[Eljay]

I have been interested to know if bisexuality really exist. I have been told by a phychologist that a person can only be gay or straight. I thought a lot about this. He was very adamant about it. But I always seemed to doubt the correctness of this. He always used to say I was having an identity crises and that's why I have felt sexually attracted to men and women in my life. I live in South Africa. I don't know if psychologists here believe different than other places, but please give your opinion? I'm confused. I need to know.

[Lost71]

I can personally say it does exist. I don't know much about psychologists in general...can only go by my own...but maybe your psychologist has a problem with accepting it's existance for reasons of personal prejudice? Just a thought.

[tishtosh]

I think it exists im bi and im not confused, the only thing iv found is im more attracted to woman then men.

[Miracle1986]

I am bisexual... so yes, I believe whole-heartedly that is exists.

[Xelora]

I believe it exists, but I believe it can be confusing at times, at least going on my own experience. I mean I'm with a man and I love and feel very connected to him. Also I enjoy being with him when I'm with him...lol with "enjoy" including the meaning of a eupemism for orgasms. Which according to the random trashy women's magazine I read in waiting rooms is more than a lot of totally straight women have in their relationships.

But still, and despite the fact I used to always get upset at any idea men and women were psychologically different, I am confused by the depth of the relaxed sensual intensity I was able to have with my girlfriend. It's just so different being with a woman and it makes me wonder how much further I am on the gay end of the scale than I realized. But I also think sexuality is fluid and complicated...and yeah I disagree you have to be either. And either way I think people ought to just get to be with who they love.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Eljay

I have been interested to know if bisexuality really exist. I have been told by a phychologist that a person can only be gay or straight. I thought a lot about this. He was very adamant about it. But I always seemed to doubt the correctness of this. He always used to say I was having an identity crises and that's why I have felt sexually attracted to men and women in my life. I live in South Africa. I don't know if psychologists here believe different than other places, but please give your opinion? I'm confused. I need to know.

yes a person can be sexually attracted to both male and female genders. maybe your psychologist didnt take the psych courses that dealt with having clients that were interested in both genders. sex preferences isnt usually taught in psych classes. its usually something you know is a possibility in your clients because you have been exposed to it. it wasnt too long ago that being gay or lesbian wasnt accepted, but with education and more people "coming out" its now accepted by alot of people psychologists included. they dont think anymore those of us that are gay or lesbian have a mental disorder that needs to be cured anymore. maybe you can collect information from physicians, rape crisis centers, and planned parenthood and give the info to your psychologist so he can be educated and not make the same mistakes with other clients.

[deliquesce]

hi eljay,
my psychologist was trained in south africa - even received a scholarship at rhodes university (is that right?) to finish his phd there - and he now specialises in GLBT issues in australia, and believes that the one person can be attracted to both (or many) genders/sexes.
if your T was adamant about this issue - then i would think it's a personal prejudice. i know when i was in queer circles a lot of ppl would be uncomfortable with me being bi instead of one or the other, because it brought up issues for them. doesn't change my sexuality, however. and someone denying that it's even possible won't change it either .

[GrayNess]

When you ask a psychologist or any person for that matter a question regarding bisexuality, then part of their answer will reflect their culture, religion, morals or beliefs.

I do believe that bisexuality exists and if you wish for some psychological evidence of this, then check out the Kinsey Scale. It's a psychological self-test invented years ago and is very well-accepted. Essentially it views sexual orientation on a continuum rather than being only heterosexual or only homosexual. It defines bisexuality is equal attraction to both genders, however, there still are rankings between heterosexuality and bisexuality, and homosexuality and bisexuality.

Here is a link to the Kinsey Institute with the Kinsey Scale: http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resou...k-hhscale.html

Personally I see no reason why bisexuality wouldn't exist. It is a somewhat ambiguous term as some people define it as attraction to both genders (unequal attraction) whereas others, such as the Kinsey Scale, define it as equal attraction to both genders.

[iheartferrets]

sexuality is fluid, and I believe that it exists on a spectrum. some people may feel more attracted to men or to women, but I think there is a part of everyone who is attracted to the opposite sex (or same-sex). I consider myself to be gay, but sometimes I find people of the opposite sex attractive. I think that bisexual people are more centered on the spectrum

[Emotionally Dead]

As most have said, yes, it does exist. It is possible to be attracted to both genders. While I am a straight male, I understand that others don't have the same feelings I do. It used to be difficult for me to accept that fact that someone could be attracted to both sexes. I never had a problem with gays, but I did have issues with understanding how anyone could be "bi". Later on I talked to different people and realized that it is very possible for someone to be attracted to both sexes. It's not something that can be helped, either.

I wish you all the luck with trying to find yourself, and if you need any help I am here!

[Eljay]

Originally Posted by GrayNess

When you ask a psychologist or any person for that matter a question regarding bisexuality, then part of their answer will reflect their culture, religion, morals or beliefs.

I do believe that bisexuality exists and if you wish for some psychological evidence of this, then check out the Kinsey Scale. It's a psychological self-test invented years ago and is very well-accepted. Essentially it views sexual orientation on a continuum rather than being only heterosexual or only homosexual. It defines bisexuality is equal attraction to both genders, however, there still are rankings between heterosexuality and bisexuality, and homosexuality and bisexuality.

Here is a link to the Kinsey Institute with the Kinsey Scale: http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resou...k-hhscale.html

Personally I see no reason why bisexuality wouldn't exist. It is a somewhat ambiguous term as some people define it as attraction to both genders (unequal attraction) whereas others, such as the Kinsey Scale, define it as equal attraction to both genders.

Thanks for taking the time to give me this info. I agree. Bisexuality does exist.Go Well

[VickiesPath]

I am not a professional but this is my humble opinion based upon personal knowledge and much research:

What others have said above is true, specifically these parts:
"I also think sexuality is fluid and complicated."
and
"When you ask a psychologist or any person for that matter a question regarding bisexuality, then part of their answer will reflect their culture, religion, morals or beliefs."

My best friend for 24 years was heterosexual and then decided she was homosexual. I have friends who are bisexual. I am heterosexual. I have been married to men only. The determining factor is basically, who you do sex with. It's funny. You can love both sexes deeply. You can have long-term, meaningful relationships with either sex. But who you "have sex with" determines your sexual identity. I think it's stupid. Really. Not the relationship but the hoops that society wants you to jump through so they can then say, "Aha! That's what they are!" We all must have a label, I suppose. It kinda chaps my *****, pardon the expression.

[caring_whiterose]

I am Bi. I like men and women. there is no preferance. i dont fall in love with a man and he is now my fiance but i still have to same feelings for women. so yes one can be bi.

[kileybaby]

I am also, I am attracted and have dated both. But I do remember because of my Catholic upbringing, I was confused but the enjoyment made those feelings go back deep in til now!

[Rhapsody]

I believe it is possible for a person to be bisexual just as it possible for one person to be in love with two people.... and yet I also understand what the psychologist its saying about some people having these feelings due to a life or identity crises brought on by past abuse / wounds - but I think the most important thing we must remember here is that one size does not fit all.

I can find both males and females attractive - but I prefer to be with a man (more natural feeling to me)

[Maven]

I also believe in bisexuality.

[notz]

I believe, if you know love, then you love.
Base your love on love of self.
Give yourself permission to shed societal expectations and love.
And if you can love yourself then you can love others.
Who you love is your business, not mine, not others.
What greater gift than love!
I wish you love and happiness!

[fallenangel337]

In my biased opinion, I think it's absurd to say you can only feel attraction to one sex...not both.

I am bisexual...whether I always wanted to admit it or not, I have been for as long as I've been alive. I have ALWAYS been interested in both men and women equally...even before I knew there was a such thing as bisexuality. I can't provide any factual evidence. I can't show research statistics that prove my viewpoint...all I can do is attest to my attractions, and how I feel. I don't know why people are bisexual, how it happens, or any of that...all I know is who I'm attracted to. So given the attraction that I feel to both sexes, I have to respectfully disagree with the idea that bisexuality does not exist.

I know this post sounds a bit ranty...this isn't directed at you at all. I just feel strongly about this issue, and I've had people telling me for years, for one reason or another, that there is no possible way I could be bisexual. So if I came across as a bit angry, I really didn't mean it. This just kind of struck a nerve for me, so it's my own issues I need to deal with.

[Michah]

You can't help who you fall in love with......

It just so happens that I have fallen in love with women......and men......in equal measure.....

I guess I am bisexual......if someone where to ask me......

I have never thought much about it........

Take care.......the answer is within.......think little of what this professional says.......if you know it to be true, then it is

Michah

[Eljay]

This is now official. I now totally believe that bisexuality exist and that it is a normal occurrence in people. You all convinced me! But also today I spoke to a different psychiatrist and told him that I have been in love with men and women in my life. So he said I must definately be bisexual. The other psychologist I had a year or so ago said it did not exist. What absolute rubbish. And to think I beat myself up over not feeling normal. Damn him. Love is fluent. Love is precious. Love is on a continuum that you can experience to any side and to any level of intensity. One must just be so thankful to find any form of love in his or her life and not try to analyse and judge it on any scale. Because there is no scale. There is such a lot of different kinds of love, but why do people think they must know why and how it happened? Just treasure the moment. And love fully. And don't give a damn what other small minded, maybe jealous people say and think. We must ignore them and be grateful that we know the truth, which is: LOVE IS LOVE

[krzyk101]

I just now read this thread and am glad that you have figured out that bisexuality does so exist.

Myself am bisexual and have had a lot of therory over the years and really I guess for me I find loving and cloesness sex with the same gender with love to be more dominant of the two, though I am capable of having sex with either sex, I still feel more emotionally and otherwise with a man, actually it is very confusing to me. I guess maybe I am more gay I just feel like sometimes in psychiatry or psychology and even in therapy here in the USA I have had workers going to school in Christian Colleges and so I find difficult to work with some mental helath persons and there beliefs anyhow, once again glad you have found out the bisxeual does exist.

Starange here in the USA I believe that homosexuality was a mental illness all the way till like the 70's or something, but that is a different thread.

Peace, kk101

[trevorzero]

Yeah, your psychologist is an idiot.

Sexuality can be a very, very complicated thing and some people, even mental health professionals, just want everything to be simple and straightforward.

So embrace the complexities of your own particular situation and explore yourself as thoroughly as you need to in order to reach the clarity that you need.

[borderkallie]

Hi. I am definitely bi-sexual. I am attracted to a person for who they are, not what is between their legs. I truly believe that people that can be sexually attracted to either gender exist on a higher level than people who just can't get past the "parts."

[billieJ]

As Iheartferrets has suggested, sexually is probably on some type of continuum, with one end being extremely female, the other extremely male. The middle has to be called something. Right or wrong, I think bisexuality definitely exists. billieJ

[crystalrose]

i am bi sexual too. I like having sex with both sexes. I have had sex with both sexes at the same time also. It definatly exists. U should go back to your psych and ask why she thinks that it doesn't exist.