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{{Bisexuality topics sidebar}}
'''Biphobia''' is aversion toward [[bisexuality]] or people who are identified or perceived as being bisexual. Similarly to [[homophobia]], it refers to hatred and prejudice specifically against those identified or perceived as being in the bisexual community. It can take the form of denial that bisexuality is a genuine sexual orientation, or of negative [[LGBT stereotypes|stereotypes]] about people who are bisexual (such as the beliefs that they are promiscuous or dishonest). Other forms of biphobia include [[bisexual erasure]].<ref name="Yoshino 2000"/>
The hatred of bisexual women and [[femme]]s, being a form of prejudice at the intersection of biphobia and misogyny, is referred to as bimisogyny'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Festival |first=Leeds LGBT+ Literature |date=2021-09-23 |title=Bimisogyny and What it Means |url=https://www.leedslgbtbooks.com/post/bimisogyny-and-what-it-means |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=mysite |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pallotta-Chiarolli |first=Maria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wDa6CwAAQBAJ |title=Women in Relationships with Bisexual Men: Bi Men By Women |date=2016-03-08 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7391-3459-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Flood |first1=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWMHCgAAQBAJ |title=Engaging Men in Building Gender Equality |last2=Howson |first2=Richard |date=2015-06-18 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-7895-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=McAllum |first=Mary-Anne |date=2014-01-01 |title="Bisexuality Is Just Semantics…": Young Bisexual Women's Experiences in New Zealand Secondary Schools |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2014.872467 |journal=Journal of Bisexuality |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=75–93 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2014.872467 |s2cid=144498576 |issn=1529-9716}}</ref>''' or less commonly bisexism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weiss |first=Jillian T. |date=2004-01-15 |title=GL vs. BT: The Archaeology of Biphobia and Transphobia within the U.S. Gay and Lesbian Community |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1649428 |journal=Journal of Bisexuality|language=en |location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=1649428 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sung |first=Mi Ra |date=2014-12-01 |title=Stress and Resilience: The Negative and Positive Aspects of Being an Asian American Lesbian or Bisexual Woman |url=https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/3171 |journal=Doctoral Dissertations}}</ref> This is a gendered form of biphobia that accounts for [[intersectionality]] in discussions on bigotry.
== Etymology and usage ==
''Biphobia'' is a [[portmanteau word]] patterned on the term ''homophobia''. It derives from the Latin prefix bi-(meaning "two, double") and the root ''-phobia'' (from the {{lang-el|φόβος}}, ''phóbos'', "fear") found in ''homophobia''. Along with ''[[transphobia]]'' and ''homophobia'', it is one of a family of terms used to describe [[Bigotry|intolerance]] and discrimination against [[LGBT]] people. The [[Adjective|adjectival]] form ''biphobic'' describes things or qualities related to biphobia, and the less-common noun ''biphobe'' is a label for people thought to harbor biphobia.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Eliason, MJ|title=The prevalence and nature of biphobia in heterosexual undergraduate students|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|volume=26|issue=3|year=1997|pages=317–26|pmid=9146816|doi=10.1023/A:1024527032040|s2cid=30800831}}</ref>
The term ''biphobia'' was first<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bisexuality: Identities, Politics, and Theories|last=Monro|first=Surya|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2015|isbn=9781137007308|location=Basingstoke|pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rewire.news/article/2018/04/25/know-biphobia-harmful-know-whats-behind/|title=We Know Biphobia Is Harmful. But Do We Know What's Behind It?|last=Greenesmith|first=Heron|date=April 25, 2018|website=Rewire.News|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> introduced in 1992 by researcher Kathleen Bennett to mean "prejudice against bisexuality"<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Closer to Home: Bisexuality and Feminism|last=Weise|first=Elizabeth Reba|publisher=Seal Press|year=1992|isbn=1-878067-17-6|location=Seattle|pages=[https://archive.org/details/closertohomebise00weis/page/207 207]|url=https://archive.org/details/closertohomebise00weis/page/207}}</ref> and "the denigration of bisexuality as a life-choice."<ref name=":1" /> It has subsequently been defined as "any portrayal or discourse denigrating or criticizing men or women on the sole ground of their belonging to this [bisexual] socio-sexual identity, or refusing them the right to claim it."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Welzer-Lang|first=Daniel|date=October 11, 2008|title=Speaking Out Loud About Bisexuality: Biphobia in the Gay and Lesbian Community|journal=Journal of Bisexuality|volume=8|issue=1–2|pages=82|doi=10.1080/15299710802142259|s2cid=144416441}}</ref>
Biphobia need not be a phobia as defined in clinical psychology (i.e., an anxiety disorder). Its meaning and use typically parallel those of [[xenophobia]].
