History Main / BiWildered

* Played for laughs and parodied in ''Film/JennifersBody''. Jennifer, who has previously only killed boys, including Needy's boyfriend, prepares to kill Needy, prompting them to have this exchange, which is clearly supposed to be based upon a bisexual explanation or coming out. (Especially emphasized because Needy herself seems to be bisexual, judging by her genuine crush on Colin and attraction to Chip, but also her genuine RomanticTwoGirlFriendship with Jennifer.)

-->'''Tara:''' "I trust you. I just ... (looks down) I don't know where I'm gonna fit in ... in your life when..."\\
'''Willow:''' "When ... I change back? Yeah, this is a college thing, just a, a little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to boys' town. ''(pause)'' You think that?"\\
'''Tara:''' "Should I?"\\
'''Willow:''' "I'm really sorry that I didn't establish my lesbo street cred before I got into this relationship. You're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so ... how on Earth could you ever take me seriously?"

* In the play Cock, John is perplexed by developing feelings for a [[ItsOkayIfItsYou woman]] after having only ever been attracted to men and still being in love with his off-and-on boyfriend. Throughout the play, it's unclear if his attraction to F is a case of SingleTargetSexuality, latent bisexuality, or a desire to feel normal via a conventional and socially accepted heterosexual family. John's love of F is immature, easy, exciting, and new, while his love of M is fraught and messy but deeper and filled with history, and it's ambiguous as to who he ought to choose.

This trope is when a character who previously presented themselves as straight has attraction with someone of the [[QueerRomance same sex or gender]], in addition to the opposite. This often sparks major character development, especially if the protagonist is going through it. They may have pre-conceived notions about what being attracted to the same sex means, and burden themselves with worry. It's especially worrying for them if they're already dating someone but don't know how to tell them. Heteronormative upbringings may lead them to become depressed, anxious or guilty about their feelings. This trope is similar to NoBisexuals in that the word "bisexual" may not be mentioned, however this trope is related to the specific confusion that comes when attracted to both sexes.

A character may evoke {{Gayngst}} or think they are gay based on their opposite-sex attractions. This, in addition to confusion about bisexuality, can lead them to question themselves. Characters will typically assume said person is gay, because bisexuality is less engrained in society. They may project ideas of sexuality onto the person to compare them with ''other'' queer people. In actuality, bisexuals are the most common sexual minority.

A common iteration of the trope is when a character has same-sex relations and creates confusion amongst people who thought they were gay or straight. Characters who struggle with another's bisexuality are often ex-lovers or family members who remember them dating people of the opposite sex, and may question the legitimacy of their sexuality. The bisexual character's attractions further confuses others if they begin dating someone from the opposite sex again.

Compare DepravedBisexual, AmbiguouslyBi, ClosetKey and LGBTAwakening.

* ''Film/ChasingAmy'': The plot involves the title character, who identifies as a lesbian then begins dating a man, and becomes confused and angsty about it. She gets flack from her lesbian friends ''and'' her boyfriend when he learns about her wild past with other men. The word bisexual however is not used, but Amy does seem to be a bisexual women who just prefers same-sex relationships.

* ''Literature/BoyMeetsBoy'': Kyle has had relationships with both boys and girls and struggled with his identity and attractions a lot, claiming to be either gay, or entirely straight. When he does finally confess to be attracted to both and Paul suggests he's bisexual, Kyle refuses the word, insisting that he doesn't like it, and ends up label-less.

* ''Series/{{Atypical}}'': Casey experiences distress after realising she has feelings for Izzie. Things becomes especially difficult because she is still dating Evan, and doesn't know who to talk to about her feelings. When she and Izzie begin publicly dating, she has a hard time grappling with her sexuality, and struggles to be open about it even in queer-friendly spaces.

** Claire and Edie have a romance stopped short by Claire's discomfort around woman-on-woman intimacy. Edie feels exploited and humiliated, while Claire is still ambivalent around her feelings towards Edie.

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In the "Gauntlet" mini-arc in Vol. 2, Officer Espinosa is propositioned by Izzy's twin sister Adelie ([[spoiler:except she's actually Izzy [[TwinSwitch pretending to be Adelie]]]]) and, exhausted by the craziness, accepts and actually enjoys the affair. Afterwards, she begins questioning her sexuality, because she had only been attracted to guys before. Of course when she eventually moves to Key Manati, later comics show that she has more-or-less accepted she's at least bisexual (i.e. she has a one-night-stand with Hiro in "R and R" and accepts a threesome between a man and his girlfriend as a bribe in "Speeding").

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In the "Gauntlet" mini-arc in Vol. 2, Officer Espinosa is propositioned by Izzy's twin sister Adelie ([[spoiler:except she's actually ''is'' Izzy [[TwinSwitch pretending to be Adelie]]]]) and, exhausted by the craziness, accepts and actually enjoys the affair. Afterwards, she begins questioning her sexuality, because she had only been attracted to guys before. Of course when she eventually moves to Key Manati, later comics show that she has more-or-less accepted she's at least bisexual (i.e. she has a one-night-stand with Hiro in "R and R" and accepts a threesome between a man and his girlfriend as a bribe in "Speeding").

