Bye Bye Black Bi-phobia?It seems to me when people think of bisexual men, they automatically think of the down low (DL) lifestyle, Bishop Eddie Long, HIV / AIDS coupled with treachery and deceit.

Some feel that bisexual men are not being true and honest with themselves and are really homosexuals attempting to hold on to the last bastions of their heterosexuality by claiming they still have sexual attractions to women.  These observations and assumptions are especially true in the African American community.

But the recent article released by researchers at Northwestern University and published online in the journal Biological Psychology, proves scientifically that bisexual men do exist (break out the torches and pitchforks). For some of us this is no surprise of course but with even this new information and scientific data, you will still have some folks who will push this information aside and hold true to their misguided beliefs…It is either gay or straight and no gray area.

But there is a gray area and it’s contrast is far and wide.  Personally for me sexuality is not some rigid object that is put into a container and stored away from inquisitive eyes as to not stir sexual curiosity or as to not be defined by skewed religious ideology (which is why we have some of the issues we have today).  It is something that should be discussed and explored with an un-judgmental, non-emotional mind so we can understand and have a better sense of our collective sexual awareness.

 
Still the argument I get from both homosexual and heterosexual people is that bisexuality simply does not exist. “Aint no such thing!” EXCEPT when it comes to bisexual women.  The notion of bisexual women seems to be a no-brainer to most and is accepted as apart of our sexual norm. Oh but the bisexual man is looked upon as some type of deviant, sex crazed, taboo creature, who can’t commit and conform to our sexual restrictive barriers.

Just because I myself am not bisexual, it doesn’t mean bisexuals don’t exist.  I feel it would be illogical of me to simply deny that this aspect of our sexual community doesn’t exist simply because I personally can’t identify and conceive of sleeping with both sexes.

There are plenty of masculine bisexual men out there who are not DL, who are not deceiving women and men and spreading diseases to their sexual partners.  They are secure with themselves, their sexuality and unapologetic.  I must admit I am somewhat envious of these men who exist in this gray area.  They can be sexually satisfied with both sexes and also increase their chance for dates on Friday night. LOL…Good for them!

I hope we can get to a point where we can stop assuming that masculine gay / bisexual men are DL and bisexual men are just confused and self delusional.  We do need to stop trying to get people to conform to our labels and limitations, just to make ourselves feel comfortable.  Hopefully Cypher Avenue can be an instrument for this education and change.

 

-Octavius