Biphobia in the LGBT community

[Heraldic Imporium]

The past few years have seen more and more progress made in regards to LGBT rights (well except in Africa, Russia, and India), with many countries legalizing same-sex marriages and with the United States experiencing unprecedented rapid social change in becoming a much more tolerant country than it was 10 years ago. I myself have been getting more involved in activism for LGBT rights. However, I have sadly discovered a sad truth.

It seems that even in the LGBT community, there exists high levels of bigotry. I have met many homosexuals and bisexuals who are bigoted towards transgendered people and additionally I have met many homosexuals that flat out believe that bisexuality doesn't exist and hate those who say they are bisexual with a passion. When I asked them why they hated bisexuals so much, I usually got one of two answers. The first answer is that they think that bisexuality doesn't exist and that bisexuals were really just homosexuals that were lying to themselves. The second answer was that they thought that bisexuality was just a phase that confused young people went through.

As a rebuttal to the latter answer, I stated that it is impossible for bisexuality to be a phase since people cannot change their sexual orientation since sexual orientation is the result of genetic and biological factors. I stated that while a few people might think they are bisexual when they are really curious, most bisexuals are genuinely bisexual. That shut up some of biphobes, but shockingly, others stated that they believed that sexual orientation is a choice. This is coming from homosexuals who are active in the LGBT rights movement. The same movement which works to spread the truth that sexual orientation isn't a choice.

I am not saying that every homosexual is biphobic, I have met many that are not. But, unfortunately, I have met many that are.

So what do you think about this bigotry that exists in the LGBT community and what can be done to solve it? Here is my answer. I think that LGBT organizations should distribute more information on bisexuality (at least as much as they do on homosexuality), and bisexuals should do more to become a more prominent force in the LGBT rights movement. If those two things are done then biphobia rates will quickly go down in both the LGBT community and the straight and asexual community.

[Michijo]

I seem to remember reading some studies that actually proved some people were attracted to both genders.

[Heraldic Imporium]

I seem to remember reading some studies that actually proved some people were attracted to both genders.

I have read similar studies too. But, unfortunately it seems that these have done little to dispel even the anti-bisexual bigotry in the LGBT community.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I wonder if the dislike has to do with the fact that bisexual people are attracted to both sexes and some people in the LGBTQ community may see that as that person being unable to make up their mind or something. Maybe the idea that today a person can be attracted to a guy and at the same time, to a woman, is problematic. Maybe some feel it can lead the way to promiscuity or to unstable relationships.

Frankly, I'm not certain. This is all speculation on my part. As a bisexual woman, I've never encountered any bigotry directed at me on account of my sexuality. It's been quite the opposite. I've seen a lot of acceptance and support from LGBTQ people. But I don't doubt that there are individuals in the community who are bigoted. I just haven't encountered them nor do they color, negatively, my perception of lesbian, gay, transgenders and queer people.

[Ancient Magmia]

There are bigots in every group, regardless of whether or not they suffer from bigotry themselves. I guess the best way to deal with them is the same way you deal with other bigots; educate them and refuse to accept their bigotry.

[Frisivisia]

Gay people, amirite?

[Michijo]

I seem to remember reading some studies that actually proved some people were attracted to both genders.

I have read similar studies too. But, unfortunately it seems that these have done little to dispel even the anti-bisexual bigotry in the LGBT community.

I've honestly never encountered such bigotry, though it doesn't surprise me at all. Its probably has to do with the mentality of people to strive for either/or. The LGBT community has a lot of strange issues. They have their own brand of conservatism. Some were or are evangelical Christian or Catholic. Maybe the strident same-sex only mentality is a form of diametrically opposed conservatism.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I have read similar studies too. But, unfortunately it seems that these have done little to dispel even the anti-bisexual bigotry in the LGBT community.

I've honestly never encountered such bigotry, though it doesn't surprise me at all. Its probably has to do with the mentality of people to strive for either/or. The LGBT community has a lot of strange issues. They have their own brand of conservatism. Some were or are evangelical Christian or Catholic. Maybe the strident same-sex only mentality is a form of diametrically opposed conservatism.

Bigotry is, by no means, absent in a group/community. Some individuals will most certainly carry a certain amount of baggage, usually influenced by the way they were raised and the culture, not to mention their own family's prejudice.

[The Time Alliance]

Gay people, amirite?

