Bisexual erasure
11.5% of Gen Z adults identify as bisexual (Jones, 2022). That's more than any other LGBTQ+ identity. So why do so many people minimize, deny and effectively erase bisexuality as a real sexual identity? And what is the impact of that erasure on bisexual persons' wellbeing?
As it turns out, bisexual individuals have higher rates of depression and anxiety than folks who identify as gay, lesbian or straight. Experts draw a straight line between these and other health disparities and the stress caused by bisexual denial and erasure. "Bisexual erasure is a form of stigma. Stigma is bad for health, just to put it in a nutshell," states Lauren Beach, PhD (Murphy, 2024).
Bisexual young people also report experiencing higher rates of bullying, sexual assault, and physical harm than those who identify as gay, lesbian or straight (Trevor Project, 2024)--all of which have been linked to higher rates of mental and physical health problems, including rates of suicide.
Check out this article to learn more about bisexual erasure and why it's vital to acknowledge bisexuality as a real sexual identity.
References:
Jones, Jeffrey M. (2022, February 17). LGBT Identification in U.S. Ticks Up to 7.1%. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticks-up.aspx
Murphy, Colleen. (2024, August 17). What is Bisexual Erasure--and How Does it Effect Health? Health. https://www.health.com/mind-body/lgbtq-health/bi-erasure
Trevor Project. (2024). Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/facts-about-lgbtq-youth-suicide/
