An Army of 1 in 10

Earlier today, I read the following comment on a blog:

A bisexual person as in your case is just a confussed[sic] fag, afraid to be yourself…GAY

Now, I’m not going to say where this was posted, because I don’t want to call the person out, but it did get me to thinking. This is not the first time I’ve seen this attitude and it exhibits something that I’m going to call biphobia. I’m sure I’m not the first to coin this term (I haven’t googled it to check), so I’m certainly not going to lay claim to it. My view on the matter is that it’s no different from homophobia, and I’m going to explain why.

First, let’s examine the typical homophobe:

1. Is a heterosexual and has no experience at being homosexual
2. Was raised to believe that homosexuality is immoral
3. Considers homosexuality to be either:
   • a choice, or
   • a mental disorder
4. May (or may not) manifest his (or her) homophobia as outright dislike for homosexuals

The first indicator leads into the others — a heterosexual, by definition, does not understand the sexual attraction which comprises homosexuality. This is normal for a human since it’s difficult to understand something that you have no personal experience with. To a heterosexual, being sexually attracted to the opposite sex is the norm and it’s incomprehensible how anyone could possibly be attracted to someone of the same sex. This is also true of homosexuals, but in reverse.

What makes a homophobe though, is not this indicator alone. It requires that the person believes homosexuality to be immoral, which is manifested in usually one of two concepts: that it’s a choice or a mental disorder. Those who subscribe to the belief that it’s a choice either ignore or dismiss as irrelevant the fact that they never made a conscious choice to be heterosexual. The belief that it’s a mental disorder is usually an attempt at sympathy for “the plight of the homosexual.”

Homophobia can therefore be reduced to this:  an inability to recognize that human sexuality is diverse in the forms it takes.  I’m no psychologist, but this must be some form of mental disorder under the DSM.

Now, let’s examine the typical biphobe:

1. Is a homosexual and has no experience at being heterosexual
2. Firmly believes in the duality of human sexuality, i.e. that sexual orientation only manifests as either:
   1. heterosexuality, or
   2. homosexuality
3. Expresses his (or her) biphobia as hostility or outright dislike toward bisexuals

As I’ve already stated, #1 is perfectly normal for humans.  The twist with biphobia is that it’s generally found in homosexuals (heterosexuals who are biphobic are generally also homophobic).  It may also be associated with latent or blatant heterophobia.

Just like the homophobe who finds it difficult to believe that homosexuality can exist as a natural part of human sexuality, the biphobe is fervent in his (or her) belief that human sexuality is expressed as only homosexuality or heterosexuality, with no grey area in the middle.  The biphobe often believes that a bisexual is merely a homosexual suffering from internalized homophobia, or is someone claiming to be bi because it’s “cool.”

So therefore, biphobia can therefore be reduced to this:  an inability to recognize that human sexuality is diverse in the forms it takes.

Homophobia and biphobia — two sides of the same coin.  Think about it.