Lisette Lahana,MSW, LCSW
Consultation, Psychotherapy and Training

Bisexual and Queer Identities

Have you felt judged because of who you've been with?
Have you called yourself gay or lesbian, knowing that term doesn't quite fit?

You are not alone. Bisexuality has been defined as having the potential to be attracted to or involved with different genders. For some, that attraction can be toward males, females and/or transgendered individuals.

You may have been told that you can't be bisexual unless you are sexually involved with men and women at the same time. You may have often heard from gay or straight friends that bisexuality is really a phase. Sometimes people say you have to be 50% attracted to men and 50% attracted to women in order to really say you are bisexual. These ideas are actually myths and create negativity about being bisexual.

New terms are emerging to describe those people who are attracted to and involved with transgendered people. The word "bisexual" can be offensive to some as it affirms the traditional notion of there being only two (bi=2)genders, man and woman.

I welcome all clients outside of mainstream identities, whether you are queer, flexible, bi, anti-labeling or questioning. We will focus on what your sexuality means to you and how you can build a positive identity and loving relationships.

Bisexuality by Sarah Albert

In this article you'll find my tips for how bisexuals can get support. The article also explains the idea of sexuality as fluid and on a continuum. It touches on why bisexuality may be seen as a threat to gay, lesbian or heterosexual people.

Bisexual Resource Links and Book List:

National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered Organization (LLEGO)
Bisexual Options
Bisexual Resource Center
Pridenet
PFLAG National
Bi All Means
BiNet
The Gay Emporium
The Bay Area Bisexual Network

Book List on Bisexuality (Non Fiction)

Bi Any Other Name: Bisexuals Speak Out, ed. Loraine Hutchins & Lani Kaahumanu. Boston: Alyson Publications, 1991 (the classic everyone should read)

The Bisexual Option, Fritz Klein, M.D. (second edition). Binghamton, NY: Harrington Park Press, 1993

Bisexual Politics: Theories, Queries, and Visions, ed. Naomi Tucker. Binghamton NY: The Haworth Press, Inc., 1992

The Bisexual Resource Guide
Edited by Robyn Ochs.
write to: BRC P.O. Box 1026 Boston, MA 02117-1026 USA or click on this link to order this comprehensive book listing articles, Web sites, e-mail lists, books, movies and over a thousand bi and lesbian/bi/gay/trans groups

Bisexuality, by Sarah Albert, October 2000 was featured on the website DrDrew.com. in the LGBT section. Link to the article

Bisexuality: A Reader & Sourcebook, Ed. Thomas Geller, Ojai, California: Times Change Press, 1990

The Challenge of Bisexuality to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty and Revolution, Paula Rust. NY: NYU Press. 1995

Closer to Home: Bisexuality & Feminism, ed. Elizabeth Reba Weise,
Seattle: Seal Press, 1992

Dual Attraction: Understanding Bisexuality, Weinberg, Williams & Prylo, NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 1994

Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World, Eds. Ochs & Rowley, Bisexual Resource Center, 2005

Looking Queer: Body Image and Identity in Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Communities, ed. Dawn Atkins. New York:Harrington Park Press, 1998

Lotus of Another Color: An Unfolding of the South Asian Lesbian & Gay Experience, ed. Rakesh Ratti. Boston: Alyson, 1993 (3 essays by bis)

Rejection and Resistance: The experience of bisexual women in lesbian communities, Lisette R. Lahana. Unpublished masters thesis, Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Massachusetts (available at the Smith College Neilson library)