3. How?
• Research the history of
biphobia
• Send out online questioners to
young bisexual people aged
between 18-25
• Ask questions with a mix of
qualitative and quantitative
data.
• Debate the findings for both to
come to a conclusion
Do young people
understand the
historical and political
connotations of
biphobic expressions?
Why?
“In order to promote forms
of practice that are
genuinely emancipatory, it
is necessary to address the
processes of discrimination
that give rise to
oppression.”
(Thompson 2006:14)
4. Origins of biphobia
First case of HIV/AIDS in
gay men
Homophobia became rife
with anti-gay propaganda
Heterosexual people got
HIV/AIDS
Gay men are blamed for
infecting heterosexual
community
Gay community
pushes blame onto
the bisexual
community
Politian's publicly
declare bisexuality
to be abhorrent,
filthy, sinful,
hedonistic and the
cause for HIV/AIDS
5. How the gay rights movement
affects biphobia
Bisexual
invisibility
Bisexuals
identify
publicly as
‘gay’ so not to
face biphobia
Gay people
do not ‘see’
bisexuals in
forefront of
gay rights
movement
Bisexuals are
assumed to be
‘hiding’ under
straight
privilege
Bisexuals are
then
discriminated
against by the
gay community
6. How often do people
experience biphobia?
33% stated they experience
biphobic oppression at least
monthly.
33% stated ‘every now and then’
20% of participants expressed they
experience biphobia every time they
are within the LGBT community.
This can lead to feelings of isolation
and rejection from both the
heterosexual community and the
homosexual community.
7.
8. Female bisexuals are actually
attention seeking heterosexuals
Bisexuality just
promiscuous behaviour
bisexuals are assumed to
be confused
Male bisexuals are
just gay and ‘in
denial’
bisexuals are greedy
bisexuals are
untrustworthy
People are gay or straight
there is no middle ground
Bisexuality is
a fashion
statement
Most common stereotypes
9. Findings…
O 93% of participants
feel that biphobia
differs in regards to
gender
O Over half the
participants have
been rejected from
a relationship due
to their bisexuality
O 60% of participants
believe biphobia is
due to lack of
understanding of
non-monosexual
identity's
O Many bisexual
young people have
been told that their
sexual orientation
‘does not exist’
10. Do young bisexual people
understand the history behind
biphobia?
My findings show;
O Young bisexual
people are aware of
biphobia
O They experience
biphobia regularly
O Most believe biphobia
to be from
heterosexual people,
and that the gay
community are just
joking
11. During my research a
participant expressed that
they had never experience
biphobia…
She then said “unless a
joke about me being
greedy and confused
counts?”
Is it still oppressive if
it makes someone
laugh?
13. The equality act does
not cover bisexuals
from biphobia.
It covers heterosexual
people from hate
crimes & homosexual
people from
homophobia.
14. References
• STONEWALL (2010) Bisexuality and Biphobia: Sexual
orientation FAQs. [accessed online 05/12/10]
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/sexual_orientation_faqs/2
696.asp
• WIKIPEDIA (11/09/11) Biphobia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biphobia
• HOWSON, C (October 2009) Black Perspective’s Introduction
Session: Blackboard Session Slides. De Montfort University
• THOMPSON, N. (2006) Anti-discriminatory practice.
Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
• ANTJOULE, N (04/2011) ‘Step Bi Step’. In HUDSON, D
(04/2011) OUT in the City: The Ultimate Guide to Gay London-
Issue 54. London: Square Pegg Media
• AVERT (2009) Averting HIV and AIDs: History of HIV and
AIDs in the UK 1981 -1995 [accessed online 05/12/10]
http://www.avert.org/uk-aids-history.htm
15. • BELL, D., VALNETINE, G. (1995) Mapping Desire: Geographies
of Sexualities. London: Routlegde
• BISEXUAL INDEX (2010) Bisexual Index: Bi by Definition
[accessed online 05/12/10]
http://www.bisexualindex.org.uk/index.php/Definitions
• HEMMINGS, C. (2007) What’s in a name? Bisexuality,
transnational sexuality studies and western colonial legacies.
The International Journal of Human Rights volume 11. Routledge
: Taylor and Francis Group: London
• HEMMINGS, C. (2002). Bisexual Spaces: A Geography of
Sexuality and Gender. New York: Routledge.
• MILLER, M., ANDRE, A., EBIN, J., & BESSONOVA, L. (2007).
Bisexual health: An Introduction and Model Practices for HIV/STI
Prevention Programming. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Policy Institute, the Fenway Institute at Fenway Community
Health, and Bi Net USA
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES (2010) Equality Act 2010 (accessed
online 12/11/2010) crown copy right
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents
