“B” in LGBTQ – not visible under the rainbow?!

“Heartstopper” shows Nick’s search for identity and the awakening of Charlie’s gay love in a particularly sensitive way. In recent weeks, the British series has sensitized millions of viewers around the world to the emotional state of heterosexual and homosexual people, who feel emotionally or sexually attracted to more than one gender.

“Duality is not a shout!”

The fact that duality is often overlooked in social discourse is shown in the new non-fiction book Bi – Discover Diverse Love (Hanser-Verlag). Its author, legal psychologist Julia Shaw (35), who was born in Cologne, says clearly: “Duality is not a trend!”

Because it has been documented since at least the end of the nineteenth century. We also know from zoology that many animal species exhibit bisexual behaviour. Or in other words, “duplication is the norm.”

“What I find very interesting in psychology is the number of people who describe themselves as straight and have bisexual experiences,” says Shaw, who grew up in Canada and lives in London as a researcher and author. )).

According to Shaw, the social debate about bisexuality is behind the acceptance of homosexuality by about 30 years. Her book “Bi” is the first popular non-fiction science book on the subject from a bestselling publisher. Shaw says a lot of people have some kind of fear of liquidity. It is rooted behind one-sided identities.

As a bisexual woman, Shaw said she often wonders where she belongs. This is why she wrote the book herself, which she misses as a “binary world atlas”. Unfortunately, the queer community of “bi’s” is not necessarily a safe haven (“safe space” as it is called today).

While gays and bisexuals have met with a kind of “hypersexuality” – along the lines of: “You can’t be loyal and want to do that to everyone” – lesbians and gays have often reacted negatively because they view bisexuals as deceptive or frustrating, and may still be On the way to the “correct exit”.

More bi than gay

Results: Arguably more people are attracted to more than one gender than “100%” of lesbians and gays. The difference: Most bisexuals don’t talk about it – neither in a relationship, nor in family, nor with friends, and certainly not at work. Bisexuals are more likely to hide their orientation than homosexuals, Shaw cites studies.

▶ ︎ According to Xu, the word “bi” (from the Latin “bi-” meaning “two”) is often misunderstood to mean men and women. But this is the wrong duo. Rather, since the concept was founded, it has been about homosexual and heterosexual people.“