It is possible to be sexually or romantically attracted to both men and women and that’s why The Bisexual Resource Center founded in 1985 in Boston has sponsored Bisexual Awareness Month every March. Its purpose is to promote visibility and acceptance of the “bi” population that is not always looked upon favorably. The theme is equity this year.
According to new data from Gallup, over half of LGBT adults (546) are bisexual with another 3.3% describing their sexual orientation as “non-monosexual,”queer,” “fluid,” or another gender-loving.
What Are The Issues Bisexuals Face?
Bisexuals make up the largest portion (40%) of the LGBTQ+ community yet a 2004 survey of over 6,000 LGBTQ+ adults over the last three years found that one in 3 LGBTQ adults say they have been treated unfairly by a health care provider, according to NBC News.
The Bisexual + community also faces social and economic disparities.. They have higher rates of mental health issues. They are told to “get off the fence” and decide which sex they like. Compared to both lesbians and heterosexual women, they have more substance abuse disorders and sexually transmitted diseases, the latter being regarded as a result of being “hypersexual” by those who disapprove.
Uptick in Young
According to The Washington Post, one in six adults in Generation Z ( 18 to 23) consider themselves LGBT. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, found that bisexual people make up 75% of young LB people.
The youth experience prejudice too. The Human Rights Campaign states that one to three bisexual youth report being bullied at school. The anti-suicide Trevor Project finds that almost one-half of bisexual youth seriously considered suicide in the past year.
Support for the Bi Community
- Bisexual Resource Center has information for youth, families, allies, and distributes educational brochures to health centers around the world. It holds two anthologies, Getting Bi and Recognize
When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know
For more detailed advice, see book, co-authored with a mother of a gay son and a psychiatrist, Jonathan L. Tobkes, M.D.
