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Saying the “B” Word: Acknowledging Bisexual Erasure In Modern Media

Being a bisexual TV fanatic is not always easy. As far as life woes go, television disappointments would fall low on the list, but a lack of representation can still prove frustrating to a fan searching for relatability in a character. The average blueprint is worn out and cliche, yet Hollywood is slow to leave its comfort zone. White and straight characters are safe and easy. There’s a repetitive pattern that the media has successfully sold for years, and convincing them to stray into uncharted waters is no easy task. A widening critique of repetitive characters has increased a demand for diversity, and Hollywood has begun to catch on. More and more plots are being written to cater to a large audience. Today, you are far more likely to see LGBT+ story lines on TV than 10 years ago. Yet in an influx of new, diversified characters, bisexuals are treated like the middle child of the queer community. They are often misunderstood or overlooked entirely. It’s time for the media to take advantage of the fresh and complex character arcs a bisexual identity could entail. Instead, they opt for old and worn out tropes. Lesbian and gay characters are seeing the light of day, but bisexual counterparts are left in the shadows of a new and needed spotlight.

I felt this on a personal level when coming to terms with my own sexuality. “I’m bisexual” is a phrase I say often, resulting in a variety of reactions. Some say I’m simply going through a phase. Others roll their eyes and tell me to pick a side. My own mother questioned how I would manage not to cheat on future partners, somehow correlating an attraction to multiple genders with infidelity. Others were open and accepting. They valued my identity and did their best to approach it respectfully, even if they didn’t understand its every nuance. It was their kindness that helped me along in my journey to self-discovery, and as a movie and TV fan I longed to see the same consideration reflected in my favorite programs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy to find. Most shows didn't bother with bisexuality at all. At worst, a joke would be made at the expense of my orientation. I tried to shrug it off, but I was left feeling underrepresented and misunderstood by the world. When I first saw a bisexual character accurately represented, it made me ecstatic.

In the CW sitcom Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Daryl Whitefeather comes out in an 80’s style song entitled “Getting Bi”, belting out “I don’t know how/ I don’t know why / But I like ladies / And I like guys / I realize it’s a surprise / But now I see that that’s just me / It’s not like I even try” (“Josh Is Going to Hawaii”). The simplistic, slightly goofy lines might seem like a silly song to some, but to me they were an anthem. I finally felt I could relate to a character, and I was overjoyed to see that a show had actually put forth an effort in representing bisexuality. Indeed, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) agreed with my initial reaction, noting in their overview of male bisexual representation on television that Crazy Ex-Girlfriend had “presented and dispelled several of the negative stereotypes that bisexual individuals face in real life” (“Where We Are”). Crazy Ex-Girlfriend dared to go where other shows avoided. It left stereotypes and accepted ways of thought behind and genuinely put forth an effort. The results made waves in the bisexual community, and left many hungry for more. If only more shows would give such a stellar effort!

Unfortunately, such accurate representation is still quite uncommon. In its 2016 annual report on LGBT+ representation within the media, GLAAD found that while bisexual characters are growing in number, they are often still written to reflect negative stereotypes (“Where We Are”). Spencer Kornhaber, a staff writer at The Atlantic, observed that, “while gay and lesbian characters on TV increasingly are portrayed in a way that doesn’t make their sexuality into a large and dubious metaphor about their character, bisexuality often is portrayed as going hand-in-hand with moral flexibility.” Indeed, many bisexuals are portrayed only through threesome scenes thrown in to add a hint of sexual edginess, making bisexuality appear as an element of erotica and nothing more. Bisexual women are shown as sexually daring, and bisexual men are portrayed as unknowingly gay. It appears that Hollywood writers just don’t know what to do with bisexuals.

As harmful as stereotypes can be, Hollywood often relies on them to develop a character. From the gay interior designer to the butch lesbian best friend, Hollywood has found a place for LGBT+ identity in the sea of diversity-boosting supporting characters. Bisexuality lacks the definitive, though erroneous, stereotypes that other LGBT+ characters fall prey to. Amy Zimmerman, entertainment corresponder at The Daily Beast, remarks, “Our mainstream media reinforces the notion that bisexuality is either a fun, voluntary act of experimentation or a mere myth through two tried and true tactics: misrepresenting and oversimplifying bisexual characters until they are either punchlines or wet dream fodder, or simply refusing to portray bisexual characters in the first place.” Stereotypes are used as a character-building shortcut. The lack of a perceived bisexual pattern of behavior makes them too inconvenient to portray.

Some might argue that Hollywood is trying, or that one show cannot possibly represent everyone within one plot. Both statements are true. Diversity is making headway in Hollywood, and no show can be expected to provide a smorgasbord of every orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, race, and religion. That being said, the traditional white, cisgender, straight character is worn out. Entertainment is in need of diversity not only to provide representation, but also to provide new and interesting storylines. Rich and multifaceted characters come from all different backgrounds. They may be harder to write and develop, but the payoff is worth it when you have a new and untold story to present to an audience. Bisexual activist Eliel Cruz argues that “Asking for media representation isn't asking diversity for diversity's sake — it's for the sake of accuracy.”

The heart of Hollywood’s problematic bisexual representation lies within society. There are those who don’t believe bisexuality is legitimate. Many have misconceptions of bisexuality stemming from long-accepted myths concerning sexuality in and of itself. While sexual orientation and gender identity are increasingly viewed as lying within a spectrum, many approach it from a black and white standpoint. Bisexuality is confusingly gray, especially for an all or nothing culture. Cruz suggests that “Bisexuality threatens the heteronormative narrative even more than homosexuality, because it destroys our ideas of a binary; it's an acknowledgment that humans sexuality works in a more complex manner than only having romantic and sexual attractions for one gender.”

Erasure is a word that causes the misunderstood and ignored to slump their shoulders in defeat. Instead, it should be seen as an opportunity. Erasure can be approached as a dark abyss or a blank piece of paper waiting to hold people’s stories. There are so many unique identities that the media has yet to portray, and bisexuality is only one of them. In ignoring it, the media does itself a disservice by missing new and exciting plots. By misrepresenting it, they perpetuate dangerous stereotypes that actively hurt bisexual individuals. Bisexuality has long lingered behind the curtain of queerness’ stage, lacking the flamboyance to be given a role. It is time to put them in and share the spotlight. They are here, they are queer, and they have a story to tell.

Works Cited

Cruz, Eliel. “Here's the One Simple Reason Why We Need More Openly Bisexual Characters on Television.” Mic, Mic Network Inc., 15 Oct. 2015, https://mic.com/articles/97512/here-s-the-one-simple-reason-why-we-need-more-openly-bisexual-characters-on-television. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

“Josh is Going to Hawaii!” Crazy Ex Girlfriend. CW. 7 March 2016. Television.

Kornhaber, Spencer. “The Trope of the Evil Television Bisexual.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 28 Oct. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/tvs-evil-bisexuals-still-live/412786 . Accessed October 11, 2017.

“Where We Are on TV Report - 2016.” GLAAD, GLAAD, 31 July 2017, www.glaad.org/whereweareontv16. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

Zimmerman, Amy. “It Ain't Easy Being Bisexual on TV.” The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast Company, 14 Aug. 2014, www.thedailybeast.com/it-aint-easy-being-bisexual-on-tv. Accessed 11 Oct. 2017.

#biseuxal #lgbt #feminism #tv #representation #crazy ex girlfriend #glaad

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