Understanding Bisexuality: Learn About Sexual Orientation

What Is Bisexuality? The Basic Definition

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation where a person is attracted to more than one gender. Most commonly, this means someone who experiences attraction to both men and women. However, bisexuality can also include attraction to people who identify outside the traditional male-female binary, such as non-binary or genderqueer individuals.

The term "bisexual" comes from the prefix "bi," meaning two, but sexual orientation researchers note that bisexuality doesn't necessarily mean equal attraction to two genders. A bisexual person might feel stronger attraction to one gender than another, or their attractions may shift over time. Some bisexual individuals describe their experience as being attracted to people across the gender spectrum, while others describe it more specifically.

It's important to understand that bisexuality is distinct from other sexual orientations. A heterosexual or "straight" person is attracted primarily to people of a different gender. A homosexual or gay/lesbian person is attracted primarily to people of the same gender. A bisexual person experiences attraction across gender lines. Asexual people experience little to no sexual attraction regardless of gender. These are different ways people experience sexuality, and none is more valid or "real" than another.

According to research from the American Psychological Association and the CDC, bisexual individuals make up a significant portion of the LGBTQ+ community. Studies suggest that bisexual people may actually represent the largest subgroup within the sexual minority population, though exact percentages vary depending on how surveys define and measure sexual orientation.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that bisexuality means attraction to multiple genders—and that this attraction doesn't need to be equal or static—helps clarify what the term actually describes.

Myths and Misconceptions About Bisexual People

Bisexual individuals often face misunderstandings both from the general public and sometimes from within LGBTQ+ communities. One of the most common myths is that bisexuality is a "phase" or transitional identity—that bisexual people are really either gay or straight and will eventually "pick a side." This misconception persists despite substantial research showing that sexual orientation, including bisexuality, is a stable identity for most people throughout their lives.

Another widespread misconception is that bisexual people are inherently unfaithful or promiscuous. This stereotype suggests that because bisexual people are attracted to multiple genders, they cannot be satisfied in monogamous relationships. Research contradicts this: bisexual people are just as capable of commitment and monogamy as anyone else. Relationship satisfaction depends on communication, trust, and commitment—not sexual orientation.

Some people believe bisexuality is really just a form of homosexuality or that bisexual men don't truly exist. These myths may stem from limited media representation or cultural discomfort with fluid sexuality. In reality, bisexual men represent roughly half of bisexual-identified individuals, according to demographic studies. Bisexual women are often more visible in media, which can create a skewed perception.

There's also a misconception that bisexual people must be equally attracted to all genders to "count" as bisexual. This is false. Attraction exists on a spectrum. A person might be 90% attracted to one gender and 10% to another and still authentically identify as bisexual. The key element is experiencing attraction to more than one gender—the ratio or intensity varies from person to person.

A harmful myth is that bisexuality is a choice or a rejection of heterosexual privilege. Sexual orientation—including bisexuality—develops through a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that are not consciously chosen. Bisexual people don't simply "decide" to be attracted to multiple genders.

Practical Takeaway: Recognizing these myths for what they are—inaccurate stereotypes without scientific support—can improve understanding of bisexual people's actual experiences and identities.

The Science of Sexual Orientation and Attraction

Sexual orientation is understood by modern science as a natural aspect of human diversity. Research from neuroscience, psychology, and biology suggests that sexual orientation develops through multiple interacting factors, though scientists don't fully understand all the mechanisms involved. Most major health organizations, including the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, and American Psychiatric Association, recognize sexual orientation as a normal variation of human sexuality.

Studies on identical twins show that genetics plays a role in sexual orientation. When one identical twin identifies as bisexual or gay, the other twin is more likely to also identify as bisexual or gay compared to fraternal twins or non-related individuals. However, genetics is not the whole story. Environmental factors, hormonal influences during development, and individual life experiences also contribute to the formation of sexual orientation.

Brain imaging research has found structural and functional differences in the brains of people with different sexual orientations, suggesting biological underpinnings to orientation. A landmark study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that sexual orientation has a biological basis, though researchers emphasize this is not deterministic—meaning biology influences but doesn't absolutely determine orientation.

One important scientific finding is that sexual orientation exists on a spectrum rather than in fixed categories. Kinsey's research in the 1940s and 1950s proposed that sexuality could be measured on a scale from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual, with most people falling somewhere in between. Modern research supports this spectrum model, which helps explain why some people identify as bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or use other terms to describe their orientation.

The timing of sexual orientation awareness varies widely. Some people report knowing their orientation in childhood, others during adolescence, and some in adulthood. For bisexual individuals specifically, the experience may involve recognizing attraction to one gender first, then gradually recognizing or acknowledging attraction to other genders over time. This timeline is different for every person and is completely normal.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that sexual orientation has biological foundations and exists on a spectrum provides scientific context for why bisexuality is a legitimate and natural orientation.

Bisexual Identity Across Cultures and History

Bisexuality is not a modern invention. Historical and anthropological evidence shows that attraction to multiple genders has existed across cultures and throughout history, though the terminology and cultural understanding have varied considerably.

In ancient Greece, relationships between men were socially accepted, and many men in Greek society had relationships or attractions involving both men and women. Historical figures like Sappho, a poet from ancient Greece, wrote openly about her attractions to women. Alexander the Great was believed to have had relationships with both men and women, as documented by historical accounts.

Many indigenous cultures worldwide had categories for people whose gender identity or sexual orientation didn't fit Western binary systems. Native American cultures recognized "Two-Spirit" people—individuals who embodied both masculine and feminine qualities and often took on fluid gender and relationship roles. Similar concepts existed in many African, Asian, and Pacific Island cultures before Western colonial influence reshaped cultural categories around sexuality and gender.

In Japan, the historical practice of kabuki theater involved complex relationships and attractions that included bisexual expression. Classical Japanese literature contains numerous references to people with fluid sexual orientations. In pre-Islamic Arabian poetry, there are accounts of people attracted to multiple genders.

The modern categorization of sexual orientations into distinct labels like "bisexual," "gay," and "straight" is relatively recent—developing primarily in the late 1800s and 1900s. Before this, attraction to multiple genders might have been described differently or understood through other cultural frameworks. The term "bisexual" as a specific identity label became more common in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Today, bisexual identity is understood differently across cultures. In some countries and communities, bisexual identity is more openly recognized and discussed. In others, cultural, religious, or social contexts may make this identity expression more complicated or less visible. However, the underlying experience of attraction to multiple genders exists across all human societies.

Practical Takeaway: Recognizing bisexuality's presence throughout history and across cultures demonstrates that this orientation is a normal part of human diversity, not a recent invention.

Coming Out and Self-Discovery for Bisexual People

Coming out—disclosing one's sexual orientation to others—is a deeply personal decision that varies greatly among bisexual individuals. There is no single "right" way or timeline to