== Forms ==
=== Denial and erasure ===
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====Claims of bisexuals adapting to heteronormativity====
Some forms of prejudice against bisexuals are claims that bisexuality is an attempt in persecuted homosexuals to adapt to heteronormative societies by adopting a bisexual identity. Such claims are criticized by bisexuals and researchers studying the situation of bisexuals for falsely assuming that same-sex relationships would somehow escape persecution in heteronormative cultures by simply identifying as bisexual instead of homosexual. These researchers cite that all countries with laws against sex between people of the same sex give the same punishment regardless of what sexual orientation the people found guilty identify as, that any countries where same-sex marriage is illegal never allow marriages between people of the same sex no matter if they identify as bisexual instead of homosexual, and that laws against "gay" male blood donors invariably prohibit any man who had sex with other men from donating blood no matter if he identifies as homosexual or as bisexual. The conclusion made by these researchers is that since there is no societal benefit in identifying as bisexual instead of identifying as homosexual, the claim that bisexuals are homosexuals trying to adapt to a heteronormative society is simply false and biphobic and causes bisexuals to suffer a two-way discrimination from both LGBT society and heteronormative society that is worse than the one-way discrimination from heteronormative society that is faced by homosexuals. It is also argued that such two-way discrimination causes many bisexuals to hide their bisexuality to an even greater extent than homosexuals hide their sexuality, leading to underestimations of the prevalence of bisexuality especially in men for whom such assumptions of "really being completely gay" are the most rampant.<ref>Fritz Klein, Karen Yescavage, Jonathan Alexander (2012) "Bisexuality and Transgenderism: InterSEXions of the Others"</ref><ref>Abbie E. Goldberg (2016) "The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies"</ref>
In the book ''Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution'',<ref name="Eisner">{{cite book |last1=Eisner |first1=Shiri |title=Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution |date=2013 |publisher=Seal Press |isbn=978-1580054751 |pages=345 |edition=English |url=https://b-ok.cc/book/2478792/7463e6?dsource=recommend |access-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415224604/https://b-ok.cc/book/2478792/7463e6?dsource=recommend |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Shiri Eisner]] (2013) mentions Miguel Obradors-Campos' argument that bisexual individuals endure stigma by heterosexuals as well as gay and lesbian individuals. Eisner (2013) also writes, "some forms of biphobic stigma frequently observed in gay and lesbian communities: that bisexuals are privileged, that bisexuals will ultimately choose heterosexual relationships and lifestyles, that bisexual women are reinforcing patriarchy, that bisexuality is not a political identity, that bisexual women carry HIV to lesbian communities, and so on."<ref name="Eisner"/>
=== Negative stereotypes ===
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{{See also|Pansexuality#Tensions with bisexuals}}
Bisexuals frequently struggle with myths and misconceptions about the definition of bisexuality, such as the idea that bisexuality conforms to the gender binary (thereby excluding attraction to nonbinary individuals), or excludes attraction to trans people in general. This sometimes creates tension between bisexuals and pansexuals, as pansexuals often see themselves as being more inclusive to a wider array of genders.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dodd |first=S. J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tm4yEAAAQBAJ |title=The Routledge International Handbook of Social Work and Sexualities |date=2021-07-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-40861-4 |language=en}}</ref> A 2022 study by the [[Journal of Bisexuality]] suggests that the majority of women who identify as pansexual or queer defined bisexuality as limited to attraction to cisgender men and women and critiqued bisexuality as reinforcing the traditional gender binary. However, bisexual women defined bisexuality as attraction to two or more, or "similar or dissimilar" genders, described bisexuality as inclusive of attractions to all genders, and reported negative psychological outcomes as a result of the debate around bisexual gender inclusivity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cipriano |first1=Allison E. |last2=Nguyen |first2=Daniel |last3=Holland |first3=Kathryn J. |date=2022-10-02 |title="Bisexuality Isn't Exclusionary": A Qualitative Examination of Bisexual Definitions and Gender Inclusivity Concerns among Plurisexual Women |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15299716.2022.2060892 |journal=Journal of Bisexuality |language=en |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=557–579 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2022.2060892 |issn=1529-9716}}</ref>
