Bisexuality. More then we think there is?

[Trassk]

A few days ago, I was reading an article about an ex-gay porn star, who left the adult industry to go on to star in small roles in mainstream films, one up and coming in the sequal to 300, where he plays a soldier (noted for his powerful physic, in very Gerard Butler shape). I was reading more into his article, in regards to people now asking him about his sexual preference, and he revealed some intresting, and thought provoking facts about him.
He told the reporter how he didn't consider himself gay, or straight, and would open minded to any kind of sexual activity. He said if anyone had to put a label on it they could say he was bisexual, but he didn't like the idea of labels, sex was just that, he didn't judge on anyone he wanted to sleep with.

This got me thinking, and looking into other noted revealed bi celebrities and people in the media, Well I'm gay myself and know thats what I am, as a gay man I often read nearly every day people perception of gay people in the media, even in this day and age, being that something worth mocking, from tv shows to film to magazines and even in open chat. But I know what I am and don't let societys bad perception of it change the fact.
To this end, I do actually admire when someone says how they don't think of themselves being of any sexuality, and has such an open mind they don't like having a label put on it, so if they were attracted to either man or woman, they would simply go with it.

What I began to look into, on several blogs and articles, was the question being asked, just how many people in society are bi-sexual? To that, several people and researches outright said that more people in the world are bi-sexual, as much as 90% of the world could be bi infact.

But how then can it be if that many people in the world are bi-sexual, that we don't hear about it as much? The answer comes down to society itself, and perception of each other. Kind of like what I was saying earlier, in western society, even in this day and age, people still look at gay people with some distain, though not as much as even 20 years ago, it still exists in society. And in other middle or eastern cultures, the act of homosexuality is considered a crime by polictal powers, and in some countries punishable by death.

So coming back to how many people in the world are bi-sexual, its believed many people are, more then we know, but its because of cultural conditioning, and because of the way each society judges the act itself, that more people around the world are not as open to there sexual preference or experiment as they could be. Its believed on some of the threads I've been reading, if not for the influences of things like religion, dictation and other controlling aspects in our society, that people would be far more open minded to not having there sexual preference labeled or, as the nostaliga chick called it, forcing the ideal of heteronormativity on us as a whole.
That in itself is what causes most people who to even consider the idea of sex with someone of the same gender to be disgusting, because they've been doctorined into believing this is how it is.

This again is why, like the actor I mentioned before, people who don't give a crap about labels on there sexual preference, and can find either man or woman attractive regardless, is someone to be admired for having such an open way of seeing things.
(That said, I do only prefer guys, ha!)

[Deleted]

Whatever numbers that were used were pulled out of someone's behind. That alone means the article had zero authenticity.

[Tzalix]

I think there's no such thing as being 100% straight or 100% gay. We're all a little bisexual.

[Spectral]

My general thoughts are that sexuality is a continuum rather than the bright lines we tend to draw as "gay-bi-straight". I think there's a very large number of people that are a bit bi, but identify publicly as straight and have no same-gender sex because it's not generally their preference.

[Trassk]

Whatever numbers that were used were pulled out of someone's behind. That alone means the article had zero authenticity.

how do you know that though? Theres many truths to what has been said, society does influence peoples perception of something, even down to something as fundamental as someones sexual preference, and people do try to heteronormatise the way each other thinks.

---------- Post added 2013-05-11 at 12:55 PM ----------

My general thoughts are that sexuality is a continuum rather than the bright lines we tend to draw as "gay-bi-straight". I think there's a very large number of people that are a bit bi, but identify publicly as straight and have no same-gender sex because it's not generally their preference.

thats what I'm saying to it. For what we know, more people as a whole are probably bi-sexual, but because of the way society has governed itself, there sexual preference is repressed, and so the idea of having sex with anything other then the opposite gender is doctorined into there way of thinking, instead of having an open mind about themselves.

[derpkitteh]

i wouldn't be surprised by that. i myself am bi with a preference for females, and i know quite a few bi people, and no i'm not counting the girls that get wasted at clubs and make out for attention.

[Trassk]

Also, the definition of Heteronormatiivity:

Definition: Heteronormativity is the cultural bias in favor of opposite-sex relationships of a sexual nature, and against same-sex relationships of a sexual nature. Because the former are viewed as normal and the latter are not, lesbian and gay relationships are subject to a heteronormative bias.

Examples of heteronormativity might include:

-The underrepresentation of same-sex couples in advertising and entertainment media.
-Laws that actively discriminate against same-sex relationships, such as laws banning same-sex marriage.
-Religious bias against same-sex couples.

Heteronormativity, like racism, sexism, and heterosexism, is a bias that can only be eliminated culturally--not legislatively. But from a civil liberties perspective, the government should not participate in heteronormativity by enacting heteronormative laws.

[Deleted]

thats what I'm saying to it. For what we know, more people as a whole are probably bi-sexual, but because of the way society has governed itself, there sexual preference is repressed, and so the idea of having sex with anything other then the opposite gender is doctorined into there way of thinking, instead of having an open mind about themselves.

I find it annoying that people look down on those who want to do things with their own gender. It's rather ignorant, why do people even care what people do behind closed doors? It's not like they're doing it in front of them.

As for myself.. I've only been with men so far but I could find myself being with another woman aswell.

[Deleted]

I think there's no such thing as being 100% straight or 100% gay. We're all a little bisexual.

Yepp; that's one current supported theory, quite probably has a bit of truth to it.

[Dendrek]

Well I'm gay myself and know thats what I am, as a gay man I often read nearly every day people perception of gay people in the media, even in this gay and age

Pun or Freudian slip? lol

By the way, I'm not trying to troll you, I just found this typo to be worth a chuckle.

[Trassk]

I find it annoying that people look down on those who want to do things with their own gender. It's rather ignorant, why do people even care what people do behind closed doors? It's not like they're doing it in front of them.

As for myself.. I've only been with men so far but I could find myself being with another woman aswell.

I think more people, and many who I've talked to about it, have said how even if they think they know there sexual perference, they do at once point in there lives have an 'interest' in what being with someone of the opposite sexual peferences would be. Even gay friends of mind have said they've felt this before, and we just laughed and said 'well, maybe your not 100% as you thought you were'

---------- Post added 2013-05-11 at 01:01 PM ----------

Pun or Freudian slip? lol

that... was a slip.. god I need coffee.

[Venant]

Bisexuality has always existed, Miyamoto Musashi even included advice in his writings about what to do if you are given unwanted advances by another male (although his advice was pretty much to first say no, then if they pushed the subject kill them). The whole sexual revolution is at odds with the religious doctrine that sex exists to produce babies, but this teaching just so happens to support all of the horrible misogyny that exists throughout many religions.

Sex has been a tool to oppress half of the species for thousands of years, it is difficult to throw such a powerful social more into question in just one or two generations. Sex will always be linked to power, and by nature humans always fight over power. So many interesting questions.

[Deleted]

My general thoughts are that sexuality is a continuum rather than the bright lines we tend to draw as "gay-bi-straight". I think there's a very large number of people that are a bit bi, but identify publicly as straight and have no same-gender sex because it's not generally their preference.

Do you notice it in yourself too that you're a bit bi or in your friends/people you know?

[Trassk]

Yepp; that's one current supported theory, quite probably has a bit of truth to it.

And I think its a truth more people should begin to accept. Its just how many aspects within our cultures want to both repress such an idea, and try to 'normatize' (is that even a word?) society under one way of thinking.

[Spectral]

Do you notice it in yourself too that you're a bit bi or in your friends/people you know?

Both, although I grant that I may be projecting a bit.