WHY BI? By William Burleson
An interesting topic came up the other day as I was drinking coffee late at night with three other bi folks. We know bisexual behavior is common. Kinsey would say up to 40% depending on how you count. We know that identifying as bisexual is a lot less common. Surveys say 1 to 4% of the population. So what is it about us, drinking coffee way too late at night, that makes us part of those 1-4% and not part of the rest? How is it we came here, but most others didn’t?
For me, there are two answers. First, I am privileged to have grown up with some understanding of the word. However accurate, at least I knew what “bisexual” meant when coming of age.
Second, I am a stubborn man. When I suffered and still suffer the endless parade of people telling me I don’t exist, that I am deluding myself, that there is no such thing, that I have to chose, I said “Bull Shit.” I said don’t tell me how I feel, who I am.
This is perhaps one of the few times this character trait has served to my benefit.
Bill Burleson is a freelance writer and author of BI AMERICA: MYTHS, TRUTHS, AND STRUGGLES OF AN INVISIBLE COMMUNITY coming from Haworth Press in the fall of 2004. http://www.bi101.org/