A 2017 study published in the ''[[Journal of Bisexuality]]'' found that when bisexuals and pansexuals described gender and defined bisexuality, "there were no differences in how pansexual and bisexual people ... discussed sex or gender", and that the findings "do not support the stereotype that bisexual people endorse a binary view of gender while pansexual people do not."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Flanders |first=Corey E. |date=January–March 2017 |title=Defining Bisexuality: Young Bisexual and Pansexual People's Voices |journal=Journal of Bisexuality |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=39–57 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2016.1227016 |s2cid=151944900}}</ref>
== Effects ==
The mental and sexual health effects of biphobia on bisexual people are numerous. One study showed that bisexuals are often trapped in between the binaries of heterosexuality and homosexuality, creating a form of invalidation around their sexual identity. This often leads to recognized indicators of mental health issues such as low self-esteem and self-worth. These indicators and pressures to "choose" a [[sexual identity]] can, in many cases, lead to [[depression (mood)|depression]] as they may feel they live in a culture that does not recognize their existence.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Individual and Social Factors Related to Mental Health Concerns among Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States|journal = Journal of Bisexuality|date = 2012-01-01|issn = 1529-9716|pmc = 3383005|pmid = 22745591|pages = 223–245|volume = 12|issue = 2|first1 = Brian|last1 = Dodge|first2 = Phillip W.|last2 = Schnarrs|first3 = Michael|last3 = Reece|first4 = Omar|last4 = Martinez|first5 = Gabriel|last5 = Goncalves|first6 = David|last6 = Malebranche|first7 = Barbara|last7 = Van Der Pol|first8 = Ryan|last8 = Nix|first9 = J. Dennis|last9 = Fortenberry|doi=10.1080/15299716.2012.674862}}</ref>
While doing research on women at high-risk of HIV infection, one study, from the ''Journal of Bisexuality,'' concluded that bisexual women in the high-risk cohort studied were more likely to engage in various high risk behaviors and were at a higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Sexual and drug-use risk factors for HIV and STDs: a comparison of women with and without bisexual experiences.|journal = American Journal of Public Health|pages = 1841–1846|volume = 89|issue = 12|doi = 10.2105/ajph.89.12.1841|pmid = 10589313|first1 = V|last1 = Gonzales|first2 = K M|last2 = Washienko|first3 = M R|last3 = Krone|first4 = L I|last4 = Chapman|first5 = E M|last5 = Arredondo|first6 = H J|last6 = Huckeba|first7 = A|last7 = Downer|pmc = 1509027|year = 1999}}</ref> These behaviors have been attributed to the unlikeliness of bisexuals discussing their sexuality and proper protection with health professionals for fear of judgement or discrimination, causing them to become undereducated on the issue(s).<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/12-054_LGBTHealtharticle_v3_07-09-12.pdf|title = Improving the Health Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People: Understanding and Eliminating Health Disparities|last1 = Makadon MD|first1 = Harvey J|date = 2012-07-09|journal = Fenway Institute|last2 = Ard MD, MPH|first2 = Kevin L|publisher = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services|access-date = 2015-10-09|archive-date = 2018-08-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180820115858/http://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/12-054_LGBTHealtharticle_v3_07-09-12.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref>
In the book, ''Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution'',<ref name="Eisner"/> [[Shiri Eisner]] (2013) discusses the suicidality statistics amongst bisexual identifying individuals as compared to heterosexuals, gays, and lesbians. Eisner (2013) referred to a Canadian study that found bisexual women had higher rates of suicidality as compared to heterosexual and lesbian women; the study also found that bisexual men also had increased rates of suicidality as compared to heterosexual and gay men<ref name="Eisner"/>
