[CHAT] #BIWEEK - Awareness, acceptance and visbility!
The day that this blog goes live, the 23rd of September, marks International
Bisexual Day. It’s also a part of Bisexual Awareness Week, which was
created with the aim of achieving wider acceptance of bisexuality.
I’ve identified as bisexual for a little over 6 years now and to say that it hasn’t
exactly been a straightforward journey would be a bit of an understatement. I
never questioned my sexuality as a kid, always assuming that I was straight by
default, until I suddenly ended up with a huge crush on a girl I was friends with
at the age of 15. Even as a child of a LGBT parent who had grown up with it as a
big part of my life, this realization brought on a lot of different feelings of
confusion, frustration and worry.
It took me a while, but eventually I reached a place where I accepted who I am.
Most of the people I’ve come out to have been cool about it, but that doesn’t
mean that I haven’t gotten the occasional strange/borderline biphobic question
or comment. For example, receiving a Facebook message from a school friend
out of the blue asking if I’m “still bi” when I got my first boyfriend was a moment
that I wouldn’t really want to relive. Curiosity about other people’s sexuality is
normal, but we need to remember to be respectful about how we talk about it.
No matter what your sexuality is, we all have our own process of coming to
terms with what it means to us. We’re the ones who get to choose what labels we
use, if any, as well as how we define those labels.
Want to know a bit more about coming to terms with your own sexuality, learn
about different sexualities and how we can treat all different sexualities with
respect?
Come and join @safari93 and I when we chat about it on Monday 28th,
8pm AEST!
This is such a fascinating conversation! So many different experiences and understandings out here, I can feel my mind expanding
Anyhoo...
What advice could you give for people who are going through the process of questioning their sexuality? If this is something you have explored or are exploring now, what advice would you give yourself 5 years ago?
What advice could you give for people who are going through the process of questioning their sexuality? If this is something you have explored or are exploring now, what advice would you give yourself 5 years ago?
Advice to others:
1. Don't freak out, what you're feeling is perfectly valid
2. Even if you don't settle on a label in the end, whatever you land on is your choice alone and no one else's
Me 5 years ago:
While it's reeeeally obvious to you she's not straight, she hasn't reached a point where she's ready to deal with it so please stop trying to push it.
What advice could you give for people who are going through the process of questioning their sexuality? If this is something you have explored or are exploring now, what advice would you give yourself 5 years ago?
I swear I post this everywhere, but it is so relevant right now!
Just read and read and read! There are gonna be haters, but don't let them stop you from being yourself! Only you can define who you are, no one else!
What advice could you give for people who are going through the process of questioning their sexuality? If this is something you have explored or are exploring now, what advice would you give yourself 5 years ago?
1. just let it happen, let go of any preconceived perceptions of what you 'should' be and know that everyhting you feel and do is normal and harmless as long as you listen to yourself,
2. people exist on a spectrum, it's just that no-one's told you that. You don't have to surpress the part of you that isn't sure, and you most certainily don't have to pretend you are exclusively one way or the other. life is rarely black or white and this is ok. calm down, you will be fine and are in good company
@Jaide897 letting go of the "shoulds" is a huge part of it! We all get taught such narrow ideas of how to be and they're no good to most of us 🙂
You guys are full of some awesome things about this topic! Such an awesome convo 😄
Stereotyping is still an issue the LGBT community faces. What are some stereotypes you have heard about the LGBT community?
Stereotyping is still an issue the LGBT community faces. What are some stereotypes you have heard about the LGBT community?
They are all a bunch of weirdo's and wacko's. Gays are femine and Lesbians are butch. Bi's are just confused. I haven't really heard much in regards to trans* and anyone whom falls under the asexual umbrella are slut shamers.
I've heard a lot of crappy stereotypes about bisexuality, particularly how we're apparently all afraid of commitment or hardwired to cheat. Bo to those things -_-
But at the same time, it's important to remeber that some people do fulfil certain different stereotypes just in being themselves and they shouldn't be treated like any less of a valid person because of it.
@Jaide897 hey! 'As fluid as yoghurt' makes so much sense!! There's so many experiences of sexuality, and even fluidity seems to be different for different people. It really speaks to the diversity of human sexual experience!
Sexuality can be a confusing and sometimes even scary thing to think about. Have you ever questioned your sexuality? Or do you know someone who has?
Yep! I think it would be easier to count the number of people i know who haven't questioned their sexuality thant those who have. I was also in a really amazing happy relationship with someone who is bisexual for many many years 🙂
Sorry I'm late guys! Hope everyone is well 
Sexuality can be a confusing and sometimes even scary thing to think about. Have you ever questioned your sexuality? Or do you know someone who has?
I've always considered myself straight, but there was a time when I realised how cute girls were too, and decided that - like a lot of people have said - sexuality is a really fluid thing.
I know many people who have questioned their sexuality, and none of them had an easy journey in both coming to terms with it themselves as well as the people around them. I'm super pumped that we are doing this segment, the more awareness hopefully means more acceptance and the easier to process of coming out can become.
I questioned it for a bit before settling on lesbian, but looking back I know I've always been one.
I have also had other friends question their sexuality too
@stonepixie I think the trans umbrella is also a bit hazy, especially since there hasn't been much discussion till recently. Although there's a lot going on in the transgender issues thread, so there's definitely interest and experiences there
Sexuality can be a confusing and sometimes even scary thing to think about. Have you ever questioned your sexuality? Or do you know someone who has?
Definitely!!! I kind of had a niggling thought at the back of my head for most of my adolescence but I ignored it and then one afternoon on a bus (I remember this very vividly) I was struck by the realisation that I might be bisexual! It was so odd actually because for the longest time I thought I was a straight girl who just happened to like girls. Which is technically the definition of bisexual.
@safari93 I pretty much had the exact same experience! Mine was in an elevator though 😛
Hey @stonepixie! I think it's important too to remember how 'sexual' people feel in these discussions! Too often the asexual spectrum is ignored in discussions about sexuality
Hey @message42, welcome! Being transgender can come with difficulties, especially when it is not something that is discussed often and can come with a lot of confusing emotions and thoughts. It is important though to try and get support for it - it's better to have someone you can talk to and possibly professional support as well. Qlife can be a great place to start!
Hi @message42, glad you could join in the chat!
I'm sorry you don't feel great about being trans at the moment, but even reaching out here is a positive step! However you experess your gender is your choice 🙂
Hi @redhead! Some people definitely seem to be aware of how they identify from an early age, while others spend parts of their lives figuring it out
@Ben-RO that makes sense, every relationship is different and that could extend to sexuality too. It isn't necessarily drastic but it might still fluctuate a litle