I know.

[Libertarian California]

Isn't there much more hatred of the T?

[Totally Not Leningrad Union]

Gay people, amirite?

Yeah, those damn gayism preachers and their enablers are ruining our christian nation

[Lantianguo]

I'm bisexual and transgender. Ooooh jesus don't get me started.

Between the two though, it's immeasurably easier to be bisexual than transgender. Some people refuse to believe I've dated both sexes and would continue to do so, well... whatever. Compared to the gigantic amount of horrors I've encountered, and still encounter, for being transgender, good lord, it's barely even worth worrying about. Transphobia would, to me, seem far more rampant than biphobia from the LGBT community.

[Thafoo]

An unfortunate group in the community.

[Cyllea]

As a transgender, I can confirm there's a lot of transphobia and biphobia within the community..

[Arkiasis]

It's called LGBT because that's the order of what is most socially acceptable.

[Heraldic Imporium]

An unfortunate group in the community.

Very unfortunate, when I was new at being more involved in LGBT rights activism I was under the impression that there would be little to no bigotry within the LGBT community since they all share the same struggle, I was both shocked and saddened when I found out how wrong I was.

[New Connorstantinople]

People just need to be nice.

[Heraldic Imporium]

It's called LGBT because that's the order of what is most socially acceptable.

A very sad coincidence.

[Greed and Death]

A worthwhile video to watch on the matter.
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segmen ... 1bd8000110

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I'm bisexual and transgender. Ooooh jesus don't get me started.

Between the two though, it's immeasurably easier to be bisexual than transgender. Some people refuse to believe I've dated both sexes and would continue to do so, well... whatever. Compared to the gigantic amount of horrors I've encountered, and still encounter, for being transgender, good lord, it's barely even worth worrying about. Transphobia would, to me, seem far more rampant than biphobia from the LGBT community.

I'm sad to say that I have an acquaintance who's gay and has a huge amount of intolerance for transgender people. He considers that you're either born a man or a woman and that there's no legitimacy to the claims of transfolk about wanting to transition into the gender they feel they belong to.

Something I disagree vehemently with, his stance. Particularly because it is a transition that will make these people finally feel like they're who they want to be.

[Thafoo]

An unfortunate group in the community.

Very unfortunate, when I was new at being more involved in LGBT rights activism I was under the impression that there would be little to no bigotry within the LGBT community since they all share the same struggle, I was both shocked and saddened when I found out how wrong I was.

I know of self-righteous gay rights activists who, suddenly, when presented with the concept of sexual orientations that aren't homosexuality, they turn their noses up in disgust. It's horrible.

[Holy Roman Imperium]

I sense a bit of irony.
"We want to be able to express our sexual beliefs, but we don't like them because they can't make up their mind!"

[Mike the Progressive]

It's called LGBT because that's the order of what is most socially acceptable.

I dunno, lesbians, followed by bi-cheerleaders and I don't have anything against ze gayz or transgenders. but the other two are top priority.

[Viperco1]

Of course, this is the intrinsic nature of identity politics, a bisexual can be in a straight relationship and is therefore a potential traitor to the queer cause. As for the transgender they can blur the definition of homosexuality not to mention breaking the bigender norm, therefore harming the fragile group identity of the bigot. This is the same aggressive conformity and group segregation that got lgbt people persecuted in the first place. The solution is cosmopolitan goodwill and individual identity.

[Lantianguo]

It's called LGBT because that's the order of what is most socially acceptable.

... never actually thought of that before, nice XD

Bonus! The A is omitted because most people don't even acknowledge Asexuality.

But yeah, it certainly does work. Although it does seem to vary. I frequent Reddit's /r/casualiama section, and I've noticed that "I am a gay male" threads usually get lightly shot down. "I am a bisexual male" threads usually get shot down a little harder. By comparison, "I am a bisexual female" threads usually get lightly upvoted - if they're also actively polyamorous, it'll take off like wildfire. "I am a lesbian" threads usually get upvoted so much, even if there's no other qualifiers to the AMA. Furthering the point, if you're a FtM transgender person, you're going to get a lot of upvotes and downvotes, tending towards the negative. If you're an MtF transgender person, even if you have tons of additional qualifiers, you're going to get utterly obliterated. This isn't the best gold standard for determining how society views each group, but it is an interesting observational test, and concurs with your above statement!