Celebrating Bisexuality: Uplifting Bisexual Voices in Health Advocacy

Bisexuality is one of the most misunderstood and underrepresented sexual orientations - both within the LGBTQIA+ community and in mainstream society. Despite growing visibility for LGBTQIA+ rights, bisexual individuals continue to face unique challenges, particularly when it comes to healthcare. They are often erased in medical research, dismissed by healthcare providers, and subjected to harmful stereotypes from both LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual communities. These barriers contribute to serious health disparities, including higher rates of mental health struggles, increased risks of chronic illnesses, and limited access to competent and affirming care.

Bisexual Health Awareness Month is a time to shine a light on these issues, amplify bisexual voices, and advocate for systemic changes in healthcare. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the disparities bisexual individuals face, challenge the misconceptions that fuel them, and push for a future where bisexual people receive the care, respect, and support they deserve.

One of the most powerful ways to address these disparities is by centering bisexual voices in health advocacy. When bisexual individuals are heard, believed, and prioritized, we take steps toward creating a healthcare system that is inclusive, affirming, and equitable for all. In this blog, we’ll explore why bisexual representation in health advocacy matters, the specific challenges bisexual individuals face, and the meaningful actions we can take to ensure bisexual voices shape the future of healthcare.

The Need for Bisexual Visibility in Health Advocacy

Addressing the Unique Health Needs of Bisexual Individuals

Bisexual individuals often find themselves overlooked in healthcare conversations - caught between systems that primarily cater to either heterosexual or gay and lesbian experiences. This erasure has real consequences. Many healthcare providers still assume that bisexuality is just a phase or that bisexual individuals are either gay or straight depending on their current partner. As a result, bisexual people may not receive the specific care they need, whether it’s in mental health support, sexual health services, or addressing the unique ways they experience discrimination and marginalization.

The reality is stark: research consistently shows that bisexual individuals report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than both their gay and heterosexual peers. They are also more likely to experience substance abuse, sexual violence, and chronic health conditions - issues often linked to the compounded stress of biphobia, erasure, and social rejection. Yet, these health disparities remain underaddressed because bisexuality itself is so frequently misunderstood or dismissed.

The Importance of Intersectionality in Health Advocacy

No single bisexual experience is the same. Bisexual individuals exist across all genders, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, meaning their health needs are shaped by multiple intersecting factors. For example, a bisexual person of color may face not only biphobia but also racism in medical settings, leading to compounded barriers to care. Likewise, a disabled bisexual person may experience additional challenges in accessing affirming healthcare, navigating ableism alongside bisexual erasure.

True bisexual health advocacy must be intersectional. If we only focus on one narrative - such as that of white, cisgender, able-bodied bisexual individuals - we fail to address the full spectrum of healthcare disparities within the bisexual community. By amplifying a diverse range of bisexual voices, we ensure that healthcare systems move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and instead provide care that reflects the complexity of bisexual identities.

The Challenges Faced by Bisexual People in Healthcare

Bisexual individuals navigate a healthcare system that often fails to see them, understand them, or meet their needs. Whether it's through direct discrimination, erasure, or a lack of tailored health education, bisexual people frequently encounter barriers that can have lasting consequences for their physical and mental well-being. To create a healthcare system that is truly inclusive, we must recognize and address these challenges head-on.

Biphobia and Discrimination in Healthcare

Biphobia - the prejudice and discrimination faced by bisexual individuals - is a pervasive issue, not only in society at large but even within the LGBTQIA+ community itself. Bisexual people are often subjected to stereotypes that question their authenticity, with some accusing them of being "confused," "indecisive," or simply going through a phase.

This invalidation can be particularly harmful in medical settings, where it affects the quality of care bisexual individuals receive.

