bisexualconundrum

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Although compared to 30 or even 10 years ago, bisexual representation in the media whether it be music, tv shows, or movies has definitely increased, we are still not at a point where we can be yet 100% satisfied with the amount of representation there is. Oftentimes female bisexual characters are oversexualized or their sexuality is their whole personality. As for male bisexual characters, they are hard to come by. Even with characters that are very obviously bi, many tv shows and movies are terrified of saying the one word that would avoid confusion, “bisexual”. Bisexuality is often seen as a “stepping stone” for coming out as lesbian or gay and this adds to bi erasure in the media. Even people in the LGBTQ+ community often avoid dating bisexuals out of fear that they will be unfaithful or untrustworthy. 

We need accurate bi portrayals in the media, not just the stereotypical version of us. There are so many misconceptions about bisexuality due to the medias inaccurate portrayals and it is time to change that. Bisexuals cannot just “pick a side”. Being bi is valid and real.There have even been studies saying that out of people who identify as gay lesbian or bisexual, 50% identify as bisexual. Bi visibility day is on the 23rd of September each year however everyone should be able to feel as if they can freely express their love no matter the day it is.

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Heres a list of some openly bi celebrities:

Frank Ocean

Halsey

Lauren Jauregui

Steve Lacy 

Lady Gaga 

Megan Fox

Sara Ramirez

Billie Joe Armstrong

David Bowie

Angeline Jolie

Amber Rose

Drew Barrymore

Fergie

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Here are some songs which openly talk about bisexuality :)

1. Curious by Hayley Kiyoko

Hayley Kiyoko who her fans love calling “lesbian Jesus” sings about a former lover in this song who has since found a boyfriend.

2. Strangers by Halsey and Lauren Jauregui

The song which features two openly bisexual artists is about two women meeting each other for the first time and singing to each other about their feelings after meeting at a house party.

3. Girls/Girls/Boys by Panic! at the Disco

Brendon Urie, an openly bi man sings “girls love girls and boy and love is not a choice” in this iconic song.

4. Chanel by Frank Ocean

In this song Frank Ocean sings “I see both sides like Chanel” which refers to his bisexuality.

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While doing research for bi representation in movies the only movie of which I could find which featured a bisexual character is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I was going to feature this movie as a post however it features lots of violence and violence against women and so I chose to not include this movie simply because I would not like someone who has experienced sexual violence to watch this movie and then be triggered by it. Other than this movie, however, I could not find any recent movies which featured a bi character. We need more bi representation in Hollywood especially if it is this hard to find just one movie with an openly bi character. With all that being said, I would like to say that this blog is a safe space for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. <3

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The Bold Type

Starting your own magazine is a lot of work and The Bold Type centers on a group of friends doing just that and each member finding their own identities and dealing with love. Kat Edison, one of the main characters who is portrayed by Aisha Dee is a bi-curious woman who meets a woman and later develops romantic feelings for this woman. The show depicts a woman struggling to find her own identity which many in the LGBTQ+ community deal with and does not make bisexuality seem as if it is not a real thing. It lets viewers know that no matter how old you are, you do not need to have it all figured out. Its okay to take your time to really figure out who you are and Aisha Dee does an excellent job of showing this as she figures out her identity at her own pace.

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Blindspot

Prior to doing research for this blog, I had not heard of this incredible show. The show is on NBC, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. The show centers around a woman who wakes up naked covered in intricate tattoos with no recollection of how she got there or who she is and an FBI agent who is assigned to her case. Rich Dotcom who is portrayed by Ennis Esmer is a criminal who is openly attracted to both men and women and is unapologetic about it. His sexuality is not made to be a big deal and is just one aspect of characters identity rather than it being his whole identity.

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Grey’s Anatomy

I remember binge watching Grey’s Anatomy all in one summer. Season after season and I never got tired of it. The show is produced by Shonda Rhimes just like Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder (all of which are amazing shows and are definitely binge-worthy) and it is a medical drama centered around a group of young doctors at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. The show will definitely hit you hard especially if you get attached to the characters.

As for the bi representation on the show, Callie Torres who is played by Sara Ramirez does an amazing job at accurately portraying a bisexual woman. Sara Ramirez is bisexual in real life and she is Latinx and has said before that as opposed to in other shows she likes how in Grey’s, her character Callie says that she is bisexual multiple times. There are no assumptions to be made by the viewer because she says it so many times.

I definitely think that Callie Torres saying that she is bisexual was one of the first times I had fully seen myself represented in the media. As a Latinx bisexual woman I related to Sara Ramirez and her beloved character Callie Torres so much and it was always great seeing her on the show.

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine

When doing research for this blog, the one reoccurring show that kept coming up whenever I tried to find bi representation in the media, Brooklyn Nine-Nine ALWAYS came up so of course, I had to include it and it had to be the first show I included.

Stephanie Beatriz. She is Latinx and a proud bisexual in real life. She is the amazing woman who plays Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Unlike other attempts at bi representations in other shows, Rosa is not hypersexualized and she is not defined by just her sexuality and Beatriz is proud of the writers for being so great at writing her character like this. The show has garnered much love from fans all over. When Rosa Diaz came out as bi on the show, I definitely knew about it thanks to what seemed like everyone I followed on Twitter freaking out about it.

The show overall centers around Brooklyn’s ninety-ninth police precinct and its detectives and depicts serious issues with a blend of comedy. Anyways you can watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Fox and NBC as well as Hulu and Amazon Prime.

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When was the last time you saw a show or a song or even a movie with any type of bisexual representation?? No, I’m not talking about a character who seems confused about their sexuality and who they are attracted to and no I am also not talking about a character who says that they are bi and later says that they are in fact straight or gay and that being bi was a “phase”. Although both can happen, being bi is a real thing. I started this blog just to share some forms of media where bisexuals are represented both accurately and efficiently.

Having bi representation is so important for so many reasons. 

I as a cis bi woman didn’t even know being bi was a thing for the longest amount of time. Elementary school, everyone had their favorite Jonas Brother and I knew for a fact that I had the biggest crush on Nick of course but there was that girl in class that was so pretty. I didn’t even know that girls liking girls was a thing but girls liking both girls and boys at the same time? The idea was so foreign to me. I didn’t have any idea that that was a real thing. Eventually in middle school I learned that guys could like guys and girls could like girls. I felt so conflicted. I had a crush on a boy but also I thought this other girl was super pretty. Everyone would talk about how hot Megan Fox was and I always agreed but secretly. In high school, after a few years of being on social media I was made aware that being bisexual was a thing. Finally I felt as if I belonged somewhere. I had felt like such an outsider for so long that when I realized that I didn’t have to choose between being straight or gay it was like the clouds were opening up and there were angels flying down to grace a crown on my head. For so long I felt so confused. We need bi representation not only for those who already know that they are bi, but also for others to be educated and informed on its existence. I hope that this blog can help at least one person or even further inform people.