Who are the bisexuals in your neighborhood?

They suffer discrimination from the other members of the federation. They bask in the ambiguous orientation they have chosen, neither affirming nor denying the adoption of a particular stance. They may look like us, speak like us, even participate in the fabulous parties that we organize. But fundamentally, they are different from us. By declaring our homosexuality, we made a choice that involves exclusivity and commitment. We are gay men who choose to love other gay men. It takes courage to declare that. It takes commitment to embrace it as a principle in life. But with bisexuals, it is a different ball game. As the term connotes, a person is deemed a bisexual if he or she is sexually and romantically attracted not only to the same sex but also with the opposite sex. Meaning, Joe may want to have sex with Jane and, later on, with Aidan. Maybe at different intervals or at the same time (which is another topic to be discussed later).

From where I come from, it is safer to declare oneself as a bisexual than a true blue gay man. The word "gay" has been closely associated with a specific section of the entire spectrum of men who prefer to love men. Such a section refers to the effeminate types, the cross dressers, the flambouyant sisters who daringly strut their stuff while wearing 4" pumps. When a person says "I'm gay", the listener would immediately be bombarded with images of men wearing make up, wigs, and women's clothes. On the other hand, a bisexual man may say that he is sexually attracted to another man, and may have actually engaged in intimate relations with a man, but that doesn't automatically make him gay because he is still attracted to women. That factor cancels out the images produced by the word "gay". It becomes socially acceptable to be bisexual because the possibility of having an intimate relationship, even sexual at that, with a woman, still exists. The apparent confusion becomes a badge, a medal that is proudly worn. Hence, it is safer to be a fencesitter than taking a firm stand (very similar to Switzerland and other "neutral" Scandinavian countries)

So, who are the bisexuals in your neighborhood?