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Bisexuality

Bisexuality. Brianna Serrano LGBTA Student Resource Center Bio-Behavioral Health 251: Straight Talks The Pennsylvania State University February 28, 2013 . What are some... Common Myths Stereotypes “Social Construct” or “True Identity” What do we think about its legitimacy?

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Bisexuality

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  1. Bisexuality Brianna Serrano LGBTA Student Resource Center Bio-Behavioral Health 251: Straight Talks The Pennsylvania State University February 28, 2013

  2. What are some... • Common Myths • Stereotypes • “Social Construct” or “True Identity” • What do we think about its legitimacy? • What is causing us [or others] to think this? Brainstorming “Bisexuality”?

  3. Experiences-Participants? Freddie Cheryl “A close friend of mine once told me that she and a group of her lesbian friends held a mock funeral for a female friend…who had ‘betrayed’ them by getting married to a man.” • “If one more person asks me how can I call myself a bisexual man and be in a monogamous relationship with a man, I’m going to scream.”

  4. What is “bisexuality”? • Bisexuality generally refers to those who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to people of both [or multiple] genders. They may not be equally attracted to all genders. Can be used as umbrella term

  5. Definitions of “Bisexuality”

  6. Kinsey Scale • Based on attractions, fantasies, sexual or physical encounters, and relationships. • People interviewed were a part of networks across the country • Possibly predominantly white

  7. Inclusivity

  8. Monosexual Privilege • Monosexism: a belief that monosexuality (either exclusive heterosexuality and/or being lesbian or gay) is superior to a bisexual or pansexual orientation • What are some thoughts on the Monosexual Privilege Checklist? • How does this increase your awareness or change your view of bisexuality or fluid identities?

  9. D’Augelli’s Types of Bisexuality • Transitional bisexual: • This represents either a stage in the process of coming out as lesbian or gay, or a stage in which a lesbian or gay identity is a step in the process of coming out as bisexual. (For example: After an unexpected summer romance with a woman, Joan found that she enjoyed it very much, although she is still attracted to men. She decides that she is bisexual.) • Historical bisexual: • This refers to people whose emotional and sexual lives are either same-sex or opposite-sex oriented at the present, but who have experienced both same and opposite sex attractions or behavior in the past. • Sequential bisexual: • People who have had relationships with both women and men, but only with one person in a particular time period. (For example: Sarah dates Justin, becomes disenchanted with him, so she leaves him and dates Marie. Soon Marie begins to irritate her beyond belief, so she leaves her for Henry.) • Concurrent bisexual: • People who have had relationships with both women and men during the same general time period. (Leonardo is the object of the affections of both Sophia and Francesco. If Sophia is also seeing Helena, then Sophia would be a concurrent bisexual. We don’t know what to call the men without more information!)

  10. D’Augelli’s Types of Bisexuality • Defense bisexuality: • Where a person may be hiding a lesbian or gay orientation, exploring being lesbian or gay, or in transition to a lesbian or gay identity. The person can be aware of this or not. (For example: Juanita sneaks out of the house for a secret moonlit rendezvous with Lisa. Juanita conceals her identity by dating several neighborhood boys so no one becomes suspicious.But SHE knows what she likes. Her friend Joan is doing the exact same thing but she is not yet aware that she is REALLY attracted to women.) • Married bisexuality: • Where a person engages in same sex behavior away from his or her marriage/family environment. Such a person may be lesbian or gay, or may simply be engaging in sexual behavior without identifying as non-heterosexual. • Ritual bisexuality: • Where same-sex sexual behavior is a prescribed part of a given culture (For example: Some puberty rituals in tribal cultures include homosexual experience as a required part of the ritual.) • Equal bisexuality: • Where gender is not the important criterion for sexual attraction or partner selection. (Michael is in love with Pat from “Saturday Night Live.” He has no clue what gender Pat is, but doesn’t care. He just knows that he loves Pat….and wants to spend the rest of his life with Pat.)

