The Politics of Bisexuality
By Kaitlin Gina, Co-Founder of Not All Gays
Bisexuality is defined as attraction to both sexes - male and female. This definition is rooted in reality, acknowledging that sex is an immutable concept and that there are inherent differences between men and women. Even the word itself makes clear that there are only two sexes. However, in recent years, fundamental truths once accepted as fact have been challenged. Words with clear definitions have been policed, altered, and opened up for interpretation, while others have been stripped of meaning entirely.
To avoid offending the sensibilities of a fragile few, lesbians have been asked to redefine themselves as ‘non-men attracted to other non-men’ (as was seen in 2023 with the Johns Hopkins glossary) and to accept men who, in a perverse distortion of reality, claim to be lesbians themselves. Those who speak out against this are scrutinised and ostracised within their own community. Gay men and lesbians are increasingly expected to include members of the opposite sex in their dating pool under the guise of ‘trans inclusivity’ and ‘social justice’ - a demand that is not just absurd, but deeply offensive.
Why should bisexuality be treated any differently? Gender ideology seeks to erode its definition in the same way, pushing for it to be reinterpreted as attraction to ‘all gender identities’, further blurring the line between sex and gender. But bisexuality has always been about attraction to both sexes - not an ever-expanding list of self-identifications. And if other sexual orientations are being rewritten to accommodate this ideology, there is no reason to believe bisexuality won’t face the same fate.
A lot of bisexual people, particularly those deeply immersed in activist rhetoric, loudly proclaim ‘trans women are women!’ with no room for discussion or critical thought. This stance harms the bisexual community by reinforcing negative stereotypes about us, while also damaging the wider gay community by exposing a fundamental misunderstanding of sexuality among many self-proclaimed bisexuals.
As someone who disagrees with this ideology, I find myself in a difficult position, as many bisexuals are afraid to speak out for fear of stepping out of line politically. It is important to acknowledge that some bisexuals may find themselves attracted to trans-identifying individuals. This isn’t some wild concept - since a ‘trans woman’ is biologically male and a ‘trans man’ is biologically female, they still fall within a bisexual’s dating pool. But the situation becomes more ideologically complicated.
If I date a trans woman, I may be expected to champion an ideology I fundamentally disagree with, thereby validating the notion that trans women are women. If I were to consider my relationship a lesbian one, I would be bastardising language, harming real lesbians, and making an absolute eejit of myself. Yet if I refuse to comply with these ideological expectations, I am labelled a bigot by many within the trans community and their allies. I do not understand why it is impossible to recognise biological reality while still respecting trans people and, in turn, receiving that same respect.
Like many others, I have no issue with transgender individuals making decisions for their own lives as adults. Everyone has the right to exist safely and live without fear, and I fully support that. However, the aggressive rewriting of history and language by certain activists erases real biological differences while suppressing any form of dissent.
Members of our group, Not All Gays, have been labelled fascists and bootlickers simply for disagreeing with an ideology that has clearly gone too far - one that has very real, personal consequences for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. But is it truly ‘fascist’ to say that a trans woman is not the same as a biological woman? No. It is simply an acknowledgement of material reality. And yet, for stating this basic fact, we become targets.
As bisexuals, if we acknowledge biological sex as a relevant factor in attraction, we are branded exclusionary and transphobic. But if we bend reality in order to ‘be kind’ and ‘inclusive’, we contribute to the erasure of sex-based attraction, harming lesbians and gay men and enabling an environment where they are pressured and coerced into relationships with trans individuals.
Being part of the ‘LGBT community’ and being an ally should mean more than just attending pride parades and virtue-signalling online. It requires serious thought, difficult conversations, and the courage to stand up for what is right - even when it is unpopular.
