Bisexual people have the potential to feel sexually attracted to, and to fall in love with someone of either sex. They are able to experience desire and intimacy with a special person, regardless of that person’s gender.

Yet because society seems to like simple labels, bisexual people often experience pressure to fit into restrictive boxes. It can be hard when you feel caught in the middle and feel that you have to be either straight or queer, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Some bisexual people date both men and women. Others are in committed monogamous relationships. Sometimes bisexuality is a transitional stage that people go through before they discover their identity.

As one bisexual says, “People always ask me if I’m confused about who I like. I’m not at all confused. It feels perfectly natural for me to be attracted to both men and women. I think what those people are really saying is that my being bisexual confuses them.”

The Spectrum of Sexuality

Although it’s common to feel more strongly attracted to one sex or the other, many people feel at least some amount of attraction for both sexes. Our attractions and our sexual behaviors are seldom absolute. While there are some people who have attractions and experiences only with the same of only with the opposite sex, most people fall in between the two extremes. It may seem more comfortable when things are neatly defined – either gay or straight, but many people don’t experience life quite that simply.