A lot of people think that bisexuality is just a phase that someone will grow out of. Many bisexuals disagree. So do researchers.
Have you ever heard someone say that bisexuality simply doesn't exist, or is just something people "try on" while figuring out if they are gay or straight?
This notion is pretty offensive to people who identify as bisexual because it basically says that a core part of their identity is just something temporary.
It is hard to be bisexual. Lesbians/Gay men tend to say you are trying to have the best of both worlds, and Straight people think that means that you'll sleep with anyone (without it mattering). I've had girlfriends who've told me I need to decide if I am straight or gay, but its not that simple. I feel like I love who I love, what does it matter what gender they are? Bisexual is a sexual orientation, not just a phase. Though, a lot of people tend to use it before coming completely out...
Recently, researchers decided to explore just the question question of whether bisexuality is just a phase. They did so by conducting a study that looked at almost 80 non-heterosexual women for ten years. In the end, the researchers concluded that bisexuality in women is a distinctive sexual orientation--just like being gay, lesbian or straight.
This might not come as a big surprise to you, but it is always handy to have academic research to refer to when battling stereotypes.
It is also important to remember that just because the study only looked at women, that doesn't mean bisexuality in men is not a distinct sexual orientation. It just means this study wasn't looking at that in this particular situation!
