Bisexual people experience much more discrimination than we can imagine. Since the conception of bisexuality as an accepted sexual orientation emerged, it has been strongly questioned and questioned.
In this sense, people who have identified themselves as bisexual have been strongly discriminated against, criticized, questioned, made invisible in their condition and desire, etc. And why this? It is difficult for us to understand that there can be attraction for two sexes at the same time and there is a lot of ignorance regarding the subject. That is why in this Psychology-online article, we will explain what is biphobia and we will tell you about its characteristics and examples.
It is generally thought that bisexual people are individuals who have not yet resolved their sexual identity and that the fact that their desire is directed towards two sexes is due to the fact that they are unclear or confused. Next, we’ll really look at what bisexuality and biphobia are.
What is bisexuality
To better understand what we are talking about, it is first important to clarify some concepts. According to the APA, bisexuality is physical, sexual, emotional and romantic attraction, directed to both biological sexes. This sexual orientation is characterized because the person, regardless of their sex, is attracted to men and women.
Many people, even today, still find it difficult to understand that someone can be attracted to both sexes and, for this reason, they reject this possibility. This generates many problems because it fills people who define themselves as bisexual with stigma, makes them feel very confused and many of them end up denying their condition or lying to themselves and others in order to fit in.
In this article, you will find more information about the different ones that exist.
What is biphobia?
According to the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance (CEAR), biphobia refers to aversion or hatred toward a person because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, because it is different from the norm. Furthermore, it consists of a violation of the rights of this person as well as of the entire bisexual community.
People with biphobia usually present the following attitudes:
- They reject, discriminate, cancel or silence bisexuality, whether through their actions, words or gestures.
- Actively defends that bisexuality is unnatural.
- They believe that attraction can and should only be felt towards the opposite sex or the same sex, without giving space to other ways of loving different from those they know or are their own.
- It openly states that bisexuality is a transitory state where there is a lack of clear sexual identity and, sometimes, it induces or pressures the other to define themselves. This would correspond to a discriminatory and intolerant act, which, with or without intention, is nullifying the reality of the other and depriving him of freely choosing the object of her desire and thus determining hers.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.