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A BI-UTIFUL HISTORY


A BI-UTIFUL HISTORY


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Content warning:This article references biphobia. Please be advised, as this
content may be upsetting to some learners. We acknowledge the learners who
engage with this content come from across the globe and approach it from a wide
range of lived experiences.

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In the grand, overarching history of humanity, you might think bisexuality is a
relatively new phenomenon. Writing for Time, Dr. Julia Shaw, psychologist,
activist, and author of Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of
Bisexuality, says that’s a pretty common belief. That is, “until we see that bi
people have been there all along, they’ve just been mislabeled or left out of
the narrative.”

Shaw says that often happens because historically, people attracted to multiple
genders haven’t explicitly labeled themselves as bisexual. She offers a few
explanations for this, including the false beliefs that bisexual people are:



promiscuous or unfaithful,



experimenting or in a state of transition,



lying for attention, or



simply following a trend.


Because of this historic lack of labels—including ones like gay, lesbian, and
beyond—and because people were often forced to live heterosexual lives, Shaw
says “one way that academics have dealt with this is to assume that people who
had any kind of same-sex desires or sex must have been gay or lesbian, even if
they were also in heterosexual relationships.” This amounts to erasing bi people
from history.

Writing for Medical News Today, Veronica Zambon says biphobia is the belief that
monosexuality—attraction to only one gender—is superior. This prejudice can come
from straight people and from people within the LGBTQ+ community. Zambon writes,
“The prevalence of this belief can have an impact on the mental, physical, and
sexual health of people who are bisexual.”

Behold These Bi Folks
Shaw hopes to correct the record by highlighting a few historically and
currently significant bisexual people:



Alfred Kinsey: The famous sex researcher and biologist “introduced nuance into
the discussion of sexuality,” Shaw tells us. He came up with the Kinsey Scale,
which helps people categorize their sexuality on a spectrum from zero to six. He
also openly criticized fellow researchers who thought sexuality could only be
binary, emphasizing that people are much more complex than that.



Fritz Klein: He established the Journal of Bisexuality and founded the American
Institute of Bisexuality, both of which continue their research today.



Brenda Howard: Sometimes referred to as the “mother of Pride,” she played an
important role in organizing the first LGBTQ+ marches in the wake of the
Stonewall uprising. This laid the foundation for the Pride marches we see all
over the world today.



Lani Ka’ahumanu: A leader of the bisexual rights movement since 1980, she
founded several groups specifically for bisexual people. She “created safe
political spaces where bi people didn’t need to justify their sexuality or their
inclusion,” Shaw writes. Ka’ahumanu’s advocacy is also a major reason for the
“B” in the “LGBTQ+” acronym.



Robyn Ochs: She wrote what’s become the most cited definition of bisexuality,
and her work as an activist has helped raise awareness about the bi community.



Charles Blow: As a New York Times columnist, he "fights for bi visibility,
including in the Black community,” Shaw says, reminding us of the importance of
intersectional identities.


Consider This: They haven’t always gotten their due, but bisexual people are far
from some new trend, and they’ve played a vital role in the fight for queer
rights. Do you know any bi people who have made a positive impact in your life?


LESSON FEATURES


VIDEO: PUTTING THE “B” IN “LGBTQ+”

It’s hard to put the word “bisexual” in a box ...
learn more
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A BI-UTIFUL HISTORY

In the grand, overarching history ...
learn more
Current


VIDEO: BEING A BISEXUAL ALLY

Margot just got married to her ...
learn more
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