Overview: Biphobia refers to negative attitudes, discrimination, and hostile behaviors directed at bisexual people because of their attraction to more than one gender. It can include outright hostility, stereotyping, and social exclusion. Biphobia is distinct from but related to homophobia; both are forms of sexual prejudice but target different identities and sometimes overlap.

Common manifestations

Biphobia appears in many settings — personal relationships, workplaces, healthcare, media, and within LGBTQIA+ communities. Typical expressions include denying bisexuality as a legitimate identity, assuming bisexual people are promiscuous or confused, pressuring them to "pick a side," or erasing them in statistics and narratives.

  • Invalidation and erasure: treating bisexuality as temporary or irrelevant.
  • Stereotypes: labeling bisexual people as indecisive, hypersexual, or untrustworthy.
  • Hostility and exclusion: rejection by partners, peers, or service providers.

Internalized biphobia

Some bisexual people adopt negative beliefs about themselves as a result of societal prejudice. This internalized biphobia can make individuals question the validity of their identity, reduce help-seeking, and harm mental health. It also contributes to lower visibility when people feel pressured to present as monosexual.

Origins and social context

The term and awareness of biphobia grew alongside broader LGBT movements and scholarship in the late 20th century, as bisexual people and allies highlighted distinct forms of marginalization. Bisexual erasure — the tendency to ignore or render invisible bisexual identities — has long shaped how the phenomenon is discussed in media, research, and policy.

Consequences and responses

Biphobia contributes to social isolation, unequal treatment in healthcare and employment, and mental health disparities. Addressing it requires affirming language, inclusive data collection, visible representation, and education that distinguishes bisexuality from myths about orientation. Recognizing that prejudice can come from both heterosexual and queer communities is important.

Distinctions and notable points

Bisexuality is a legitimate sexual orientation distinct from monosexual identities (attraction to a single gender). Efforts to combat biphobia often overlap with broader anti-discrimination work but also demand targeted measures: visibility campaigns, supportive clinical practices, and policies that explicitly name bisexual people. Understanding and challenging biphobia improves equity and cohesion within and beyond LGBTQIA+ communities.