In healthcare environments, biphobia can manifest in various ways:

Misdiagnosis and inadequate care – Healthcare providers who do not understand bisexuality may dismiss concerns, provide inappropriate treatment, or assume a patient’s sexual behavior based on the gender of their current partner.
Mental health stigma – Bisexual individuals experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. However, internalized biphobia, combined with fears of being dismissed or misunderstood, can make seeking mental health support even more difficult.
Outright discrimination – Some bisexual individuals have reported being denied care, ridiculed, or given incorrect medical advice by providers who do not recognize bisexuality as a legitimate identity.

By uplifting bisexual voices in health advocacy, we can work to dismantle these harmful biases and push for a system where bisexual individuals receive the same respect and quality of care as anyone else.

The Impact of Bi-Erasure in Healthcare

Bi-erasure - the dismissal or invalidation of bisexuality - is one of the biggest contributors to poor health outcomes for bisexual individuals. When healthcare providers and researchers fail to recognize bisexuality, it leads to gaps in care, misinformation, and increased health risks.

Some examples of how bi-erasure affects healthcare include:

Missed preventive care – Bisexual women are less likely to seek cervical cancer screenings if providers assume they are heterosexual and don’t discuss the risks associated with same-gender sexual activity. Likewise, bisexual men may hesitate to seek HIV testing or other sexual health services if providers assume they are only engaging in heterosexual relationships.
Barriers to open conversations – Many bisexual individuals feel uncomfortable disclosing their sexuality to doctors due to fears of judgment or misunderstanding. This can lead to crucial health topics - such as sexual health, mental health, or relationship dynamics - being avoided in medical discussions.
Lack of representation in research – Many health studies fail to include bisexual participants or lump them into categories with either gay/lesbian or heterosexual individuals. This erasure means that the specific health risks and disparities faced by bisexual people are often overlooked, resulting in medical guidance that does not fully address their needs.

Bi-erasure is not just an issue of visibility - it directly impacts lives. When bisexuality is ignored in healthcare, bisexual individuals miss out on necessary screenings, education, and support. Addressing this issue requires a conscious effort to include bisexual people in health research, train providers on bisexual-specific concerns, and create spaces where bisexual individuals feel safe discussing their health without fear of judgment.

The Need for Bi-Specific Health Education

Health education plays a crucial role in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being. However, much of the available health information is designed with either heterosexual or gay and lesbian experiences in mind - leaving bisexual individuals without the guidance they need.

For example:

Sexual health resources – Many sexual health campaigns do not account for the fact that bisexual people may have partners of multiple genders, which can affect STI risk and safe-sex practices.
Mental health awareness – Discussions about LGBTQIA+ mental health often focus primarily on the experiences of gay and lesbian individuals, overlooking the unique struggles bisexual people face, such as identity-based stress, social isolation, and higher rates of intimate partner violence.
Relationship and community support – Bisexual people may experience different dynamics in their relationships and social circles due to persistent stigma. Health education that acknowledges these realities can help bisexual individuals find the support and validation they need.

By ensuring that bisexual experiences are included in public health initiatives, medical training programs, and awareness campaigns, we can reduce disparities and create a more affirming healthcare landscape for bisexual individuals.

How to Uplift Bisexual Voices in Health Advocacy

Bisexual individuals continue to face significant health disparities, often due to systemic invisibility, stigma, and a lack of targeted support. To create a healthcare system that truly meets the needs of bisexual people, we must ensure their voices are heard, their experiences are valued, and their health concerns are addressed.

Here are key ways to actively uplift bisexual voices in health advocacy:

Incorporate Bisexual Perspectives in Research

Healthcare research shapes medical practices, policies, and interventions - yet bisexuality has historically been overlooked or lumped into categories that fail to acknowledge its distinct challenges. This lack of representation has real consequences, leading to a failure to recognize and address the unique health risks bisexual individuals face.

To correct this, researchers must:

✅ Include bisexual participants in studies on sexual health, mental health, and chronic conditions to ensure their experiences are properly documented.