Bisexual-identified people may face disparities in harsher degrees than their gay and lesbian peers. In the U.S. in particular, for example, they may face:
* Lower success rates for refugee applications; may also be the case [[LGBT refugees and asylum seekers in Canada#Applying as a bisexual refugee or asylum seeker|in Canada]] and Australia<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rehaag |first1=Sean |s2cid=55379531 |title=Bisexuals need not apply: a comparative appraisal of refugee law and policy in Canada, the United States, and Australia |journal=The International Journal of Human Rights |date=2009 |volume=13 |issue=2–3 |pages=415–436 |doi=10.1080/13642980902758226|hdl=10315/8022 |url=https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2209&context=scholarly_works |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
* Higher levels of [[Domestic violence in same-sex relationships#Bisexual|intimate partner violence]]<ref>Mikel L. Walters, Jieru Chen, and Matthew J. Breiding, "[https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_sofindings.pdf The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation]" (Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2013).</ref>
* Higher likelihood of youth risk behavior amongst high school students<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kann |first1=Laura |last2=Olsen |first2=Emily O'Malley |last3=McManus |first3=Tim |last4=Harris |first4=William A. |last5=Shanklin |first5=Shari L. |last6=Flint |first6=Katherine H. |last7=Queen |first7=Barbara |last8=Lowry |first8=Richard |last9=Chyen |first9=David |last10=Whittle |first10=Lisa |last11=Thornton |first11=Jemekia |last12=Lim |first12=Connie |last13=Yamakawa |first13=Yoshimi |last14=Brener |first14=Nancy |last15=Zaza |first15=Stephanie |title=Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Related Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9–12 — United States and Selected Sites, 2015 |journal=MMWR. Surveillance Summaries |date=2016 |volume=65 |issue=9 |pages=1–202 |doi=10.15585/mmwr.ss6509a1|pmid=27513843 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
* Higher likelihood of anxiety and mood disorders amongst bisexual women and men who report having sex with both sexes<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bostwick |first1=Wendy B. |last2=Boyd |first2=Carol J. |last3=Hughes |first3=Tonda L. |last4=McCabe |first4=Sean Esteban |title=Dimensions of Sexual Orientation and the Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in the United States |journal=American Journal of Public Health |date=2010 |volume=100 |issue=3 |pages=468–475 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2008.152942|pmid=19696380 |pmc=2820045}}</ref>
* Higher likelihood of living on less than $30,000 a year<ref name=":0">"[http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/06/SDT_LGBT-Americans_06-2013.pdf A Survey of LGBT Americans: The LGBT Population and Its Sub-Groups]" (Pew Research Center, June 13, 2013).</ref>
* Lower levels of reporting feeling "very accepted" in the workplace<ref name=":0" />
* Lower likelihood of being out to the important people in their lives<ref name=":0" />
* "Bisexuals report higher rates of hypertension, poor or fair physical health, smoking, and risky drinking than heterosexuals or lesbians/gays"<ref name="Eisner"/>
* "Bisexual women in relationships with monosexual partners have an increased rate of domestic violence compared to women in other demographic categories"<ref name="Eisner"/>
* "Many, if not most, bisexual people do not come out to their healthcare providers. This means they are getting incomplete information (for example, about safer sex practices)"<ref name="Eisner"/>
* "Bisexual women were more likely to be current smokers and acute drinkers"<ref name="Eisner"/>
* Higher risk of self harm, and suicidal ideation or attempts.<ref name="cancer-center-bi-health-risks">{{cite web |url=https://cancer-network.org/cancer-information/bisexuals-and-cancer/bisexuals-and-health-risks/ |website=[[National LGBT Cancer Network]] |title=Bisexuals and Health Risks |date=11 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205214120/https://cancer-network.org/cancer-information/bisexuals-and-cancer/bisexuals-and-health-risks/ |archive-date=5 December 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Feeling shame or discomfort with their sexual orientation or not feeling ready to be "out" to loved ones.
== Intersectional perspectives ==
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