Bisexual

The bisexual flag by Michael Page.

* Any; often used to denote attraction regardless of attraction type (particularly in the case of perioriented bisexual people)

### Spectrum or umbrella

* Pluralian/Multisexual
* Plurian

### Attracted to

* Two or more genders
* Men and women (circumstantial)
* Genders both like and unlike one's own (circumstantial)

## Related terms

### Similar or related

* Biromantic
* Bicurious
* Ambisexual
* Doe
* Stag
* Tomcat
* Byke

### Sometimes confused with

* Pansexual
* Multisexual
* Polysexual
* Omnisexual
* Biromantic
* Bigender
* Intersex

### Counterpart or opposite

Monosexual (attracted to only one gender)

**Bisexual**, commonly shortened to **bi**, is a sexual orientation which has various definitions, but can generally be described as the ability to experience attraction to two or more genders. It is also sometimes described as attraction to genders which are both like and unlike one's own., and is commonly described as "attraction to both genders" (men and women). This description, however, is sometimes reductive, as it can imply a binary which is not always applicable to bisexuality.

Bisexuality is a very broad identity which can be experienced in many ways. Some bisexual people may only be attracted to two genders, while others may be attracted to several genders, all genders, or regardless of gender. Bisexual people also may or may not have preferences for certain genders over others. Bisexual people may sometimes be attracted to certain genders at different times, and in different ways, commonly referred to as a bi-cycle.

Bisexuality is sometimes used as an umbrella term for all orientations which involve attraction towards multiple genders. When used this way, terms such as "bi+" or "the bi-umbrella" may be used. However, many people prefer not to be grouped under the bisexual label, and may instead prefer umbrella terms such as pluralian, m-spec, or multisexual, among other terms. Some also may not want to be grouped under an umbrella term at all.

## Etymology

"Bisexual" is derived from the prefix *bi-*, meaning "two," and "sexual," denoting sexuality or attraction.

## Distinction

### Pansexual

***Main article:*** *Pansexual*

Pansexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to all genders, and typically regardless of gender. This definition overlaps with bisexuality, but is more specific than the bisexual label. A bisexual person may or may not experience attraction to all genders, whereas attraction to all genders is inherent to pansexuality. In other words, bisexuality is more broad, and may encompass people who experience attraction to multiple (but not all) genders, whereas pansexuality does not. Some people identify with the bisexual and pansexual labels simultaneously, while others identify with only one.

### Multisexual

***Main article:** Multisexual*

Multisexual is an umbrella term for sexual orientations involving attraction to more than one gender. It is also sometimes used as a standalone identity. While multisexuality and bisexuality can both be defined loosely as "attraction to more than one gender," multisexuality is typically used as an umbrella term, whereas bisexuality is more often regarded as its own specific identity (though it may be used as an umbrella term as well).

### Polysexual

***Main article:*** *Polysexual*

Polysexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to multiple (but not necessarily all) genders. This definition overlaps with bisexuality, but is more specific than the bisexual label. Bisexuality is more broad, and may encompass people who experience attraction to all genders, whereas polysexuality usually does not. Some people identify with the bisexual and polysexual labels simultaneously, while others identify with only one.

### Omnisexual

***Main article:*** *Omnisexual*

Omnisexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to all genders, often with gender playing a role in one's attraction, rather than lacking preferences or gender-differentiation. This definition overlaps with bisexuality, but is more specific than the bisexual label. A bisexual person may or may not experience attraction to all genders, whereas attraction to all genders is inherent to omnisexuality. In other words, bisexuality is more broad, and may encompass people who experience attraction to multiple (but not all) genders, whereas omnisexuality does not. Some people identify with the bisexual and omnisexual labels simultaneously, while others identify with only one.

### Biromantic

***Main article:*** *Biromantic*

Biromantic is a romantic orientation which has various definitions, but can generally be described as the ability to experience romantic attraction to two or more genders. It is also sometimes described as attraction to genders which are both like and unlike one's own. Biromanticism is also commonly described as "attraction to both genders" (men and women). This description, however, is sometimes reductive, as it can imply a binary which is not always applicable to biromanticism.

Biromanticism is the romantic equivalent to bisexuality. While bisexuality is often used to denote both sexual *and* romantic attraction, it is also sometimes used to specifically refer to sexual attraction. Biromantic people may or may not be bisexual, and may instead be asexual, heterosexual, or any other sexual orientation. Those who are not both bisexual and biromantic may identify as varioriented.

### Bigender

***Main article:*** *Bigender*

Bigender is a gender identity in which one experiences two distinct genders, either simultaneously or varying between them. Though the bigender and bisexual labels share the *bi-* prefix, these identities are not the same. Bigender is a gender identity, whereas bisexuality is a sexual orientation.

### Intersex

***Main article:*** *Intersex*

Intersex is an umbrella term for sex variations that cannot be neatly defined as male or female. While the term "bisexual" is sometimes used to describe organisms which possess both male and female sex characteristics, this term is not defined in this way when applied to humans, and instead refers to a person's sexual orientation. In the context of biological sex, it is also not synonymous with intersexuality; it is instead more similar to the term "hermaphrodite," which is a term for plants and animals which possess male and female reproductive organs. The term "hermaphrodite" is often considered to be an offensive slur when applied to humans, as it is dehumanizing and inaccurate.

