[Lizzie B]

O.K. so I have mental illness plus I'm a lesbian. If people don't misunderstand one thing then they misunderstand the other. Some ignorent people still this being homosexual is still a mental illness. I'm pissed.

[Purple Heart]

Unfortunately there are people in society who still think homosexuality is a mental illness. They belong to the past and not to give them too much importance.

[Blondboy44]

The reality is that latent bisexuals like me will never be able to be accepted in general society in my lifetime. I know that and that is why I will go to my grave sexually unfulfilled.

^ yep. Ive been called everything; confused, traumatised, greedy.....all for being bisexual. It used to upset me but now i just find it boring - which is how i react to most kinds of ignorance. Stay strong

hey, lizzie - i hear ya. i am gay and really resent it when i hear bishops and the pope say that i am disordered. frankly, i think purposely celibate people are disordered and that healthy sexually active people are normal! I don't understand how people who don't have sex can claim to be experts on the subject . . . I mean, really, where is the common sense? I also do not understand how people can claim that 2000+ year-old books are expert resources on sexuality in view of all the sexual scientific research that has taken place in the last 100 years. It's just sickening. Yet, people buy into it. It's unbelievable. Maybe it's more of a double ignorance situation? That's still hard but it's not as hard as the coupon you describe. All the best to you!

[hanners]

If you're a double hatred coupon, I'm a quintuple one. Bisexual, transgender, kinky, polyamourous, and bipolar. I'm lucky to live in a generally accepting city. The people who give me the most trouble? My parents. They know about the first 4, but not about the bipolar. Not sure I want to tell them right now.

Good luck, and just remember, no matter what others say, neither is a reason to hate you.

[notz]

welcome, this a good place.

[Lizzie B]

I appreciate all the support and help. Thank-You all.

[Pandoren]

I didn't realise people didn't believe in bisexuality until only a few years ago. I grew up knowing you were attracted to one, the other, or both, what's so hard to understand? (Wish I'd known about asexuality though... very confusing to only have three boxes and not to fit into any of them).

I hear you though... asexuals get that a lot "you are just depressed" "you've repressed your sexuality" "you must have been abused when you were little" etc ad nauseam and while I understand why it confuses people, there is no excuse for being rude.

[*freak*]

Originally Posted by Lizzie B

If people don't misunderstand one thing then they misunderstand the other.

Huh, how well you put it I relate 110%. I've come to the conclusion that there's no place in this society for people like me long ago. The staring, the jaws dropping, the eyes rolling, the labeling, the ridiculing. I don't even try to explain myself any more
Those ignorant people you mentioned? Most of them are perfectly content with their bigoted, small minded beliefs and they wouldn't give them up if their life depended on it. I tend to steer clear of such individuals.

[Harley47]

I agree with all said. It's a shame for a society such as ours that prides itself so much on "All men created equal" that we still hold such prejudice against others. All I can tell you is that not to let the ignorance and prejudice of some get to you. They aren't worth your time or emotions.

And Pandoren, I had a friend like that once. A subordinate of mine in JROTC. He was firmly convinced that a bisexual cannot be bisexual, and that whichever their preference was (IE preferring same sex or opposite) was their sexuality (IE a bisexual who preferred same sex relations was homosexual. Period). I spent many a lunch debating how narrow minded that was. I gave up about midway into the semester. :/

[likewater]

(((Lizzie))) did something happen recently that was hurtful? My friend has a t-shirt that says" i heart haters" the heart is heart shape. I want one of those. It takes their hate directed at me bounces it back to them in form of love and leaves my untouched. I read a story about i think buddha about not accepting all gifts. Like if someone spits on you, you can say no thank you or says something nasty.
Basically you dont have to let it into your psyche i think.

[Lizzie B]

Originally Posted by likewater

(((Lizzie))) did something happen recently that was hurtful? My friend has a t-shirt that says" i heart haters" the heart is heart shape. I want one of those. It takes their hate directed at me bounces it back to them in form of love and leaves my untouched. I read a story about i think buddha about not accepting all gifts. Like if someone spits on you, you can say no thank you or says something nasty.
Basically you dont have to let it into your psyche i think.

Wow, you and your friend are a lot closer to self actualization than I am. But, you both are definately correct. I'd like one of those t-shirts as well as a reminder. Thanks.

[Lizzie B]

Originally Posted by Harley47

I agree with all said. It's a shame for a society such as ours that prides itself so much on "All men created equal" that we still hold such prejudice against others. All I can tell you is that not to let the ignorance and prejudice of some get to you. They aren't worth your time or emotions.

And Pandoren, I had a friend like that once. A subordinate of mine in JROTC. He was firmly convinced that a bisexual cannot be bisexual, and that whichever their preference was (IE preferring same sex or opposite) was their sexuality (IE a bisexual who preferred same sex relations was homosexual. Period). I spent many a lunch debating how narrow minded that was. I gave up about midway into the semester. :/

You, are right I shouldn't let it get to me. It has certainly gotten better in the three decades I've been, "out". So, maybe I should hold hope for the future.