What is bisexual erasure?

Short Answer

Bisexual erasure is the tendency to ignore, dismiss, or invalidate bisexuality — treating bi people as confused, greedy, or "secretly" straight or gay. It's one of the most common forms of discrimination queer people face, and it comes from both straight and queer communities.

What It Looks Like

• "Bisexuality is just a phase."
• "You're not really bi — you're with a [man/woman], so you're straight/gay now."
• "Bi people are greedy / can't commit / will always cheat."
• Claiming bi people aren't "queer enough" to belong in LGBTQ+ spaces.
• Bi men being assumed gay; bi women being assumed straight or performing for men.

Why It Matters

• Bi people are the largest single group in the LGBTQ+ community.
• They report worse mental health outcomes than gay and lesbian people — driven in large part by erasure and double discrimination.
• Bi people face higher rates of intimate partner violence and are often invisible in both dating markets and activism.
• Erasure tells bi people their identity isn't real, which is deeply harmful over time.

How to Support Bi People

• Believe them when they tell you who they are.
• Don't question their identity based on their current partner's gender.
• Use "biphobia" for anti-bi prejudice — "homophobia" doesn't capture it.
• Include bi voices, stories, and issues in queer spaces and activism.
• Challenge biphobic jokes and stereotypes when you hear them.