Calling Bullshit on Gay.com Article on Male Bisexuality

In the Hot Topics section of gay.com there is an article called "Can Guys Actually Be Bisexual?"

There have been a plethora of so called "LGBT" sources lately that continually question the legitimacy of the bisexual orientation, how is that acting as a community, or accepting non-heteronormative identities besides just gay and lesbian.

Here are some of my reactions to some select quotes in the article:

"So what do we make of these guys who define themselves as bi? Are they really fooling themselves as they screw their way down the path to gayhood?"

I accept peoples choice to self-identify as they like, and am fully comfortable in accepting bisexuality as a variant of human sexuality. The sexual continuum allows for varying degrees of sexuality, while some people are exclusively heterosexual or homosexual, many people fall somewhere along the long, complicated and often blurred line of human sexuality.

"Some people are just sexually charged and will take it wherever they can get it."

Bisexual people are no more sexually charged than any other sexual orientation. The capacity to have sexual/romantic feelings for either gender, does not mean you have a high sex drive nor does it mandate that you not follow monogamy. Bisexuals can be just as exciting or boring as the rest of society, regardless of their sexual orientation.

"Women on the other hand are more emotionally driven than men and can, I believe, be bisexual."

There are emotional men, and non-emotional women, and to preach otherwise is to make a broad statement that when held to the test will fail. Emotion has nothing to do with gender, males are emotional, society shuns male emotion regarding it as effeminate, but that does not mean that it does not exist.

Open Forum: The Bisexual/Bi-Racial Overlap

Society tends to see things in black or white and often does not see shades of gray. Differences challenge us to open our minds and see that most things and people are not an absolute but simply fall into some shade or variation of whatever attribute we happen to be discussing at the time.

I see an overlap between bisexual and bi-racial people who probably know all too well what it is to not fall into societies neatly arranged categories of self identification. For bi-racial people many struggle with being stuck between two races and cultures. They are plagued by a society forcing them to choose one identity or the other but seldom allowing them to be who they are which is indeed a bit of both. Even if they do self-identify more with one identity, people often look at that person as a wannabe and not truly part of the race and/or culture. This creates a no-win proposition for bi-racial individuals and families.

Bisexual people face a similar struggle. Most bisexuals fall on a continuum of attraction towards men and women, some leaning more to the gay side and others more to the straight side. It creates a struggle for self-identification because if they label themselves straight, they are lying and if discovered will be considered a deviant. If they label themselves gay and then date someone of the opposite sex they are considered a traitor and confused about their sexuality. This creates a dilemma for the bisexual to accurately self-identify as who they are.

Do you see a parallel between bisexuality and bi-racial issues when it comes to identity formation?

Michael Musto: "Are Bisexuals Real?"

Michael Musto columnist for the Village Voice has come out with a bi-phobic, anti-scientific column titled Ever Meet a Real Bisexual? questioning the legitimacy of bisexuality.

"Everyone always says they're bisexual, blabbing on and on about how "sexuality is fluid, and I don't really like labels"--but usually I find these are just gay men who are afraid to come out. I know there are real bisexuals out there--mainly because I've heard that there are--and I do think it's a lovely idea to actually crave sex with people regardless of gender. I'm just wondering how real a phenomenon this is, as opposed to a smoke-and-mirrors coverup designed to keep antsy gays in the closet.

Most of the guys I know who say they're bisexual end up doing Bette Davis impersonations after a few drinks, and when you invite them to an all-girl bar, they get excited, thinking you mean Splash. But do you know anyone who REALLY is equally attracted to both men and women and effortlessly glides between those two dating pools without a second's thought or self-consciousness? If so, do you ever suspect they're full of shit?"

Suggesting bisexuality is a phenomenon, or that bisexual men are closeted liars is offensive and outright wrong!

Contact Michael Musto and tell him biphobia has no place in the Village Voice.

E! Online Makes Mockery Out of Bisexuality!

E! Online has posted an offensive and biphobic article titled "Polling All Body Parts" which questions Lindsay Lohan's sexual orientation and paints an ugly picture of bisexuality.

"Say it ain’t so. Could Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s “special” relaysh already be on the fritz? It’s only a matter of time before L.L. retreats back and finds comfort in her fave male body part. ‘Course, we’ve been warning this one since that gal went all lesbyterian, anyway, but makes us wonder..."

They are asking readers to vote on whether bisexuality is a legitimate orientation. The poll which is titled "Bi Now, Gay Later" has the following options:

"*Not a chance, it's a stop on the way to homoville.

*Sure, I'm a little Anne Heche. I've experimented with both sexes.

*Angelina Jolie dabbled with a woman and found her way to Brad Pitt. Works for me."

All of the above choices are offensive and not characteristic of bisexuality.

This article makes a joke and a mockery out of bisexuality. Please take a moment to contact E! Online through their "Polling All Body Parts" article. Just scroll down to contact at the bottom of the page.

Word of the Gay: "Bi-phobia"

"Bi-phobia" is very common among the gay and straight communities who often misunderstand and fear bisexuality. "Bi-phobia" is a fear and condemnation of bisexuality and people of the orientation. Common "bi-phobic" assumptions are that people who are bisexual are "confused", "selfish", "hedonistic", and/or "promiscuous". Many people are under the false impression that bisexuals cannot remain monogamous, and that they date multiple partners and cannot remain faithful.

Bisexual Pride Day!

Celebrate Bisexuality Day held on Sept 23rd is vastly approaching us. It is a day to highlight the accomplishments of bisexual people, increase bi visibility, and embrace bisexual history and culture. Whether you are a bisexual or an ally you can make a difference on behalf of the B in LGBT. Bisexual Pride Day was conceived as a way to seperate from general LGBT pride because of the bisexual erasure that often takes place.

Do you plan on doing anything for Celebrate Bisexuality Day? Come out, speak out, be out and proud!

Word of the Gay: "Monosexism"

"Monosexism" is the belief that Homosexuality or Heterosexuality are superior or more valid than a Bisexual orientation. People who are "Monosexist" dismiss Bisexuality as confusion, hedonism, sinful, and/or people who are closeted about their Hetero or Homosexual orientation.

Word of the Gay: "Bisexual Erasure"

I decided to try something new, I don't know if I will post them daily but from time to time at least I'd like to showcase Queer terms/words so we can boost our rainbowlicious vocabulary. Is this something you readers are interested in?

"Bisexual Erasure" - This is the conscious or unconscious effort by individuals and groups to ignore, remove, or alter aspects of bisexuality in an effort to diminish the idea that bisexuality is a valid sexual orientation.