Bisexuality what churches should know...

Bisexuality


What is Bisexuality?

Bisexuality is the potential to be attracted, romantically and/or sexually, to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.

~Robyn Ochs

Bisexual
Bisexuality Symbols

What is pansexuality?

The Truth About Pansexuality | Psychology Today

Pansexuality is sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others.

“Learn how to navigate conversations around Bisexuality and Pansexuality, what the differences are, and answering questions both within the workplace and out.”
(2020)

What is the difference between bisexuality and pansexuality? (2020) by Sophie Saint Thomas and Carina Hsieh for Cosmopolitan. “Pansexuality and bisexuality are often used interchangeably with one another, they actually mean two different things, explains Tanya M. Bass, PhD, sexologist. While both describe sexual orientations, bisexuality is rooted in a binary system of gender identities, Bass explains. On the other hand, pansexuality encompasses attraction (either sexual, romantic, physical, and or spiritual) towards members of all gender identities and expressions and is not rooted in the binary.”


Facts About Bisexuality:

Bisexual pastor offers support for LGBT believers.
(2018)

In the United States, 9 million people currently identify as part of of the LGBTQIA+ community. That means that LGBTQIA+ people outnumber the total populations of the 40 lowest population states.

from https://www.lgbtmap.org/

An information-filled resource from the fantastic video library from the folks at
Queer Theology.

Many studies estimate that because of other factors, that number might be minimized as much as 50% – meaning there are actually at least 18 million people who identify as LGBTQIA+ people in the United states today.

from https://www.lgbtmap.org/

Susan Cottrell shares why she left her evangelical church and began serving LGBT people-of-faith when her daughter came out as bisexual. As she says, “When asked to choose between her church and her child, she chose her child.” You can read more about Susan’s work and advocacy at her nonprofit, Freed Hearts.
(2019)

Millennials and post-millennials are more likely to identify outside of a binary – as bisexual, rather than lesbian or gay.

from GLAAD

6 Bisexuality Myths and Why They Exist from Dysfunctioning Just Fine.
(2018)

Millenials people are also more comfortable dating other bisexual people, transgender, or nonbinary people.

from YouGov

Alayna Joy breaks apart the myth of bisexual promiscuity in this informative video.
(2017)

Biphobia is defined as the fear or hatred of bisexual people, often manifesting in discrimination, isolation, harassment, or violence. Bisexual people are often associated with infidelity, promiscuity, and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

BIPHOBIA IS ALMOST AS COMMON AMONG GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE AS IT IS AMONG HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE.

~ Marie Alford-Harkey and Debra Haffner

“Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey (she, her, hers) is the president and CEO of the Religious Institute, a national multifaith nonprofit dedicated to advocating for sexual, gender, and reproductive health, education, and justice in faith communities and society.” Her book is listed in the Additional Resources section.
(2018)

58% of bisexuals are exposed to biphobic jokes at work, and 31% have been sexually harassed on the job because of who they are. Many have even been denied job advancement or work opportunities because they are bisexual. from GLAAD

More than half of LGBT youth are bi+, including 7% who are pansexual and 4% who are queer. 40% of bi high school students seriously considered attempting suicide

rom https://www.lgbtmap.org/

Biphobia can be accompanied by bi-erasure, which is defined as the belief that being bisexual is a phase on the way to coming out as gay or lesbian; or that bisexuality is a phase while people (especially women) are younger, and that as people grow older they find opposite gender partners and stop identifying as bisexual. While those things do occasionally occur, the times when they do are exceptions – not the rule. Research going back decades demonstrates that bisexuality is “an enduring and distinct sexual orientation.”

Bisexuality: The Invisible Letter “B” | Misty Gedlinske | TEDxOshkosh (2019)