With Bi+ folks making up around 50% of all people who identify as either gay, lesbian, or bisexual, (according to studies conducted by the Williams Institute and Human Rights Campaign), Bi+ people are the largest portion of our LGBTQIA+ community. This page aims to educate folks as well as dispel a lot of misconceptions regarding identities that fall under the Bisexual+ umbrella.
As a shorthand and a way to also include many different identities, such as bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, among others, the term Bi+ will be used throughout this page. The Bi+ community faces a lot of misinformation that leads to biphobia, and the resources below are ways to educate oneself about the Bi+ community, find Bi+ resources, and learn about how to be a better support person to folks who are Bi+. Biphobia is prejudice, fear, or hatred directed toward bisexual people, as defined by HRC.org. It can include making jokes or comments based on myths and stereotypes that seek to undermine the legitimacy of bisexual identity. Biphobia occurs both within and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Terms That May Fall Under the Bi+ Umbrella
Bisexual: “A person whose primary sexual and affectional orientation is toward people of their same gender and of other genders, or towards people regardless of their gender. Another definition that some people define bisexuality is being attracted to men and women.” - (Source)
Pansexual: “An attraction to all genders without a preference: either not seeing genders or choosing for it to not be a determinant factor.” (Source)
Omnisexual: “An attraction to all genders with a preference to one over the others.” (Source)
MYTHS
CW: Biphobic Stereotypes and Tropes
Reality: Contrary to what some believe, Bisexual does not necessarily limit gender to two binaries, despite the prefix bi- commonly believed to mean two. Various definitions of the term bisexual exist, and labels of identity show up differently for each person. One person may define their sexuality as “being attracted to one and a different gender,” someone else may describe themselves as “having a sexual and romantic attraction to multiple different genders,” and yet another may describe themselves as “being attracted to masculine and feminine energy,” and yet they may all identity under the Bi+ umbrella.
Source: Bi Umbrella
Reality: While some Bi+ folks may be interested in being with more than one person at a time, polyamory and bisexuality are two different things and one does not necessarily mean someone identifies as the other. Many Bi+ folks are monogamous, and while polyamorous folks in the Bi+ community exist, they are not the majority.
Reality: This myth stems from the stereotype that Bi+ folks are “greedy” or other terms that attempt to villainize Bi+ folks as being more likely to commit infidelity. In reality, no data backs this up, and Bi+ folks are just as likely as their monosexual counterparts to remain faithful in relationships.
Source: Myths About Being Bisexual
Reality: About 50% of people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are bi+, and therefore, Bi+ folks make up the majority of the LGBTQIA+ community. This myth may stem from the fact that only around 28% of Bi+ folks are out to their loved ones, and therefore visibility is lower for Bi+ folks.
Videos
Below are a variety of videos that seek to educate folks on Bi+ people and their experiences. Some are TED talks and are very formal and delve deep into academia and studies, while others are casual list videos and informal vlogs.
If you have suggestions for videos to add to the list, submit them to rcsgd@sa.ucsb.edu!
Community Resources
This is a discussion group for all students who identify as Bi+(bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and questioning). We will have facilitated conversation, information about available resources, and a space to heal from biphobia and bisexual erasure. This group is open to all genders.
For those interested in attending this group, please email rcsgd@sa.ucsb.edu
Bialogue is a free, confidential discussion group for people who are bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, fluid, and/or otherwise non-monosexual).
All genders welcome, bi+ participants only, please.
Pacific Pride Foundation
608 Anacapa Street, Suite A | Santa Barbara
For more information on meeting times, contact Pacific Pride Foundation’s main office at hello@pacificpridefoundation.org or (805) 936-3636
National Resources
As the oldest nationally-focused bisexual organization in the U.S., the BRC continues to raise awareness and build bridges within the LGBT and ally communities and fosters bi-supportive social and political space wherever it can.
Originally started in 1985 as the East Coast Bisexual Network, the organization incorporated in 1989 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and changed its name to the Bisexual Resource Center in the mid-nineties. Since its inception, the Bisexual Resource Center has been creating resources, providing support, and helping to create a stronger sense of community for bi/pan/fluid people across the U.S. and beyond. As one of its first actions, the BRC published the Bisexual Resource Guide from 1990 through 2002 and helped to connect organizations and individuals around the world from Argentina to Zambia.
BOP (Bisexual Organizing Project) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit registered in Minnesota that serves the Upper Midwest. We are committed to building the bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and unlabeled (bi+) community through regular events and the yearly national BECAUSE conference. BOP is welcoming and inclusive of everyone, including but not limited to people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, sexes, relationship orientations, ethnicities, abilities, religions, and political affiliations.
Bi.org is a project of the Bi Foundation, also known as The American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB), a 501(c)(3) private foundation that supports and sponsors projects likely to promote bi visibility and improved understanding of bisexuality through education, research, training, and outreach.
Created in 1996 as bisexual.org, this website began with the simple goal of letting bi people know that they are not alone. When we first launched, there were virtually no online resources for the bi community and the few resources that were available were hard to find, highly sexualized, or catered to niche audiences. Since those early years we have grown into a huge global community.
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Contains information on how to support Bi Youth as well as resources for Bi Youth.
This list of notable LGBT YouTubers includes YouTubers who publicly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise part of the LGBT community. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. Watch their content to support Bi+ content creators. :)
