Intimate orientation proven fact that sex is binary, any particular one must either be gay or directly./title> Rebecca Bodenheimer, PhD Previous new york Council Speaker Christine Quinn sent the web in to a tailspin previously this w eek whenever she labeled actress and newly established gubernatorial prospect Cynthia Nixon a lesbian” that is“unqualified. The uproar so far has mainly centered on the salaciousness of governmental infighting between two women that are queer. Nonetheless, what’s lacking is a review of Quinn for mislabeling Nixon being a lesbian. Nixon has known by herself as bisexual, and glossing over this distinction is an obvious exemplory instance of bi erasure, or perhaps the presumption that bisexuality is certainly not a genuine identification, but quite simply an intermediate end in the intimate orientation train which has had just two feasible locations: gay/lesbian and right. Although Quinn later apologized on her behalf remark, the apology failed to relate with mislabeling Nixon’s reported sexual identity. While bisexuality is actually so much more visible in popular tradition in past times several years with an increase that is important bisexual figures on television in specific you may still find many stereotypes connected to the label. “On the fence,” “wishy washy,” “going through a phase”: they are all misconceptions that are common bi individuals. Unfortunately, a number of the stigma and bi erasure arises from the queer community, from self identified homosexual males and lesbians who don’t believe bisexuality can be an identity that is authentic. They continue to reinforce the heteronormative idea that sexuality is binary, that one must either be gay or straight while they are marginalized for their sexual orientation. It’s interesting to compare the narrative about Nixon to that particular of Oregon Governor Kate Brown: whenever she ended up being elected the media identified her as bisexual, that we assume had been because of duplicated efforts on the component to produce her identity that is sexual understood. Nixon hasn’t always been as clear about her chosen labels; yet, she has been clear about her intimate and history that is romantic the fact she’s enjoyed men and women. One difference that is major those two ladies is Brown is hitched to a guy while Nixon is hitched to a lady. Although this might not appear to be a appropriate huge difference, with regards to queer identification politics, it’s. Bi ladies hitched to guys are thought to be right, and if they’re thinking about claiming their queerness publicly, must repeatedly emerge to individuals who don’t discover how they identify as it’s maybe not obvious from their selection of partner. As the presumption of heterosexuality is certainly not surprising, it should not be studied for provided that a stand set for their intimate orientation. Bi individuals don’t have actually to be doing romantic or intimate relationships with both genders in addition in purchase to recognize as bi; in reality, i’d reckon that most bi individuals come in monogamous relationships at any moment. (Incidentally, the theory that most bi people are polyamorous is yet another misconception that is major non monogamy is practiced by individuals of all intimate orientations.) Therefore, I’m able to just assume Brown publicly identifies as bisexual as it’s the way that is only her to claim her queerness. Nixon, having said that, is hitched to a lady and it is consequently thought by many people to become a lesbian. As bi females have traditionally stated, there was often a stigma that is particular distinguishing as bi in the lesbian community: “she’ll make you for a man” the most typical stereotypes about bi ladies among lesbians, and grounds why numerous won’t consider dating bi females. Inside the LGBT community, then, Nixon has less explanation to desire to loudly claim her bisexuality, she has been) derided by some lesbians as wanting to retain some element of heterosexual privilege by not “fully committing” to the label of lesbian as she would almost certainly be (and I’m sure. In the long run, it’s not necessarily concerning the words that are specific makes use of to determine by by herself. In the end, numerous bi people prefer the word “queer” due to their self identification because it emphasizes the larger LGBT community to their connections; other people utilize various identification labels within various contexts. But, clearly mislabeling Nixon as a lesbian, as Quinn did, is a kind of erasure which also reinforces binary notions about sex. It’s high time we stopped considering sex being an either/or phenomenon and started using bi individuals at their term, even as we compensate undoubtedly the group that is largest inside the LGBT community.