While everyone is familiar with "homophobia", not many people are familiar with "biphobia". This word does not only need to be added to the popular lexicon, but it also needs to be better understood by members of the LGBTQ+ community as well--especially in the case of lesbians and the women loving women community.
As the word suggests, biphobia is the prejudice against bisexual people--and weirdly enough, biphobia is extremely prevelent in lesbian women towards other women who identify as bisexual.
To lesbians, bisexual women are many things:
Experimental (or bi-curious)
Temporarily into women, or "gay until graduation"
Not really queer, or less queer than them
Are only hetero-romantic and not bi-romantic
Will never marry a woman
Hurt by men, so why not give women a try!
An inexperienced, "baby gay"
Will probably leave you for a man
To me: THIS IS SOLELY A MANIFESTION OF INSECURITY ON BEHALF OF LESBIANS!!!! đ€
Bisexual women are valid members of the queer community, who should not be diminished just because they also are attracted to the opposite sex, are currently in a relationship with a man, or only want to have sex with other women but not date them. After all, this is what the word bisexuality means: to be sexually attracted to both sexes. đ©ââ€ïžâđâđ©This is different than being bi-romanticâ the romantic attraction to both sexes. đđ©ââ€ïžâđšđ«đ©ââ€ïžâđ©
You have sexual and romantic autonomy!!! Well, as long as you communicate your intentions, of courseđ If you are bicurious, let your woman loving woman know what's up!
To all of my lovely bisexuals, what's your experience with biphobia? Do you feel less than your lesbian counterpart? To my fellow lesbians, are you guilty of biphobia?
-Alexa Johnstone (Co-Founder) :)
Exactly! I also find it interesting how bisexual women are often perceived to be more interested in men both sexually and romantically-- when that is not the case! Sexuality is a spectrum, and just because you identify as bisexual doesn't mean you like women and men equally, or in the same ways. Some bisexual women prefer women sexually, and men romantically, or some bisexuals may only seek out relationships with women, but will casually hook up with men.
This is so important!! From my personal experience, being a bi woman who has only ever dated a men, I often hear that I am less experienced than lesbians or that I must only be into women because its "trendy". In reality I have found myself in romantic situations with far more women than men but this is not known since these relationships never made it to the official dating stage. I even find myself being internally biphobic sometimes, thinking that maybe I am just confused about who I am, and if that were the case then it is still VALID but I feel that I am confident in my identity as a bi woman and I am confident thatâŠ