Halsey has opened up a critical topic regarding bisexuality with one important tweet:
So if I’m dating a guy I’m straight, and if I date a woman, I’m a lesbian. The only way to be a
#True bisexual is to date 2 people at once.
So if I’m dating a guy I’m straight, and if I date a woman, I’m a lesbian. The only way to be a #True bisexual is to date 2 people at once.
— h (@halsey) December 18, 2017
Though she’s getting flamed on Twitter for what she said, I completely get it.
There’s a large chunk of the world that really doesn’t get it.
It’s not uncommon to hear of bisexuality referred to as “sick.”I’m not sure what it is about the term “bi” that puts people off, maybe it’s the hive-minded “all or none” belief that seems to have infected our society. Maybe people are too scared to try out something new.
Whatever it may be, some people who are very uncomfortable with open mindedness. It’s common for bisexual people to feel “left out” of LGBTQ rights and issues, cast aside as either gay or straight, less accepted as anything in-between.
There’s even a term for the way we treat bisexuality; “bi-erasure.”
If you watch Modern Family, you probably heard that eldest daughter of the Dunphy family, Hayley, was confirmed to be bisexual by actress Sarah Hyland last month via Twitter.
I don't know what the writers would say? But I confirm. https://t.co/KfRXMvCvl8
— Sarah Hyland (@Sarah_Hyland) November 1, 2017
Teen Vogue dissects the sexual status of Hayley, as well as other implicitly bisexual characters, and what it means that it was never verified on the show itself.
“Haley’s bisexuality has never been explicitly stated on the show, and she hasn’t had any storylines on the show that would indicate she is bisexual… Choosing not to is totally valid… But implying bisexuality on television without specifically naming it is incredibly common — and it’s a form of bi erasure.”
True. I can’t remember the last time I heard of a bisexual character on television, unless it was shown and never talked about.
This is a great time to bring up such an issue, especially since LGBTQ rights are more progressive than ever. Just check out CNN’s LGBTQ milestone list. In 2017 alone, we’ve had several legislative and military changes in regards to LGBTQ culture, that affect more than the LGBTQ community, but our entire nation as a whole.
Shouts to Halsey for speaking up on something not many people have the guts to talk about to stand by.