Biphobia facts for kids

Biphobia is when someone has negative feelings or treats people unfairly because they are bisexual. Bisexual people are those who can be interested in more than one gender.

Biphobia is different from homophobia. Homophobia is negative feelings or unfair treatment towards people who are gay or lesbian. For example, a person might be okay with women who like other women, but not okay with women who like both men and women.

People who are gay, lesbian, or heterosexual (meaning they are interested in the opposite gender) can sometimes show biphobia.

Sometimes, bisexual people might start to feel like their own identity is not as real or valid as someone who is only interested in one gender. This feeling is called internalized biphobia. It happens when negative ideas about bisexuality from society are believed by bisexual people themselves.

What is Biphobia?

Biphobia is a type of prejudice. Prejudice means having a strong dislike or unfair opinion about someone or a group of people without really knowing them. Biphobia specifically targets people who are bisexual. It can show up in many ways, from small comments to more serious actions.

How Biphobia Shows Up

Biphobia can appear in different forms:

• Exclusion: Bisexual people might feel left out by both heterosexual people and gay or lesbian people. They might not feel like they fully belong in any group.
• Stereotypes: People might believe unfair stereotypes about bisexual people. For example, some might think bisexual people are confused or can't make up their minds.
• Denial: Sometimes, people might deny that bisexuality is a real identity. They might say it's just a phase or that someone is "really" gay or straight.
• Invisible identity: Bisexual people might feel invisible because their identity is often misunderstood or ignored.

Why is Biphobia Harmful?

Biphobia can cause a lot of stress and sadness for bisexual people. It can make them feel alone or like they need to hide who they are. When people face prejudice, it can affect their mental well-being and their ability to feel safe and accepted.

Standing Up to Biphobia

It's important to challenge biphobia when we see it. Here are some ways to help:

• Learn: Understand what bisexuality is and what biphobia means.
• Speak up: If you hear someone say something biphobic, politely correct them.
• Be an ally: Support bisexual friends and classmates. Let them know you accept them for who they are.
• Educate others: Share accurate information about bisexuality to help reduce misunderstandings.