• Bisexuality is the potential to feel attracted to and engage in sensual or sexual relationships with people of either sex.
  
  
• A bisexual person may not be equally attracted to both sexes and the degree of attraction may vary over time. Some bisexuals say they are attracted to men and women in different ways, others say gender just isn't relevant to who they are interested in.
  
  
• Since we are generally socialized as heterosexuals, bisexuality can be a stage that many people experience as part of the process of acknowledging their homosexuality. Many others come to identify as bisexuals after a considerable period of identification as gay men or lesbians.
  
  
• Bisexuality, like homosexuality or heterosexuality, may either be a transitional step in the process of sexual discovery or a stable, long-term identity. An orientation that may not be permanent is still valid for the period of time that is experienced.
  
  
• In our culture, it is generally assumed that a person is either heterosexual (the default assumption) or homosexual (based on appearance or behavioral clues). Because bisexuality does not fit into either of these standard categories it is often denied or ignored. When it is recognized, bisexuality is often viewed as being "part heterosexual and part homosexual" rather than being a unique identity.
  
  
• Bisexuals, like all people, have a wide variety of relationship styles. Contrary to common myth, a bisexual person does not need to be sexually involved with a man and a woman simultaneously. In fact, some people who identify as bisexual never engage in sexual activity with one or the other gender. As is the case for heterosexuals and gay men and lesbians, attraction does not involve acting on every desire. Many bisexuals choose to be sexually active with only one partner and have long-term monogamous relationships.

Prepared by Tessa Bye, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Office, University of Delaware, March 2000