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OmicronPhi — Bisexuality isn't that narrow
Published: 2015-02-18 14:57:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 2732; Favourites: 37; Downloads: 3
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So, I was going to save this until bi visibility day but due some recent mischaracterisations of bisexuality, it has to be uploaded now.I was recently blocked by two people for having this opinion but as a bisexual I just need to make this clear.
Bisexuality is NOT an attraction to men and women; at least it isn't just that. Bisexuality is most often defined as a sexual attraction to two or more genders. This means that a bisexual can be attracted to non-binary people as well; some of those attracted to all genders choose to call themselves pansexuals or omnisexuals and that's fine too. There's nothing wrong with those terms; the thing is that bisexual is a just as acceptable term.
The most common argumentthat people have against this is that because 'bi' means two, it must only include two genders, these being male and female. There are a few issues with this. The first issue I think is fairly obvious: it is incredible insulting to non-binary people as it assumes just because it has to do with two genders, these genders must be male and female. The logic of it being an attraction to two genders could just as easily be an attraction to male people and non-binary people, or female people and non-binary people, and not recognising this is viewing non-binary people as having less valid gender identities.
The second issue is that the term two, which is legitimately the translation of 'bi', can be interpreted in more than one way. Some people see it as an attraction to people of your gender and to people not of your gender. However the most common way to see it within the bisexual community is that it's an attraction to two (being the bi part) or more genders. This means that anyone attracted to two or more genders is a bisexual. A bisexual doesn't even have to be attracted to both males and females; they can legitimately be attracted to just male and non-binary people.
So in conclusion: Bisexuality is an attraction to people of two or more genders. Denying that is transphobic and linguistically simplistic.
If you're just attracted to men and women, cool, you're bi, but don't you dare deny that I also am.
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Comments: 18
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IK this is old, but damn do I agree! So I wanted to add the manifesto:
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The 1990 Bisexual Manifesto
We are tired of being analyzed, defined and represented by people other than ourselves, or worse yet, not considered at all. We are frustrated by the imposed isolation and invisibility that comes from being told or expected to choose either a homosexual or heterosexual identity.
Monosexuality is a heterosexist dictate used to oppress homosexuals and to negate the validity of bisexuality.
Bisexuality is a whole, fluid identity. Do not assume that bisexuality is binary or duogamous in nature: that we have "two" sides or that we must be involved simultaneously with both genders to be fulfilled human beings. In fact, don’t assume that there are only two genders. Do not mistake our fluidity for confusion, irresponsibility, or an inability to commit. Do not equate promiscuity, infidelity, or unsafe sexual behavior with bisexuality. Those are human traits that cross all sexual orientations. Nothing should be assumed about anyone’s sexuality, including your own. We are angered by those who refuse to accept our existence; our issues; our contributions; our alliances; our voice. It is time for the bisexual voice to be heard.
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Although some lines are debatable, what is bolded has been set in stone for almost 30 years now, and people still just dont get it
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Love the usage of the handshake, being BI myself I just think it's a great poster.
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Hmm I don't think bisexuality includes being attracted to non-binary people; I am bisexual and I don't have a problem with non-binary people, but I don't have any sexual attraction towards them. I am attracted to prolly 60% men 40% women, 0% anything else.
Yes it excludes non-binary people, but so do pretty much all of the other orientations. Pansexuality I think more describes attraction to non-binary people and cisgender people alike.
I can be attracted to transexual people, but only if they look very convincingly like one gender or the other after their operation. People who cross dress or look in-between just do not attract me. I know that's shallow, but I really do not have a problem with them as people, I just don't feel sexual feelings towards them at all unless they look or act convincingly binary.
I am not gender blind, I am specifically attracted to two genders, male and female. People who are physically in between just do not do it for me.
I agree that it is not that narrow as people say it is. Many people think it things as extreme as "50% attracted to men 50% to women" when in reality most bisexuals are attracted to both unevenly. I don't think it is wide enough to include transgender identities though... I think many transgender people are bisexual, but bisexuality does not imply being attracted to non-binary people.
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Well, I never said that bisexuals have to be attracted to non-binary people; I said that they can be. Not all bi people are the same. I go with the definition used by the majority of the bisexual community which is an attraction to two or more genders. With the pansexual thing, some people like that term and others don't; it's really up for the individual to decide how far they want to specify their orientation. Personally, I prefer the tem bi.
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Ok.
Non-binary genders are too unspecific for me to take as a single gender, they are really many different genders that's why I think Pansexual is more accurate. I guess if you are attracted to two genders though you are bisexual 
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I'm sticking to the definition laid out in the description.
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For that to work I think you might need to explicitly specify "gender"
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Oh REALLY now?
www.uhs.uga.edu/sexualhealth/L…
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And you deserve a bullet in the mouth, fascist pig.
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