## Flag

The bisexual flag was proposed by Michael Page on December 5, 1998, with the intention of increasing bisexual visibility via a unique and recognizable flag, similar to Gilbert Baker's rainbow pride flags. Page took inspiration from the biangles, another symbol of bisexual pride, when deciding which colors to use. The first stripe is magenta, and represents gay attraction. The bottom stripe is royal blue, representing straight attraction. The smaller lavender stripe in the center represents the overlap of these experiences. The lavender stripe represents how bisexual people blend into both gay and straight communities.

## Symbol

The biangles symbol was designed by Liz Nania in 1987. The design incorporates a reclaimed pink triangle, historically used by Nazis to mark gay men during World War II. A blue triangle overlaps the pink triangle, representing the gender binary. In the center where the triangles meet, a deep purple symbolizes inclusivity. The use of the pink triangle is somewhat controversial due to its history.

The double moon symbol was designed by Vivian Wagner in 1998 as an alternative to the biangles symbol, due to the controversy surrounding the pink triangle. A gradient of pink and blue, with lavender created where the colors meet, represents bisexuality. The symbol is particularly popular in Germany. It is unclear why moons were chosen for the symbol, but it is possible that it represents sexual fluidity, similar to moon phases. The moon may not always appear the same, but it is always the moon. Thus, bisexuality may be experienced in many ways, but is still bisexuality nonetheless.

The interlocking bisexual symbols emerged at an unknown date, and cannot be traced back to a specific individual. However, they incorporate symbols which are already commonly used: the Venus symbol (♀), Mars symbol (♂), and, in some cases, the infinity symbol (∞). The Venus symbol represents attraction to womanhood and/or femininity, while the Mars symbol represents attraction to manhood and/or masculinity. Venus and Mars interlock with a center symbol, commonly a ring (or another gender symbol), which represents the person experiencing the attraction. Venus and Mars also often connect to form an infinity symbol, which may represent fluidity, vastness, completeness, or similar concepts. The symbols may be one solid color, or may incorporate several colors, often in a gradient of pink, lavender, and blue.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 PFLAG National Glossary of Terms. PFLAG. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 What is Bisexuality?. bi.org (2022). Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Understanding Bisexuality. American Psychological Association (November 2017). Archived from the original on October 11, 2022.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bisexual Definition & Meaning. Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 What is Bisexuality?. bisexual resource center (2021). Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 WebMD Editorial Contributors (2021-06-28). What Is Bisexual?. WebMD. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Terms & Definitions. Amherst College. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 'LGBTI' People and Communities. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (2019-06-28). Archived from the original on April 20, 2021.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Full Dictionary. Western Aces.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Terms to Know. Out Front Theatre Company. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Bisexual Definition & Meaning. Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
12. ↑ List of LGBTQ+ terms. Stonewall. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021.
13. ↑ Pluralian Positivity (2016-10-06). Pluralian. tumblr.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 What does "m-spec" mean?. Bi Pan Library.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Sotska, Julia (2022-01-19). Multisexual - What is it? What does it mean?. Taimi.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Multisexual Youth Mental Health: Risk and Protective Factors for Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer Youth Who are Attracted to More than One Gender. The Trevor Project (2021-04-23).
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Identity Vocabulary: Multisexual Edition. The Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity (2019-07-06).
18. ↑ Abbie E. Goldberg; Melissa H. Manley; Themal; Ross, Lori Ellawala. *Sexuality and sexual identity across the first year of parenthood among male-partnered plurisexual women*. 6, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2019-03. ISSN 2329-0390. "Plurisexual is an umbrella term that encompasses individuals who experience attractions to people of multiple genders, and who may self-identify as queer, pansexual, fluid, bisexual, or something else"
19. ↑ Allison E. Cipriano; Daniel Nguyen; Kathryn J. Holland. *"Bisexuality Isn't Exclusionary": A Qualitative Examination of Bisexual Definitions and Gender Inclusivity Concerns among Plurisexual Women*. 4, Journal of Bisexuality, 2022-10-02. ISSN 1529-9716.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Hardell, Ash. *The ABC's of LGBT+*. Mango Media Inc., 2016. ISBN 9781633534087.
21. ↑ Sotska, Julia (2022-12-19). Polysexual - What is it? What does it mean?. Taimi.
22. ↑ What is polysexuality?. Feeld (2020-01-03).
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 WebMD Editorial Contributors (2021-06-28). What Does Biromantic Mean?. WebMD. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Laderer, Ashley (2021-09-24). Being biromantic and bisexual aren't the same — here's what it means to be biromantic. Insider.
25. ↑ perioriented and varioriented (17-02-2014). Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
26. ↑ Ferguson, Sian (01-07-2016). Here’s What It Means When Your Romantic and Sexual Orientations Are Different (English). everydayfeminism. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
27. ↑ Attraction and Relationship Terms. AUREA. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Is a person who is intersex a hermaphrodite?. Intersex Society of North America. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
29. ↑ Hermaphrodite Definition & Meaning. Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
30. ↑ Page, Michael. The History of the Bi Pride Flag. Archived from the original on August 1, 2001.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Wilber, Jennifer (2022-06-29). Show Your True Colors: A Guide to Bi Pride Symbols. Owlcation. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Gayety Team (2022-08-02). All About The Bisexual Symbol: Meaning And Origins. gayety. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
33. ↑ Jordahn, Sebastian (2019-10-23). Queer x Design highlights 50 years of LGBTQ+ graphic design. dezeen. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
34. ↑ Whitehead-link-alternative-sexuality-symbol. Wikimedia Commons (2010-10-07). Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.