The visibility of the “B” in our LGBTQ+ umbrella is marked every year on 23 September. At Kingsley Napley, we are proud to have bisexual members of our LGBTQ+ and Allies Network and strive for everyone to feel like they can be themselves and bring their whole selves to work. Outside KN, and in this year alone, Robin has come out as bisexual in the new Batman comic, more awareness has been raised about bisexuality with celebrities, such as Megan Fox, Lily Cole, speaking out and there is more representation of bisexual people in mainstream shows, such as Sex Education, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
So why do we still need to mark this day?
What is bisexuality?
Bisexuality is being sexually and/or romantically attracted to people of two or more genders, including cis men and women, trans men and women, gender fluid and non-binary people.
Why is visibility needed?
Bisexuality Visibility Day was first recognised on 23 September 1999. Since then, we have seen an increasing number of role models visibly champion our sexuality.
However, people who identify as bi can still sometimes feel ignored, invisible or discriminated against due to their sexuality.
Some perhaps outdated views include bi people being perceived as ‘confused’ or ‘going through a phase’.
Perhaps more commonly, people presume that someone adopts the sexual identity of lesbian or gay depending on the gender of the person they are dating. Similarly, people may assume that someone is heterosexual because their current relationship. In doing so, their bi identity is delegitimised and can built on the historic erasure of bisexual people from society and history (sometimes referred to as “bi-erasure”).
Sadly biphobia and bi-erasure can come from within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community due to a lack of understanding and respect of what bisexuality is.
Stonewall’s recent study[1] has shown that 36% of bi people have come out to their friends in comparison to 74% of gay and lesbian people; 20% of bi people have come out to their family in contrast to 63% of gay and lesbian people. This is likely due to the stigma that comes with being bi.
Not being one’s authentic self can lead to mental health issues and increased anxieties; 59% of bisexual people have reported experiencing depression in comparison with 46% of gay and lesbian people.
Biphobia and bi-erasure is still a current issue. According to a recent study, 16% of bisexual men and 14% of bisexual women experienced a hate crime / incident which they believed was caused by their sexual orientation.
Therefore continuing to raise awareness of bisexuality 22 years later from when Bisexuality Visibility Day was first created is still as important and necessary as it was in 1999. We will continue to strive for our colleagues to feel comfortable being visible and we hope you will join us on that journey.
What can I do to support bivisability?
- Bisexuality exists – the examples above of biphobia try to cancel bisexuality. Try not to question someone if they come out as bisexual – try to be respectful of their identity.
- Do not make assumptions of someone’s sexuality based on the gender of someone’s current partner.
- Speak out against biphobia if safe to do so – this is one of the best ways to support your bisexual colleagues / friends / family and will help to change attitudes towards bisexuality.
[1] LGBT In Britain, BI Report published by Stonewall in 2020
About the Author
Sameena Munir is a Senior Associate in Kingsley Napley’s Private Client team and is a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion group and LGBTQ & Allies network.
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