Myth:

Bisexuality doesn't really exist. People who consider themselves bisexuals are going through a phase/confused/undecided/fence sitting. Ultimately they'll settle down and realize they're actually homosexual or heterosexual.

Reality:

Some people go through a transitional period of bisexuality on their way to adopting a lesbian/gay or heterosexual identity. For many others bisexuality remains a long-term orientation. For some bisexuals, homosexuality was a transitional phase in their coming out as bisexuals. Many bisexuals may well be confused, living in a society where their sexuality is denied by homosexuals and heterosexuals alike, but that confusion is a function of oppression. Fence-sitting is a misnomer; there is no "fence" between homosexuality and heterosexuality except in the minds of people who rigidly divide the two.

Myth:

Bisexuality doesn't really exist. People who consider themselves bisexual are really heterosexual, but are experimenting/playing around/trying to be cool/trendy.

Reality:

Whether an individual is an "experimenting heterosexual" or a bisexual depends on how s/he defines her/himself, rather than on some external standard. While there certainly are people for whom bisexual behavior is trendy, this does not negate the people who come to a bisexual identity amidst pain and confusion and claim it with pride.

Myth:

Bisexuality doesn't really exist. People who consider themselves bisexuals are actually lesbian/gay, but haven't fully accepted themselves and finished coming out of the closet (acknowledging their attraction to people of the same gender.)

Reality:

Bisexuality is a legitimate sexual orientation. Many bisexuals are completely out of the closet, but not on the lesbian/gay community's terms. (It is worth noting that many lesbians and gay men are not completely out of the closet and their process is generally respected; it is also worth noting that the lesbian/gay community whose "terms" are in question here has tended to be quite different for working class lesbians, gays of color, etc.) Bisexuals in this country share with lesbians and gays the debilitating experience of heterosexism (the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and thereby rendering other sexual identities invisible) and homophobia (the hatred, fear, and discrimination against homosexuals.)

Myth:

Bisexuals are shallow, narcissistic, untrustworthy, hedonistic, and immoral.

Reality:

This myth reflects our culture's ambivalence over sex and pleasure. The "sex" in bisexuality gets overemphasized, and our culture projects onto bisexuals its fascination with and condemnation of sex and pleasure.

Myth:

Bisexuality means having concurrent lovers of both sexes.

Reality:

Bisexuals are people who can have lovers of either sex, not people who must have lovers of both sexes. Some bisexual people may have concurrent lovers, but bisexuals do not need to be with both sexes in order to feel fulfilled.

Myth:

Bisexuals are promiscuous hypersexual swingers who are attracted to every woman and man they meet. Bisexuals cannot be monogamous, nor can they or live in traditional committed relationships. They could never be celibate.

Reality:

Bisexual people have a range of sexual behaviors. Like lesbians, gays or heterosexuals, some have multiple partners, some have one partner, some go through periods without any partners. Promiscuity is no more prevalent in the bisexual population than in other groups of people.

Myth:

Bisexuals get the best of both worlds and a doubled chance for a date

Reality:

Combine our society's extreme heterosexism and homophobia with lesbian and gay hesitance to accept bisexuals into their community, and it might be more accurate to say that bisexuals get the worst of both worlds. As to the doubled chance for a date theory, that depends more upon the individual's personality then it does upon her/his bisexuality. Bisexuals don't radiate raw sex any more than lesbians, gays, or heterosexuals. If a bisexual woman has a hard time meeting people, her bisexuality won't help much.

Myth:

Bisexuals are desperately unhappy, endlessly seeking some kind of peace which they cannot ever find.

Reality:

Like lesbians and gays who have been told that they will live awful lives, bisexuals can respond that much of the pain comes from oppression, so people concerned about the "awful lives" of bisexuals should join the fight against homophobia.

Adapted from Vernon A. Wall and Nancy J. Evans, "Using Psychological development theories to understand and work with gay and lesbian persons," in Nancy J. Evans and Vernon A. Wall (eds.) Beyond Tolerance: Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals on Campus, American College Personnel Association, 1991 and Western Michigan University's "Safe on Campus" Program by Gregory M. Weight, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Office, University of Delaware, March 2000