Let’s be honest, male bi+ representation is still limited in real life. Bi+ men are often erased or questioned, or assumed to be gay. So when we get well-written, visible bisexual male characters in movies and series, we celebrate it.
And lately, we have actually been fed.
If you are looking for bisexual male characters in coming-of-age stories, here are three we genuinely love. They are soft. They are strong. They are athletic. They are romantic. And sometimes very steamy.
(We also added a small Steam Index, so you know what you're signing up for.)
Nick Nelson from Heartstopper (Netflix)
If you want something gentle and heartwarming, Heartstopper on Netflix is your safe place.
Nick Nelson is a rugby player who slowly realizes he has feelings for Charlie. What makes his story powerful is how thoughtful and realistic it feels. We see him google bisexuality. We see him reflect. We see him take his time.
One of the most beautiful moments is when he comes out to his mum. It is soft and affirming in a way many people wish they had experienced. Later, he stands up to his brother when he reacts with ignorance, showing strength without turning into someone else.
Nick teaches us, and the characters around him, that bisexual men can be masculine, athletic, straight passing, and still fully bi. Masculinity and bisexuality are not opposites. For young people questioning their identity, he is exactly the kind of role model we want on screen.
Steam Index: 🔥 1/3
Soft. Sweet. Comfort viewing.
Image source: Official Netflix press still from Heartstopper. Credit: Netflix.
Alex Claremont-Diaz from Red, White & Royal Blue (Amazon Prime Video)
If you want the sweet spot between romance and heat, Red, White & Royal Blue on Amazon Prime Video delivers.
Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the President of the United States, starts off believing Prince Henry is arrogant and entitled. He genuinely does not like him at first. That tension slowly turns into something much deeper.
What we love about Alex is how naturally he integrates his bisexuality into his identity. His emotional struggle is about falling for someone he thought he disliked, not about coming to terms with being bi.
There is a speech toward the end that makes you sit up a little straighter and maybe smile in a very proud way. The story may be romantic fantasy, but sometimes imagining that level of open, political queerness is exactly what we need.
Steam Index: 🔥🔥 2/3
Romantic tension. Chemistry. Rewatch-worthy kisses.
Image source: Official Amazon MGM Studios press still from Red, White & Royal Blue. Credit: Amazon Prime Video.
Ilya Rozanov from Heated Rivalry (HBO Max in parts of Europe)
If you are in the mood for something intense, Heated Rivalry, available on HBO Max in parts of Europe, is not here to play.
As we are writing this, we are only on episode three, so consider this an early obsession. The story is set in professional hockey, which makes the queer representation especially powerful. Male sports, particularly hockey, are not spaces where we often (or ever) see open queerness.
Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander are rivals on the ice and deeply entangled off it. The show also hints at other queer players navigating the same world in parallel, which highlights how isolating it can feel to be bi or gay in male sports. Someone like you might be right next to you in the locker room and you would never know.
Also, important detail. The way Ilya says “Hollander” is incredibly sexy. Genuinely. It should be studied.
Steam Index: 🔥🔥🔥 3/3
Explicit. Intense. Not innocent.
These three stories show different versions of bisexual male coming-of-age journeys. Some are soft. Some are romantic fantasy. Some are steamy sports drama. All of them matter.
And the more we see bi+ men represented as full, complex humans, the harder it becomes to erase them.
If any of these characters feel familiar to you, you are not alone. And if you want to wear your visibility in a subtle way, you can explore our all-gender Biweekly pieces made for everyday life.