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In the "Gauntlet" mini-arc in Vol. 2, Officer Espinosa is propositioned by Izzy's twin sister Adelie ([[spoiler:except she's actually ''is'' Izzy [[TwinSwitch pretending to be Adelie]]]]) and, exhausted by the craziness, accepts and actually enjoys the affair. Afterwards, she begins questioning her sexuality, because she had only been attracted to guys before. Of course, later comics show that she has more-or-less accepted she's at least bisexual (i.e. she has sex with Hiro in "R and R" and accepts a threesome between a man and his girlfriend as a bribe in "Speeding").

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In the "Gauntlet" mini-arc in Vol. 2, Officer Espinosa is propositioned by Izzy's twin sister Adelie ([[spoiler:except she's actually ''is'' Izzy [[TwinSwitch pretending to be Adelie]]) and, exhausted by the craziness, accepts and actually enjoys the affair. Afterwards, she begins questioning her sexuality, because she had only been attracted to guys before. Of course, later comics show that she has more-or-less accepted she's at least bisexual (i.e. she has sex with Hiro in "R and R" and accepts a threesome between a man and his girlfriend as a bribe in "Speeding").

[[caption-width-right:299:]]

* In ''Film/TheKidsAreAllRight'', [[spoiler: the neglected housewife and one half of a lesbian couple with dead sparks begins a sexual affair with the biological father/sperm donor of her children. Complicating things further is that her wife thinks it means she's straight now]].

* In Series/{{Pose}}, Angel outright asks her lover Stan if he's gay and he says he's not and he sees her as a woman. Later when Stan's wife finds out she also asks him if he's "a homosexual".

* ''Webcomic/PixieTrixComix'': The trope is heavily PlayedForLaughs with Aaron, who really cannot handle the idea that he’s anything other than straight, despite having lots of sex with Julian.

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/BoyMeetsBoy'': Kyle has had relationships with both boys and girls and struggled with his identity and attractions a lot, claiming to be either gay, or entirely straight. When he does finally confess to be attracted to both and Paul suggests he's bisexual, Kyle refuses the word, insisting that he doesn't like it, and ends up label-less.
[[/folder]]

* ''Film/ChasingAmy'': The plot revolves around a lesbian who begins dating a man, and becomes confused and angsty about it.

Compare DepravedBisexual and AmbiguouslyBi.

Compare DepravedBisexual and AmbiguouslyBi

As this is TruthInTelevision, Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease

Compare with DepravedBisexual, AmbiguouslyBi

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Bisexual Confusion is when a character who previously presented themselves as straight has attraction with someone of the [[QueerRomance same sex or gender]], in addition to the opposite. This often sparks major character development, especially if the protagonist is going through it. They may have pre-conceived notions about what being attracted to the same sex means, and burden themselves with worry. It's especially worrying for them if they're already dating someone but don't know how to tell them. Heteronormative upbringings may lead them to become depressed, anxious or guilty about their feelings. This trope is similar to NoBisexuals in that the word "bisexual" may not be mentioned, however this trope is related to the specific confusion that comes when attracted to both sexes.

%% Examples have been alphabetized. Please add new entries accordingly.

%%Examples have been alphabetised. Please add new entries accordingly.

->'''Max''': Are you into her? Because here I was thinking you were gay.
->'''Michael''': We are literally aliens, and you're going to hold me to some outdated binary of sexuality? I'm bisexual, Max. It's not that complicated.
-->--''Series/RoswellNewMexico''

[[folder:Film--Live-Action]]

* Played for laughs and parodied in ''Film/JennifersBody''. Jennifer, who has previously only killed boys, including Needy's boyfriend, prepares to kill Needy, prompting them to have this exchange, which is clearly supposed to be based upon a bisexual explanation or coming out. (Especially emphasised because Needy herself seems to be bisexual, judging by her genuine crush on Colin and attraction to Chip, but also her genuine RomanticTwoGirlFriendship with Jennifer.)
--->'''Needy''': I thought you only killed boys!
--->'''Jennifer''': I go both ways.

[[folder:Live Action Series]]

-->'''Max:''' Are you into her? Because here I was thinking you were gay.
-->'''Michael:''' We are literally aliens, and you're going to hold me to some outdated binary of sexuality? I'm bisexual, Max. It's ''not that complicated''.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': Sonya originally identifies as straight, and is very confused by how much she enjoys being seduced by Zii. She never does accept the idea of being labelled as gay — hence her long-lasting {{Catchphrase}}/OverusedRunningGag, “I’m not a lesbian!” — but she eventually comes to terms with the idea of being bisexual, at least tacitly.

[[/folder]]

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' has a scene where [[AnythingThatMoves The Todd]] is hitting on male and female co-workers alike, prompting The Janitor to ask:
--> '''Janitor''': What the hell are you?
--> '''The Todd''': I'm The Todd.

** In ''Film/VictorVictoria'', King Marchand becomes smitten with Victoria, only to discover that "she's" actually a gay female impersonator named Victor and is conflicted afterwards about how he feels. Eventually, King decides to consider Victor to be an exception while his ex Norma believes that he is gay now.

* In Film/TheKidsAreAllRight, [[spoiler: the neglected housewife and one half of a lesbian couple with dead sparks begins a sexual affair with the biological father/sperm donor of her children. Complicating things further is that her wife thinks it means she's straight now]].