  11. D’Augelli’s Types of Bisexuality • Latin bisexual: • Where a male who takes on only the inserter role in anal intercourse with another male is considered heterosexual despite his same-sex sexual behavior. In Latin cultures, traditionally the male who is the receptive partner in anal sex is considered non-heterosexual. This is essentially a traditionally-gendered kind of ‘bisexuality,’ and the inserter is not likely to consider himself bisexual. • Experimental bisexual: • Where same-sex sexual behavior is circumstantial, taking place once or few times. The person may plan to engage in this behavior, or may find himself/herself engaging in the behavior because the circumstances allow it. • Technical bisexuality: • Where same-sex sexual behavior occurs in the context of the exchange of sex for money or goods (in other words, the person engages in sexual behavior for reasons other for emotional or sexual attractions).

  12. So is it a Phase? “No” not necessarily: • Many people who identify as bisexual are absolutely certainthat they are attracted to both sexes; no confusion. • Many people are bisexual for life. • For some it can be a phase; for others it can just be a brief experimentation. • Bisexuality is NOT an “easy way out,” a “denial,” “riding the fence” or a “middle ground.”

  13. Bisexual Challenges • Prejudice from LGTQ communities: • Perceived as “hiding” and are “outsiders” • A general sentiment that being bisexual “blurs” gay & lesbian issues and weakens “the movement” • Pressure to conform and experience discrimination among the LGTQA community • Significant others cannot understand attraction to members of the opposite sex (MOTOS)

  14. Bi-Phobia: What it Looks Like • Expecting a bisexual to identify as heterosexual when coupled with the “opposite” gender/sex, or gay and lesbian when with the same sex/gender. • Believing bisexual people spread AIDS/HIV and other STDs to heterosexuals. • Thinking bisexuals haven’t made up their minds. • Assuming bisexuals would be willing to “pass” as anything other than bisexual. • Feeling that bisexuals are too outspoken and pushy about their visibility and rights. • Automatically assuming romantic couplings of two women are lesbian, or two men are gay, or a man and a woman are heterosexual. • Using the terms “phase”, “stage”, “confused”, “fence-sitter”, “AC/DC”, or “switch-hitter” as slurs.

  15. Bi-Phobia: What it Looks Like • Thinking bisexuals only have committed relationships with “opposite” sex/gender partners. • Assuming that bisexuals would prefer to be within an “opposite” sex coupling to reap the social benefits of a “heterosexual” pairing. • Not confronting a biphobic remarks or joke out of fear of being identified as bisexual. • Thinking that people identify as bisexual because it’s “trendy”

  16. Famous Bisexual-Identified People • Tila Tequila (Celebrity) • Anna Paquin (Actress) • Channing Tatum (Actor) • Angelina Jolie (Actress) • Megan Fox (Actress) • Amber Rose (Singer) • Lindsay Lohan (doesn’t like to be labeled) • Evan Rachel Wood (Actress) • Drew Barrymore (Actress) • Megan Mullally (from Will and Grace) • Amy Whinehouse (Singer) • Jenna Jameson (Actress) • Margaret Cho (Comedian) “trisexual” • Tom Hardy (Actor)

  17. References • COED Magazine. (2013). The 30 Sexiest bisexual celebrities. Retrieved from: http://coedmagazine.com/2011/09/23/hot-sexy-famous-celebrity-bisexuals-photos/ • D'Augelli, A. R. (1994). Identity development and sexual orientation: Toward a model of lesbian, gay, and bisexual development. In E. J. Trickett, R. J. Watts, & D. Birman (Eds.), Human diversity: Perspectives on people in context (pp. 312-333). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. • Evans, N.J., Wall V.A. (1991). Beyond tolerance: Bisexuals on campus. • Google Images. (2013). Retrieved from: google.com • Ochs, R. (1995). What is bisexuality? Bisexual resource guide. • PFLAG .(2007). Bisexuality 101 [PowerPoint]. Retrieved from: http://www.pflag.org/fileadmin/user_upload/BisexualityResourcePacket.pdf • University of Texas, Austin Gender and Sexuality Center. (2012). What does biphobia look like? Retrieved from: http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/gsc/downloads/resources/Bisexuality_Biphobia.pdf

  18. Questions... Brianna Serrano bcs206@psu.edu LGBTA Student Resource Center The Pennsylvania State University

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