Biphobia - meaning and definition
Alsobiphobicmonosexismanti-bisexual prejudicebiphobe
Definition
Prejudice or discrimination against bisexual and other bi+ people, including the belief that bisexuality is not real, a phase or a sign of untrustworthiness.
At a glance
- Prejudice or discrimination against bisexual and other bi+ people.
- Can come from straight people and from gay and lesbian communities.
- Includes myths that bisexual people are confused, greedy or likely to cheat.
- Researchers link it partly to poorer mental health reported by bisexual people.
- Closely related to bi erasure.
In detail
Biphobia can come from straight people and from within gay and lesbian communities. Common myths include that bisexual people are confused, greedy, more likely to cheat, or will "pick a side" eventually.
Studies suggest bisexual people often report poorer mental health than both straight and gay peers, which researchers link partly to this double exclusion.
In a sentence
- Being told I'd eventually pick a side was the kind of biphobia I heard most.
- The workshop on biphobia challenged the myth that bisexual people can't be monogamous.
Where the word comes from
Formed on the model of homophobia, combining bi (as in bisexual) with -phobia.
Common questions
What are common examples of biphobia?
Saying bisexuality is a phase or not real, assuming bisexual people are untrustworthy or more likely to cheat, or expecting them to pick a side. Excluding bisexual people from LGBTQ+ spaces is another example.