by Stephanie Davis

Created on: August 26, 2009   Last Updated: August 27, 2009

Growing up in the conservative part of the South, often referred to as the "buckle of the Bible Belt," I was taught that any sort of same-sex attraction was sinful. As I went through puberty, I realized that I was equally attracted to both males and females alike. Of course, being a dutiful daughter, I suppressed my bisexuality and dated only males. To say that I was promiscuous in high school and in college would be an understatement. I was this way for two reasons; the first being to get affection from men, as my dad rejected me for not being born a boy. The second would be to deny and suppress my sexual attraction to females. I figured the more guys I had sex with, I would be able to forget my orientation.

Should bisexuals be considered homosexual? Absolutely not! Homosexuality is attraction to persons of the same sex. Heterosexuality is the attraction to members of the opposite sex. Bisexuals are attracted to both sexes, usually with an predominate attraction to one gender over the other.

In both the gay and straight communities, bisexuals are often a misunderstood and suspicious lot of people. For bisexual women who are married or involved with men, we are put in a difficult situation. Those that are lucky will have a spouse that accepts their orientation and supports them in having relationships with other women, while others see it as a blow to their manhood and demand that we suppress it all together or will only "allow" it if they are allowed to "participate" as well. In the gay community, people who profess attractions to both sexes are often expected to "choose" one over the other. This is especially the case of women who are married to men in the lesbian community. It is often difficult for them to understand why or how women can be attracted to both men and women at the same time. If they refuse to divorce their spouse they are seen as traitors to all gay women and are not to be trusted.

Of all those who make up the LGBT community, in my experience those that are misunderstood and the least trusted are bisexual women. In a area that is often black and white for most people, bisexuals represent that shade of gray that other do not understand or refuse to accept it's existence. Because a person is attracted to members of the same sex does not make them homosexual. It is possible to be attracted and enjoy a meaningful relationship with either gender. Instead of being outcast socially, bisexuals should be seen as the middle ground that enjoys the best of both worlds.

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