✅ Analyze bisexual-specific data instead of merging bisexual respondents with either heterosexual or gay/lesbian participants, which erases critical differences.

✅ Develop targeted health interventions that address the distinct needs of bisexual individuals, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach within LGBTQIA+ healthcare.

When bisexuality is properly studied, it leads to better health outcomes, more inclusive medical guidance, and policies that truly reflect the needs of bisexual people.

Educate Healthcare Providers

Medical professionals play a vital role in creating an inclusive healthcare environment - but many still lack basic knowledge about bisexuality. Too often, bisexual individuals face dismissive or uninformed doctors who make harmful assumptions about their identity, sexual behavior, or health risks.

To change this, healthcare providers must receive:

📚 Training on bisexuality as part of medical and mental health education, ensuring they understand the specific challenges bisexual individuals face.

🗣 Encouragement to use inclusive language and avoid assumptions about patients based on the gender of their current partner.

💡 Resources on bisexual health disparities, including mental health struggles, higher rates of intimate partner violence, and barriers to preventive care.

By equipping healthcare professionals with accurate knowledge and tools, we can create a system where bisexual individuals feel safe, respected, and properly cared for.

Support Bisexual-Led Advocacy Groups

Bisexual activists and organizations have been at the forefront of the fight for visibility and health equity, but they are often underfunded and overshadowed in broader LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Supporting bisexual-led organizations is a direct way to uplift bisexual voices and ensure they have the resources to continue their critical work.

Organizations making an impact include:

🌍 Bi+ Pride UK – Advocating for bisexual rights and representation in the UK.

📣 The Bisexual Resource Center (BRC) – A U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to bisexual advocacy, education, and community-building.

🤝 The International Bisexual Alliance (IBA) – Working on global initiatives for bisexual inclusion and policy change.

Ways to support these groups include:

💰 Donating to provide financial backing for bisexual-focused programs.

🙋 Volunteering to contribute time and skills to bisexual health initiatives.

📢 Amplifying their work by sharing their resources, campaigns, and research.

Bisexual advocacy needs allies—whether you’re bisexual or not, your support can help drive meaningful change.

Share Bisexual Stories and Experiences

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for breaking down stigma, challenging misconceptions, and fostering empathy. Many bisexual individuals have experienced medical neglect, discrimination, or outright erasure - yet their voices are often silenced. Sharing these experiences can help educate both the healthcare system and the wider public.

Ways to amplify bisexual stories:

🎤 Encourage bisexual individuals to share their healthcare experiences - whether through blogs, social media, podcasts, or community events.

📺 Use platforms to highlight bisexual voices, ensuring that bisexual health discussions aren’t overshadowed by broader LGBTQIA+ narratives that don’t fully capture bi-specific struggles.

📝 Advocate for bisexual inclusion in media and public health campaigns, pushing for accurate representation in discussions about LGBTQIA+ healthcare.

When bisexual people are heard, their stories challenge harmful stereotypes, foster better understanding, and inspire necessary changes in healthcare policies and practices.

Moving Forward Together

Creating a truly inclusive and equitable healthcare system means uplifting bisexual voices, acknowledging their unique challenges, and ensuring they have access to the care and support they deserve. Bisexual individuals continue to face discrimination, bi-erasure, and inadequate health education - barriers that can only be broken down through intentional advocacy, representation, and systemic change.

True progress begins with recognition. Bisexuality is not a phase, a stepping stone, or an identity to be erased - it is a valid and distinct sexual orientation that deserves respect, visibility, and comprehensive healthcare support. Empowering bisexual individuals to advocate for their own well-being, while ensuring that healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers actively include bisexual perspectives, is critical to addressing the disparities they face.

By supporting bisexual-led advocacy efforts, demanding inclusive healthcare policies, and amplifying bisexual stories, we can work toward a future where bisexual individuals are seen, heard, and valued - not just during Bisexual Health Awareness Month, but every single day.