Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 23 Issue 3

2008; Kirby et al., 2021; Morgenroth et al., 2022). Often, others do not believe bisexuality is real, see it as a transitional phase on the path to a same-sex orientation, or think that those who identify as bisexual are just confused about their sexual orientation; beliefs which may persist because of biphobia (Nutter-Pridgen, 2015). Bierasure and biphobic attitudes may also be related to discrimination experienced by bisexual individuals (Matsik & Rubin, 2018; Roberts et al., 2015). Additionally, these experiences have negative implications for bisexual individuals’ health and their experiences with U.S. institutional systems – where needs and issues have been largely ignored for this population (Elia, 2014; Marcus, 2015). Third, the process of disclosing sexual orientation to others is often different for bisexual individuals because bisexuality is more complex and ambiguous than being sexually attracted to one gender only (Brooks et al., 2008). In fact, only 19% of bisexual individuals report being “out” to all or most of the people they consider the most important to them, compared to 75% of gay men and lesbians (Brown, 2019). Experienced stigma and biphobia can inhibit bisexual individuals from coming out to others (Mulick & Wright, 2002; Todd et al., 2016). In relationships – familial, romantic, or otherwise – bisexual individuals are faced with decisions related to discussing their identity with others. They also have to decide on how to present themselves, as straight or as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Although many LGBTQ+ individuals have the ability to pass as straight, bisexual individuals are more likely to do so (Fuller et al., 2009; Morris et al., 2001). Both straight and sexual minoritized groups tend to think of orientation as a straight-gay dichotomy, ignoring the multiple attractions of bisexuality (Fuller et al., 2009). Lastly, bisexual individuals may be more at risk for sexual, physical, and mental health disparities than straight, lesbian, and gay individuals (Farmer et al., 2013; Ross et al., 2018). For instance, bisexual individuals are less likely to seek out STI testing compared to other plurisexual individuals (see Flanders, Anderson, et al., 2019). Although bisexual individuals may be less likely to report sexual victimization than plurisexual individuals, this lack of reporting may be directly connected to bisexual orientation-specific discrimination, erasure, and few supports affirming bisexuality (Flanders, Anderson et al., 2019). Additionally, bisexual individuals reported greater incidences of cardiovascular disease and obesity (Farmer et al., 2013), depression and anxiety (Ross et al., 2018), and they often did not disclose their sexual orientation to mental-healthcare providers (Flanders et al., 2015), as compared to gay men and lesbians. b) Understanding the Experiences of Bisexual BIPOC For many, living as a person with multiple marginalized identities is complicated. Lives are fraught with challenges, but also positives and rewards. In terms of those challenges, experiences may revolve around the intersection of identity or a singular identity (e.g., barriers to sexual orientation disclosure may be lower for White individuals overall compared to racial/ethnic minoritized individuals; Bates, 2010; Liu & Chan, 1996; Sanchez et al., 2017). In general, LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) at the intersection of identity report feeling disconnected from multiple communities, stress around simply being themselves, and anxiety related to coming out (Ghabrial, 2017). Often, societal stigmatization of one identity leads to further stigmatization of other identities, leading some to hide an identity (Fuller et al., 2009). Bisexual BIPOC may also be more cautious about coming out to family members because of fear of losing support of kin, who are important resources of support in a society characterized by systematic racism. Flander, Shuler, and colleagues (2019) found that without social support, bisexual individuals of color were more likely to report that they experienced binegativity, anxiety and depression. Although connecting to the broader LGBTQ+ community may provide opportunities to affirm one’s bisexual identity, it appears to also be linked to increased negative identity experiences (e.g., increased feelings of illegitimacy, anticipated and internalized binegativity; Flanders, Shuler, et al., 2019). Invisibility at the intersection of identity can also be a source of stress. Skin tone and/or ethnic ambiguity and gender non-conforming presentation coupled with bisexual identity can further contribute to erasure of personhood and identity by others (Ghabrial, 2019). This lack of understanding of problems and specific issues faced by members of this population – especially by straight white men – can lead to some feeling that they are not “enough” of any identity. Furthermore, very little is known about how these experiences of discrimination and erasure relate to the mental health of bisexual BIPOC. Ghabrial and Ross (2018) reported that only 7% of 324 studies on bisexual individual and mental health reported on bisexual POC specifically and separately from White bisexual individuals. Some studies report on these challenges as they exist for bisexual women of color in particular. For example, Calabrese and colleagues (2015) found that Black sexually minoritized women were likely to experience challenges and stressors related to identity formation, disclosure decisions, and health due to racism, discrimination, and stereotype threat. In a qualitative study of bisexual women of color, Brooks and colleagues (2008) identified challenges in how these women negotiated their multiple identity development (e.g., oppression of religious and racial/ethnic identities, lack of acceptance of bisexuality from racial/ethnic © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue III Version I 14 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C “The In-Between Spaces of Those Labels”: Exploring the Challenges and Positives of Being a Bisexual Woman of Color – even within the LGBTQ+ community – misunderstand and diminish the bisexual orientation (Brooks et al.,