Bi erasure - meaning and definition
Alsobisexual erasurebi invisibilitybisexual invisibility
Definition
The tendency to ignore, doubt or explain away bisexuality, for example by labelling people as gay or straight based on their current partner.
At a glance
- Ignoring, doubting or explaining away bisexuality.
- Often happens when people are labelled gay or straight based on their current partner.
- Also appears in media and research that leave bisexual people out.
- Bisexuality Day on 23 September was started partly to counter it.
- Also called bisexual invisibility.
In detail
Bi erasure happens when a bisexual woman with a husband is assumed to be straight, or a bisexual man with a boyfriend is assumed to be gay. It also appears in media and research that leave bisexual people out.
Bisexuality Day, marked on 23 September, was started partly to push back against this invisibility.
In a sentence
- Calling her straight just because she married a man is a classic case of bi erasure.
- The report criticised bi erasure in studies that only counted gay and straight participants.
Where the word comes from
Bisexuality Day, also called Celebrate Bisexuality Day, was first marked on 23 September 1999, started by US bisexual activists partly in response to bi erasure.
Common questions
What is an example of bi erasure?
Assuming a bisexual woman with a husband is straight, or a bisexual man with a boyfriend is gay. Leaving bisexual people out of media, research or LGBTQ+ history are other examples.