconstruction.