Intro
Bisexual people make up the largest identity group within the LGBTIQ+ community. And yet, bisexuality is still one of the least visible identities.
Most people can easily name someone in their life who is gay. But far fewer can say the same about someone who is bisexual. Statistically, that shouldn’t be the case. Studies consistently show that bisexual people make up the largest share of the queer population (Pew Research Center, 2019).
This gap between numbers and visibility has a name: bi-erasure.
Bi-erasure doesn’t always show up as hostility. More often it appears as assumptions, missing language, or identities that quietly disappear from the story.
What Is Bi-Erasure?
Bi-erasure, sometimes called bisexual erasure, refers to the systematic tendency to ignore, deny, or reinterpret bisexual identities.
Researchers describe it as the cultural assumption that people must ultimately be either heterosexual or homosexual, leaving little room for identities that include attraction to more than one gender (Flanders, 2017). The concept is also discussed in research on bisexual invisibility and representation in society and media (McLean, 2018).
In practice, this means bisexuality often disappears from conversations, headlines, and research even when people’s experiences clearly include attraction to more than one gender.
What Bi-Erasure Looks Like in Everyday Life
Most of the time, bi-erasure isn’t loud. It’s subtle.
Someone dates a woman and people assume they’re straight. Later they date a man and suddenly everyone says they’re gay now. The attraction itself hasn’t changed. Only the story people tell about it has.
This happens in media too. As soon as a public figure appears in queer headlines, they’re often simply described as gay, even if they clearly identify as bisexual. Swiss politician Anna Rosenwasser, for example, openly identifies as bi, yet many articles still refer to her as gay.
Over time, those small shifts add up. Bisexuality becomes something people rarely talk about, even though it exists everywhere.
There’s also another layer to this. Many bi+ people describe feeling not straight enough for straight spaces and not queer enough for queer spaces. That in-between position can make it harder to feel fully recognized in either community.
And when identities aren’t recognized, people can start to feel invisible.
Bi-Erasure in Media and Pop Culture
Of course we have to bring up our favorite show Heated Rivalry.
We are fully obsessed with this show. Like “watched it multiple times already” obsessed. So first of all: thank you to the creators for this absolute bundle of queer joy and for raising our hopes that one day we might see more professional male athletes comfortably out of the closet.
The relationship between Shane and Ilya is hot, emotional, and lovingly frustrating at times.
Throughout season one, it becomes very clear that Ilya is attracted to guys and girls. Ilya himself says he’s “not completely gay”. And in the final episode, Shane tells his parents that “Ilya likes both.”
Yet the word bisexual or bi is never actually used. The experience is there. The identity just isn’t named.
That said, the show overall absolutely increases visibility for queer relationships. It gives far more visibility than erasure. But the missing label is still a small and interesting example of how bi-erasure can appear even in stories that are otherwise doing a lot right.
Why Visibility Matters
Bi-erasure doesn’t just affect representation. It can also affect wellbeing.
Research shows that bisexual people report higher levels of loneliness, social isolation, and mental health challenges compared to both heterosexual and gay populations (American Psychiatric Association, 2020; Stonewall, 2020). One reason is the feeling of not being fully seen or recognized.
Visibility helps change that. Sometimes visibility looks loud. Pride flags. Activism. Representation in media.
Sometimes it’s quieter. A conversation. A symbol. A piece of clothing that signals identity to people who understand it.
That idea is part of why we created Biweekly. Our goal is to make bi+ visibility part of everyday life. If you’re curious, you can explore our Collection where subtle design meets Bi+ pride. Pieces that help you show who you are on the days you simply want to feel like your full self.
Because every time bisexuality is named, recognized, or visible, it becomes a little harder to erase.
How to Support Bi+ People
If you want to help reduce bi-erasure, here are a few simple things that genuinely help.
Say the word bisexual/ pansexual/ omnisexual etc. when it applies.
Naming the identity matters. Language creates visibility.
Don’t assume someone’s sexuality based on their partner.
Relationships don’t change someone’s identity.
Support bi+ friends and family openly.
Recognition and celebration go a long way.
Support bi+ organizations and initiatives.
Community visibility grows when people invest in it.
Celebrate bi+ identity.
Sometimes a small signal means a lot. You can send someone a piece from our Bi+ collection or a Biweekly gift card as a simple way to help them feel seen.
Because visibility starts with the small things.
