{"id":96982,"date":"2016-06-14T08:23:17","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T08:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/06\/14\/bisexual-awareness-faq\/"},"modified":"2016-06-14T08:23:17","modified_gmt":"2016-06-14T08:23:17","slug":"bisexual-awareness-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/06\/14\/bisexual-awareness-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Bisexual Awareness & FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

watsons-angry-bi-army<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Happy Pride Month 2016! <\/b>What better way to kick things off than with a little awareness and breaking of stereotypes? Let\u2019s dig in.<\/p>\n

(NOTE: When we say \u2018attracted\u2019 throughout this post, the \u2018romantically and\/or sexually\u2019 is always implied, acknowledging that these are two separate concepts, and a person\u2019s orientation does not have to be the same for both) <\/i><\/p>\n

A quick intro to the concept of sex vs. gender can be found here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BI?<\/b>
A bi person has the capacity for romantic and\/or sexual attraction to more than one gender. This is sometimes worded as \u2018same and other genders\u2019. Bi is a non-monosexual\/romantic orientation, and is sometimes considered to be an umbrella term for non-mono identities. The Bisexual Resource Center \u201cuses bisexual as an umbrella term for people who recognize and honor their potential for sexual and emotional attraction to more than one gender (pansexual, fluid, omnisexual, queer, and all other free-identifiers). We celebrate and affirm the diversity of identity and expression regardless of labels.\u201d (x<\/a>)<\/p>\n

WHAT\u2019S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BI AND PAN?<\/b>
There are many definitions of \u2018bi\u2019 and \u2018pan\u2019 out there, and individually-identifying people may choose to use different definitions. Broadly, however, the difference is generally agreed to be:
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\t\u2014 Bi people are attracted to more than one<\/b> gender
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2014 Pan people are attracted to many or all<\/b> genders
This is understandably confusing, since by these definitions \u2018pan\u2019 would be a form of bisexuality\/romanticism. Each person has final say on how they choose to identify, though. \u2018Bi\u2019 is not a better or worse term than any other non-mono label. There is no inherent value judgment in identifying with any particular term. They are all valid!<\/p>\n

WHY MIGHT A PERSON IDENTIFY AS BI INSTEAD OF PAN, OR VICE VERSA?<\/b>
A person may choose to identify as bi if they are attracted to more than one gender, but not necessarily all genders. For instance, someone might be attracted to feminine-presenting and non-binary folks, but not men. Someone who identifies as pan may wish to place particular emphasis on their openness to all people regardless of gender. <\/p>\n

DOES \u2018BI\u2019 REINFORCE THE GENDER BINARY? IS IT TRANSPHOBIC?<\/b>
No, \u2018Bi\u2019 does not reinforce the gender binary because the \u2018bi\u2019 refers to \u2018same and other genders\u2019, not \u2018men and women\u2019. Bi is not an inherently transphobic term, and identifying as bisexual does not make one transphobic any more than identifying as homosexual or heterosexual does. Being bi does not automatically mean that a person is not attracted to trans or nonbinary folks. Being bi also does not imply that one is cisgender. <\/p>\n

WHY USE THE TERM BISEXUAL IF THERE\u2019S SO MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING?<\/b>
Bisexual is a historical term, a term reclaimed from the medical community, and one with connections to early non-mono rights movements. (x<\/a>) Many people feel tied to the political history of the term and wish to be linked to previous generations of people who have identified that way. Others simply fit the definition of bi better than pan: they are attracted to two or more genders, but not necessarily all genders. <\/p>\n

WHAT IS BIPHOBIA? BI ERASURE?<\/b>
While bi\/pan folks can certainly experience homophobia, they also experience hatred, discrimination, and fear that originates specifically from being non-monosexual\/romantic. This includes attitudes such as refusing to date bi\/pan folks because they\u2019ve been touched by other genders, or out of fear that they will leave the relationship for someone of another gender. This discrimination can come from both inside and outside the queer community. Some queer spaces are not welcoming to bi\/pan people, or are even actively antagonistic toward them. Bi erasure is a huge part of biphobia, wherein the experiences and very existence of bi\/pan people are denied. For more information, read Robyn Ochs\u2019 article on biphobia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WHAT ABOUT BI HEALTH?<\/b>
Bi and pan people face significant health risks<\/a> compared to lesbians, gays, and heterosexuals. In addition to higher instances of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders:<\/p>\n