History UsefulNotes / Bisexual

In fact, this confusion has lead to the development of another term used to describe bisexuality called "ambiphilia". "Androphilia" and "gynephilia" are terms used in behavioural science to describe sexual orientation, as an alternative to a gender binary homosexual and heterosexual conceptualization. This system is much more grounded in science and is more commonly used for studies than personal labels, but it is still applicable. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity and ambiphilia describes people that are attracted to both masculinity and femininity.

It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These examples of identity politics display the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means many different things to many different people. In fact this has lead to the development of another term used to describe bisexuality called "ambiphilia". Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioural science to describe sexual orientation, as an alternative to a gender binary homosexual and heterosexual conceptualization. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity and ambiphilia describes people that are attracted to both masculinity and femininity. Labels are made to help people feel secure, not confuse them. Although simplifying something as multiplexed as gender identity and sexual orientation with our current labelling systems might not be the best thing, either. In the end, people should choose whatever they think is best or right for them.

It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These examples of identity politics display the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means many different things to many different people. In fact this has lead to the development of another term, used to describe bisexuality called "ambiphilia". Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioral science to describe sexual orientation, as an alternative to a gender binary homosexual and heterosexual conceptualization. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity and ambiphilia describes people that are attracted to both masculinity and femininity. Labels are made to help people feel secure, not confuse them. Although simplifying something as multiplexed as gender identity and sexual orientation with our current labelling systems might not be the best thing, either. In the end, people should choose whatever they think is best or right for them.

Despite the debate on terminology, however, the definition of bisexuality used by all major bisexual organizations is "attraction to the same and other genders," not excluding people of non-binary genders. "Bisexual" is therefore often used as an umbrella term to refer to any number of non-monosexual identities. Although this is still highly problematic as the term itself originated within the binary framework to compliment the terms "heterosexuality" and "homosexuality"; the general public continues to view the orientation with its original meaning; most self-identified bisexuals only feel attraction towards the binary male and female genders; the polysexual and pansexual communities were first created to distinguish themselves from the bisexuality and many of them most certainly do not appreciate being labelled under it again or having their identities erased. Another term used to describe bisexuality is "ambiphilia". Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioral science to describe sexual orientation, as an alternative to a gender binary homosexual and heterosexual conceptualization. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity and ambiphilia describes people that are attracted to both masculinity and femininity.

It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These examples of identity politics display the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means many different things to many different people. Labels are made to help people feel secure, not confuse them. Although simplifying something as multiplexed as gender identity and sexual orientation with our current labelling systems might not be the best thing, either. In the end, people should choose whatever they think is best or right for them.

Despite the debate on terminology, however, the definition of bisexuality used by all major bisexual organizations is "attraction to the same and other genders," not excluding people of non-binary genders. "Bisexual" is therefore often used as an umbrella term to refer to any number of non-monosexual identities. Although this is still highly problematic as the term itself originated within the binary framework to compliment the terms "heterosexuality" and "homosexuality"; the general public continues to view the orientation with its original meaning; most self-identified bisexuals only feel attraction towards the binary male and female genders; the polysexual and pansexual communities were first created to distinguish themselves from the bisexuality and many of them most certainly do not appreciate being labelled under it again or having their identities erased.

Bisexual. Almost always used as an adjective (unlike "homosexual" and "transsexual", which are often used as nouns), but quite often used as a noun in plural ("bisexuals"). Quite often shortened to "bi" as a slang term.

"Bisexual" does not mean {{Hermaphrodite}}. It also does not mean {{Transsexual}}. "Bisexual" is a term of sexual orientation, not gender identity.

It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These examples of identity politics display the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means many different things to many different people. Labels are made to help people feel secure, not confuse them. Although simplifying something as multiplexed as gender identity and sexual orientation with our current labelling systems might not be the best thing, either. In the end, people should choose whatever they think is best.

It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These examples display the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means different things to do different people. In the end, people should choose whatever fits them best. Labels are made to help people feel secure, not confuse them. Although simplifying something as multiplexed as gender identity and sexual orientation might not be the best thing for some people, either.

