Everything you ever wanted to know about bisexuality, what bisexual means and what it’s like to identify as bi.

What does bisexual mean?

Bisexuality refers to a sexual orientation where a person is attracted to individuals of two or more genders. This typically means someone who is bisexual is attracted to both men and women, but it can also include attraction to non-binary or genderqueer individuals, as well as others outside the male-female gender binary.

The core idea behind bisexuality is that a person can experience romantic or sexual attraction to people of different genders, but the degree or experience of attraction can vary for each individual. Some people might have more equal attraction to both genders, while others might feel more attraction to one gender over the other.

It’s important to note that bisexuality doesn’t mean someone is always attracted to two genders equally or that they are always in relationships with two people of different genders at once. It simply refers to the capacity for attraction to more than one gender.

What is the flag of bisexuality?

The bisexual pride flag was designed in 1998 by Michael Page, a designer and activist, to create a symbol for the bisexual community. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes:

  1. The top stripe is pink, which represents attraction to those of the same gender (often associated with women).
  2. The middle stripe is purple, which represents attraction to both genders. Purple is a combination of pink and blue, symbolizing the overlap of attractions to multiple genders.
  3. The bottom stripe is blue, which represents attraction to those of a different gender (often associated with men).

The flag is meant to show that bisexuality is distinct from both homosexuality and heterosexuality but also encompasses elements of both, signifying the fluidity and diversity of bisexual experiences. The flag is widely recognized within the LGBTQ+ community and is a key symbol for bisexual pride.