Inside, Outside, Nowhere: Bisexual Men and Women in the Gay and Lesbian Community

Abstract

This article examines the impact of antibisexual attitudes on 60 self-identified Australian bisexual men and women, in terms of their perceptions of, and participation in, the gay and lesbian community—the broad network of groups and events held by and for gay men and lesbians. The author examines the range of antibisexual attitudes that exist within the gay and lesbian community and then examines how these are understood by bisexuals, and the impacts these have on their participation in the gay and lesbian community. It was discovered that though some participants were active within the Australian gay and lesbian community, many were not, due to the belief that they would be rejected or discriminated against as bisexual. Furthermore, those who did participate in the gay and lesbian community tended to keep their bisexuality hidden, for fear of being made unwelcome. The findings of this research suggest that bisexual men and women have an ambivalent and complex relationship with the gay and lesbian community in Australia. This raises a number of issues about the maintenance of a bisexual identity, including the impact of secrecy and staying closeted on self-esteem and mental health.

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