Despite the debate on terminology, however, the definition of bisexuality used by all major bisexual organizations is "attraction to the same and other genders," not excluding people of non-binary genders. "Bisexual" is therefore often used as an umbrella term to refer to any number of non-monosexual identities. Although this is still highly problematic as the term itself originated within the binary framwework to compliment the terms "heterosexuality" and "homosexuality"; the general public continues to view the orientation with its original meaning; most self-identified bisexuals only feel attraction towards the binary male and female genders; the polysexual and pansexual communities were first created to distinguish themselves from the bisexuality and many of them most certainly do not appreciate being labelled under it again. It is probably as debatable as the idea of asexuality being a spectrum orientation. It was not originally, but is now seen as one by many people due to the stretching of the term in recent years by asexual organisations. The inclusion of the disputable "demisexual" orientation within asexuality has caused outrage from many people. These exaomples displays the complexity with labelling systems and defining sexual orientation. The term "bisexual" is a highly contentious issue that means different things to do different people, so choose whatever fits you best.

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even without gender at all (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders). The term "polysexual" (not to be confused with polyamory) also exists, which is when people are attracted to ''more than one but not all'' genders (implying that there are more than two), although this one isn't used very often and does not specify which genders the person is attracted to. Despite the debate on terminology, however, the definition of bisexuality used by all major bisexual organizations is "attraction to the same and other genders," not excluding people of non-binary genders. "Bisexual" is therefore often used as an umbrella term to refer to any number of non-monosexual identities.

The actual definition: unlike heterosexuals and homosexuals, who are attracted to ''just'' people of the opposite sex and ''just'' people of the same sex respectively, bisexuals are attracted to people of the same gender and other gender. Note that this does ''not'' mean that bisexuals must be [[UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany polyamorous]], with partners of more than one gender, any more than somebody who is attracted to people of all hair colours would need to be polyamorous with a partner of each hair colour. Bisexuals don't separate attraction to each sex into separate drives, but rather their sexual attraction is simply directed towards all parts of the population rather than just one.

The actual definition: unlike heterosexuals and homosexuals, who are attracted to ''just'' people of the opposite sex and ''just'' people of the same sex respectively, bisexuals are attracted to people of ''both'' sexes. Note that this does ''not'' mean that bisexuals must be [[UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany polyamorous]], with a male partner and a female partner at any given time, any more than somebody who is attracted to people of all hair colours would need to be polyamorous with a partner of each hair colour. Bisexuals don't separate attraction to each sex into two separate drives, but rather their sexual attraction is simply directed towards both halves of the population rather than just one.

Similarly, a bisexual person with an opposite-sex partner has not "turned straight", and a bisexual person with a same-sex partner has not "turned gay". It is how people ''feel'' that determines their sexuality, and not what they ''do''. Even somebody who has only had sex with people of one gender still counts as bisexual if they feel attracted to both.

As can be seen from the above conflation of bisexuality with polyamory, attraction to both sexes can be a confusing idea for people who aren't bisexual, given the human tendency to prefer clearly demarcated boundaries and opposites -- black and white, up and down, male and female, gay and straight. This has lead to a fairly widespread belief that [[NoBisexuals bisexuality doesn't exist]], and that bisexuals are either deluded heterosexuals or are homosexuals with "one foot in the closet". Bisexuals, naturally, say that this is absolute crap. Another charge often laid at the feet of bisexuals is that many of them aren't really attracted to both sexes and are only pretending to be [[GirlOnGirlIsHot for]] [[YaoiFangirl the]] [[YuriFan attention]]. Sadly, to the annoyance of ''actual'' bisexuals everywhere, this one is true in some cases.

Additionally, being bisexual does not necessarily require ''equal'' attraction to both sexes, with no particular preference. There are varying degrees of bisexuality ranging from mostly-straight to mostly-gay, as can be seen in the Kinsey Scale below:

People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but they can experience romantic attraction. This is also applicable for bisexual people, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation. People that are sexually attracted to both sexes but not romantically attracted to both would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals, homoromantic bisexuals or aromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals. A biromantic asexual may also consider themselves as "bi".

Something else that probably needs to be said: while bisexuals find both men and women attractive, they do not find ''all'' men and women attractive (any more than straight people find everyone of the opposite sex attractive, for example) and do not as a rule want to screw AnythingThatMoves. Bisexuals are attracted to men and to women; ''not'' to children, animals or inanimate objects. This is a particular [[DepravedBisexual stereotype]] that ''really'' pisses bi people off.

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even without gender at all (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders). The term "polysexual" (not to be confused with polyamory) also exists, which is when people are attracted to ''more than one but not all'' genders (implying that there are more than two), although this one isn't used very often and does not specify which genders the person is attracted to.

