Bisexuality 101

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Bisexuality 101

• A brief introduction

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Quick overview

• William Perry
• Myths
• Terms
• Researchers
• Identity versus Behavior
• More information

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William Perrys Model of Intellectual and Ethical
Development (1981)

• 1. Dualism two options, one right one wrong
• 2. Multiplicity acknowledges multiple options
• 3. Relativism analyzes multiple options
• 4. Commitments in relativism understands
  multiple options (non-dual awareness), decides to
  follow one option based upon personal beliefs and
  values

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Application of Perry

• Applying non-dual awareness to sexuality.
• Bisexuality is the experience of romantic
  emotional attachment on the non-dual plane of
  development.
• Both attractions are possible, but not
  necessarily acted uponand may take various
  ranges of expression.

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Myths

• Bisexuality does not exist.
• Bisexual means equal attraction to both genders.
• Bisexuals are dishonest about their
  relationships.
• Adapted from Bisexual Resource Center. (2002).
  Myths about bisexuality Brochure. Boston, MA.

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Myths

• Bisexuals are sexually promiscuous.
• Bisexuals cause AIDS.
• Bisexuals are incapable of having healthy
  relationships.
• Adapted from Bisexual Resource Center. (2002).
  Myths about bisexuality Brochure. Boston, MA.

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Terms

• Bi-curious
• Bi-phobia
• Bisexual
• Men having Sex with Men (MSM)
• Monosexual
• Pansexual/Omnisexual/Pomosexual

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Kinsey Scale (1948)

Homosexual
Heterosexual
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
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Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (1993)
Use scores ranging from 1 (other sex) to 7 (same
sex)
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Identity versus behavior

• Identity
• One aspect of a persons overall being. In terms
  of sexual orientation, this person will typically
  acknowledge varying degrees of emotional, social,
  and/or physical attraction (or interest) in
  persons of both genders. Gender is usually not
  the major demarcating factor for attraction (or
  interest).
• Example Bisexual identified person, in a
  monogamous relationship

Behavior The actions a person does often, but
not always based upon their thoughts, conceptions
and beliefs. Example Heterosexual
identified person having sex with the same gender.
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Guidelines for practice

• Become familiar with concepts and resources for
  the bisexual community.
• Do not make assumptions.
• Acknowledge the persons experience.
• Remember that there are human issues and bisexual
  issues.

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So what does it all mean?

• The words we use to define ourselves usually mean
  something different for each person.
• The Kinsey Scale Klein Sexual Orientation Grid
  measure sexuality in a more objective manner, but
  are still very limited.
• The most important factor is how individuals
  identify themselves.

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Researchers on the topic of bisexuality

• Ronald C. Fox, PhD (San Francisco, CA)
• Tania Israel (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Alfred Kinsey (Deceased)
• Fritz Klein, MD (San Diego, CA)
• Emily Page (Boston, MA)

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Internet resources

• www.bialogue.org
• www.biresource.org
• www.bisexual.org
• www.binetusa.org
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual

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Print resources

• Fox, R.C. (Ed.). (2004). Current research on
  bisexuality. New York Harrington Press.
• Hutchins, L. Kaahumanu, L. (Eds.). (1991). Bi
  any other name Bisexual people speak out.
  Boston Alyson Publications.
• Klein, F. (1993) Bisexual option(2nd ed.). New
  York Arbor House.
• Ochs, R. (Ed.). (2001). Bisexual resource guide
  (4th ed.). Boston Bisexual Resource Center.