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so you want to write a bisexual character?
a quick thread with some bi representation advice & common pitfalls to avoid.
please RT!!
a quick thread with some bi representation advice & common pitfalls to avoid.
please RT!!
bisexual TV characters make up less than 26% of all LGBTQ+ characters. most of these characters are cis women, with a smaller number being cis men, & a MUCH smaller number being trans & non-binary people. (source: glaad)
bi people have high depression, anxiety, & suicide rates. we are more likely to commit substance abuse and less likely to be out of the closet. more positive representation could change the lives of bi people.
(sources: RACGP, pewresearch)
(sources: RACGP, pewresearch)
list of bi rep pitfalls/stereotypes (will go more in depth on each!)
-vaguely implied
-cheating/pick a side
-villain
-binary
-no bisexuals
-biphobia
-lack of diversity
-vaguely implied
-cheating/pick a side
-villain
-binary
-no bisexuals
-biphobia
-lack of diversity
VAGUELY IMPLIED
we see this often w/ characters who are shown to like more than 1 gender but "don't like labels", are "confused", & so on. if you want to write a bi character, explicitly labeling them as bi w/in the text goes a LONG way to prevent erasure & make bi ppl feel seen.
we see this often w/ characters who are shown to like more than 1 gender but "don't like labels", are "confused", & so on. if you want to write a bi character, explicitly labeling them as bi w/in the text goes a LONG way to prevent erasure & make bi ppl feel seen.
there's nothing wrong w/ being unlabeled, but i see many writers use it as a way to avoid having to write the word bisexual. it's not a dirty word - & you don't have to write a big coming out scene, either. a casual mention or a bi flag on a character's wall can go a long way!
a similar issue is characters who suddenly 'become' gay when get w/ a same gender partner, or theyre "straight w/ an exception for this person", or theyre jokingly referred to as [love interests name]sexual. bi people remain bi no matter who they date - so should your characters.
CHEATING
promiscuous bisexuals who cheat on their partner is a common trope due to the unfounded belief that we "can't pick a side". there's nothing wrong w/ promiscuity, but if you only have one bi character & theyre very sexualized or ESPECIALLY if theyre a cheater, rethink.
promiscuous bisexuals who cheat on their partner is a common trope due to the unfounded belief that we "can't pick a side". there's nothing wrong w/ promiscuity, but if you only have one bi character & theyre very sexualized or ESPECIALLY if theyre a cheater, rethink.
bi characters can be messy! they can be sexual! BUT i would tread carefully w/ it if you're not bi. a characters bisexuality shouldn't only be depicted through promiscuity, threesomes, cheating, etc. it contributes to the sexualization/negative perception of bi ppl in real life.
a bi character can have a love interest of any gender. it doesn't mean they picked a side. it doesn't mean their love is diluted because they're attracted to other genders. a bi character can also be single. sexuality is about attraction, not dating history.
VILLAIN
i'm not gonna say villains can never be bisexual, but if the ONLY bisexual in your story is an evil, depraved, immoral villain, you are feeding into a harmful trope. i would recommend avoiding it.
i'm not gonna say villains can never be bisexual, but if the ONLY bisexual in your story is an evil, depraved, immoral villain, you are feeding into a harmful trope. i would recommend avoiding it.
BINARY
don't attempt to represent us if you dont know of the history of our label & how we define it. read the bi manifesto (it's short!). understand that bisexuality isn't rooted in the gender binary, that many of us are attracted regardless of gender and/or nonbinary ourselves.
don't attempt to represent us if you dont know of the history of our label & how we define it. read the bi manifesto (it's short!). understand that bisexuality isn't rooted in the gender binary, that many of us are attracted regardless of gender and/or nonbinary ourselves.
bi rep that ties us to the gender binary or only depicts bi ppl who love cis men&cis women is inaccurate. a character can love regardless of gender & still be bi. (another reason why it's helpful to explicitly state their sexuality so they arent misconstrued as something else.)
NO BISEXUALS
this trope refers to fiction that depicts gay & straight people but never acknowledges the existence of bisexuality.
"are you into guys or girls?" "are you gay or straight?" -a questioning character is asked. bisexuality is never presented as a real option.
AVOID!
this trope refers to fiction that depicts gay & straight people but never acknowledges the existence of bisexuality.
"are you into guys or girls?" "are you gay or straight?" -a questioning character is asked. bisexuality is never presented as a real option.
AVOID!
BIPHOBIA
depicting biphobia w/in your writing as someone who isn't bi is a tricky topic that you should handle with care and sensitivity readers, if possible. biphobia is a real thing we face, so there's nothing wrong with addressing it, but every reference to a bi character's +
depicting biphobia w/in your writing as someone who isn't bi is a tricky topic that you should handle with care and sensitivity readers, if possible. biphobia is a real thing we face, so there's nothing wrong with addressing it, but every reference to a bi character's +
experience's shouldn't be tied to biphobia.
in other words (and this is advice that often applies to writing about any marginalized group), write about the character & make them well-rounded instead of ONLY focusing on the marginalization they experience.
in other words (and this is advice that often applies to writing about any marginalized group), write about the character & make them well-rounded instead of ONLY focusing on the marginalization they experience.
LACK OF DIVERSITY
bisexuals are a diverse group. many bisexuals are POC. many are trans & non-binary. many live in poverty, are disabled, nuerodivergent, gnc, polyamorous, plus size, asexual, have mental illnesses, and so on. we deserve rep that accurately reflects the community!
bisexuals are a diverse group. many bisexuals are POC. many are trans & non-binary. many live in poverty, are disabled, nuerodivergent, gnc, polyamorous, plus size, asexual, have mental illnesses, and so on. we deserve rep that accurately reflects the community!
bisexuals are not a monolith. this thread is certainly not the be all end all list of advice & bad tropes. being a bisexual POC, for instance, is a unique experience i can't comment on. a bisexual character of color will have different experiences than a white bisexual character.
this is why it's important to do further research, listen to bisexuals, and read/watch things written by DIVERSE bisexuals - in order to get a fuller understanding. and if you can afford them, sensitivity readers are also an amazing resource!
in conclusion, i'm grateful you read this thread & that you care enough to want to accurately represent us. do research, give bi characters as much nuance & personality as you give other characters, and your story will be amazing!
/fin but i will be linking further resources
/fin but i will be linking further resources
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BisexualityTropes a more in-depth list of bi tropes with examples. this website doesn't explicitly condemn the tropes, but please note that some of the tropes on this list are fine & and some are really bad. feel free to ask questions!
check out this thread for more opinions from bi people about the kind of rep we want to see! https://twitter.com/sapphicbisexual/status/1333103754288254977?s=20
check out this thread & qrts for cringey biphobic dialogue that should definitely be avoided! i think this is a great resource that shows what some of the biphobic pitfalls actually look like in books/tv https://twitter.com/sapphicbisexual/status/1336387754628878340?s=20