As can be seen from the above conflation of bisexuality with polyamory, attraction to both sexes can be a confusing idea for people who aren't bisexual, given the human tendency to prefer clearly demarcated boundaries and opposites -- black and white, up and down, male and female, gay and straight. This has lead to a fairly widespread belief that [[NoBisexuals bisexuality doesn't exist]], and that bisexuals are either deluded heterosexuals or are homosexuals with "one foot in the closet". Bisexuals, naturally, say that this is absolute crap. Another charge often laid at the feet of bisexuals is that many of them aren't really attracted to both sexes and are only pretending to be [[GirlOnGirlIsHot for]] [[YaoiFangirl the]] [[YuriFan attention]]. Sadly, to the annoyance of ''actual'' bisexuals everywhere, this one has some truth to it.

As can be seen from the above conflation of bisexuality with polyamory, attraction to both sexes can be a confusing idea for people who aren't bisexual, given the human tendency to prefer clearly demarcated boundaries and opposites -- black and white, up and down, male and female, gay and straight. This has lead to a fairly widespread belief that [[NoBisexuals bisexuality doesn't exist]], and that bisexuals are either deluded heterosexuals or are homosexuals with "one foot in the closet". Bisexuals, naturally, say that this is absolute crap. Another charge often laid at the feet of bisexuals is that many of them aren't really attracted to both sexes and are only pretending to be [[GirlOnGirlIsHot for]] [[YaoiFangirl the]] [[YuriFanboy attention]]. Sadly, to the annoyance of ''actual'' bisexuals everywhere, this one has some truth to it.

People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but they can experience romantic attraction. This is also applicable for bisexual people, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation. People that are sexually attracted to both sexes but not romantically attracted to both would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals, homoromantic bisexuals or aromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bi-curious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible".

* X -- Non-sexual.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but they can experience romantic attraction. It is also applicable for bisexual people, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation; people that are sexually attracted to both sexes but romantically attracted to only one would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals or homoromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but they can experience romantic attraction. It is also possible for bisexual people to experience this, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation; people that are sexually attracted to both sexes but romantically to only one would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals or homoromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but they can experience romantic attraction. It is also possible for bisexual people to experience this, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation; people that are sexually attracted to both sexes but not romantically would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals or homoromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual, they do not feel sexual attraction towards any sex but it is possible for them to experience romantic attraction. It is also possible for bisexual people to experience this, terms such as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, and aromantic exist because of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientation; characters that fall under this trope would thus be described as heteroromantic bisexuals or homoromantic bisexuals under such terminology, as opposed to biromantic bisexuals.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 or 5 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "homoflexible"/"heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual.

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even without gender at all (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders). The term "polysexual" (not to be confused with polyamory) also exists, which is when people are attracted to ''more than one'' gender (implying that there are more than two), although this one isn't used very often and does not specify which genders the person is attracted to.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "heteroflexible". People that are X on the scale are asexual.

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1-5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "heteroflexible".

Let's clear this up now: "bisexual" does not mean {{Hermaphrodite}}. It also does not mean {{Transsexual}}. "Bisexual" is a term of sexual orientation, not gender identity.

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even without gender at all (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders).

Something else that probably needs to be said: while bisexuals find both men and women attractive, they do not find ''all'' men and women attractive (any more than straight people find the opposite sex attractive, for example) and do not as a rule want to screw AnythingThatMoves. Bisexuals are attracted to men and to women; ''not'' to children, animals or inanimate objects. This is a particular [[DepravedBisexual stereotype]] that ''really'' pisses bi people off.

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even [[NoGender without gender at all]] (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders).

0 is heterosexuality. 6 is homosexuality. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are ''all'' bisexuality. In fact, some people believe that "true" heterosexuals and homosexuals are much rarer than people think, and that most people are bisexual to at least some degree -- manifestations of this being the tropes EvenTheGuysWantHim, EvenTheGirlsWantHer and IfItsYouItsOkay. People who are at 1 on the Kinsey scale are sometimes referred to with the neologisms "bicurious" and "heteroflexible".

Some people don't like the term "bisexual" because of its apparent implication that people can only be one of two genders (as the "bi" prefix literally means "two", like bicycle and binoculars). There are many people who identify as being not male or female but somewhere in between (genderqueer), or something entirely different, or even without gender at all (agendered). Additionally, there are intersex people who are biologically somewhere in between male and female. Consequently, many people instead prefer the term "pansexual" -- which is intended to indicate an attraction to ''all'' genders (as opposed to ''both'' genders).

See BisexualityTropes here.