A bisexual person is someone who experiences emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to more than one gender.
Bisexuality is a sexual orientation, much like heterosexuality (attraction to the opposite gender) or homosexuality (attraction to the same gender). The key characteristic of bisexuality is attraction to more than one gender. This can include attraction to men, women, and/or non-binary individuals.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Attraction is the Core: Bisexuality, at its heart, is about attraction. This attraction can be:
- Emotional: Feeling a deep connection with someone.
- Romantic: Desiring a romantic relationship with someone.
- Sexual: Experiencing sexual desire or attraction to someone.
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Fluidity and Spectrum: Bisexuality is often understood as a spectrum. This means that the degree of attraction to different genders can vary significantly between individuals and even within the same individual over time. Some bisexual people may have a strong preference for one gender over others, while others may find themselves equally attracted to multiple genders.
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Behavior vs. Identity: It's important to note that sexual behavior doesn't always define sexual orientation. A person who identifies as bisexual might only have relationships with people of one gender throughout their life. Similarly, someone who has only had relationships with the opposite gender might still identify as bisexual based on their feelings of attraction.
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Important Considerations:
- Pansexuality: While similar, pansexuality is often defined as attraction regardless of gender. Some people use the terms interchangeably, while others see them as distinct orientations.
- Bisexuality is not a choice: Sexual orientation is an intrinsic aspect of a person's identity.
- Erasure: Bisexual individuals sometimes face erasure or invalidation, where their sexuality is not acknowledged or accepted by either heterosexual or homosexual communities.
- Biphobia: Bisexual people can experience biphobia, which is prejudice, discrimination, or negative attitudes towards bisexual people.
In short, bisexuality is a genuine and valid sexual orientation characterized by attraction to more than one gender, and it's important to respect and acknowledge the experiences of bisexual individuals.
