The Mary Sue: According to the GLAAD “Where Are We on TV?” 2013-2014 report, it was found 3.3% of the series regulars on scripted prime-time broadcast television schedule were LGBT characters. For that same year, there were 42 LGBT characters on scripted primetime cable television. In regards to sexual orientation, of the 796 series regulars on primetime broadcast television, 771 were counted as straight (97%). Of those numbers, gay men made up 46% of those characters, and lesbian characters comprised 30%. When you break down the numbers further, of those 42 LGBT characters, eight were bisexual women. Only two were bisexual men.
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Bisexual erasure in the media is an often overlooked yet very present issue. Last semester I wrote my contribution essay for interpretation and argument on bisexual erasure in media, and I was shocked to see just how pervasive this masking of bisexuality has become. Most LGBTQ+ characters in the media are either white gay men or more rarely white lesbian women, with bisexuals making up a very small percentage. Characters that have either romantically or sexually been in a relationship with both men and women tend to be labelled as gay or straight, and their other relationship is viewed as a phase. Even shows that are typically viewed as progressive are guilty of this. One example that is mentioned in the article, and one that I researched last fall, is the character of Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black. When the show opens she is in a relationship with a man and has previously been a relationship with a woman. However, rather than calling herself a bisexual she calls herself "a former lesbian". People are free to label themselves however they want, but when such a popular show ignores an entire group of people it can be very harmful. Bisexuals are more likely have depression, anxiety, or another mood disorder compared to both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Obviously this can't be entirely attributed to the media, but the isolation that comes with a lack of representation must be a part of it. I love the ending line of this article, "we cannot be what we cannot see". Bisexuals cannot look to the media for role models, or for any reflection of themselves. Instead all they see are proclamations of their identity being a phase to get over, or a myth, or something selfish to gain power. This is something that drastically needs to change. Over the past decade representations of gay and lesbian people in the media have dramatically increased, and I sincerely hope that bisexuality will follow this trend soon.
I think representation on TV is vastly underestimated. In a way, I feel like TV shows, while they may not necessarily owe anything to anyone, are indebted to society in a way. While they have to appease to the public and meet ratings to please their networks, etc, I feel like they also do quite a disservice to society when shows fail to provide accurate representation of our actual societal makeup. By not providing representation, you're holding back progress in a lot of ways. While LGBT representation is slowly trickling in, it's moving rather slow. It's been proven that there is quite a demand for LGBT representation on TV (ala RuPauls Drag Race, OITNB, etc,), and as long as consumers continue to demand it, it will continue to grow. The only thing that networks respond to is consumer ratings and advertiser relations, and companies have found that supporting LGBT rights is good for business.
This article spoke many truths that are very prevalent in today’s society. The lack of representation is one problem. Like the author said, “We cannot be what we cannot see”. The fact that bisexuality is often not addressed, not only on tv and in the movies, but in everyday culture and grade school health classes is a huge issue. The fact that the characters who could possibly actually be bi on tv are often shown as being either straight or gay discredits the bi community. The stereotypes of bi people is also extremely upsetting. The fact that many of those represented in entertainment as bi as promiscuous and villainous does nothing to help anyone. It just makes those who identify as bisexual uncomfortable with themselves and the outside community ignorant of others. I hope that bisexuality will get more and better representation in the entertainment industry as soon as possible.
Just like all those before me who have left their two cents, I agree that bisexuality is grossly under represented in life and the media. I can only recall one television show in which bisexuality is even represented as it is (with a woman being attracted to and having romantic relationships with both genders, without her sexuality being used as a ploy to bring in the straight male audience). I love the character, but the show is horribly written and has no following. It's really an atrocity. If the media accurately portrayed more queer people, then maybe the sentiments against small groups, like bisexuals, would diminish. Even within the LGBT+ community, there is still bi-phobia and trans-phobia. It is horrible that these humans face discrimination from a group that is supposed to be "safe" and "open". As a gay woman, I will occasionally hear others remark about how they wouldn't date a bi woman because she'll always leave you for a guy or because they think that they will only be a fling for the bi woman. This is a reflection of these television shows that use bisexuality as a phase. Entertainment has the power to change public opinion. People should be shown as they are, so that our biases against marginalized groups can improve.
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