The instinct of survival is a key component. There are three main layers to survival. They are, in order of precedence, self-survival, survival of the family and survival of the species. (For those that believe in the possibility of alien attack, I suppose there would also be survival of the world - See "When Mars Attacks").

Self-survival is attacking or killing in self-defense. This is straightforward and self-explanatory. When an animal is threatened, it retaliates. This is also the same for survival of the family and survival of the species. If there is a perceived threat, attacks are made. These attacks can be in many forms. It can be a stance, a call or even physical.

Animals with survival instincts by attacking will live to perpetuate the species and therefore carry on the instinct within the species. Those that do not attack upon threat are killed.

Other base instincts are needed in conjunction to make the survival instincts work. Animals have an instinct that allows them to distinguish between their own kind and others. This is based on sexual instincts. If an animal has sex with trees or animals of a different species, it will not reproduce. But, if an animal has an instinct to make the distinction, it will reproduce and the instinct will carry on within the species.

Discrimination is a function of distinction. To distinguish is to be able to tell a difference. To discriminate is to be able to tell a difference, but to favor one and disapprove of the other.

Therefore, when an animal makes a distinction that another animal is not of its own kind, it makes a discrimination by disapproving, it perceives it as a threat and it attacks.

Bisexuals are often labeled as bad, different, evil or strange. Most people consider themselves as average, good and normal. So when someone comes up against the opposing labels, they discriminate.

Discrimination and prejudice are not instinct, they are learned. It starts early by children observing their parents and older children. They learn the stereotypes of what a gay person is supposed to be. From there, they use the words like gay, fag or faggot for any reason to insult other children. So, children start calling each other gay, even though they are not talking about their sexual orientation. Now the word gay becomes the ultimate generic insult.

Even for someone to be rumored to be bisexual could mean name-calling, harassment, loss of opportunity, loss of employment, vandalism, theft, arguments, fighting, beatings and even killings.

People are considered a social animal. We need contact with other people in order to survive. When people ban together it causes people to have a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging creates a feeling of warmth, comfort and protection. The sense of belonging also creates pride. Pride insinuates being one of the best.

Pride also makes people feel superior to others. So when the pride is broken, the comfort disturbed or the protection is violated by anyone, the intruders are ostracized. They are no longer a part of the group. This makes it easy for one group to discriminate against another when it is felt that they don't belong.

Most people discriminate from the efforts to feel superior to others; that their way of thinking is the best.

The thought of bisexuality is uncomfortable. There is no longer a feeling of togetherness. Therefore it is a target for discrimination.

Without fear, people would walk into bad situations and be harmed or killed. People instinctively have fear. This protects us as fear warns us of a potential danger.

Some people fear bisexuality because they believe that if their peers were to see them showing support, they too may be labeled and discriminated against.

Other people have fear because they falsely believe that they may be at risk of HIV or AIDS by being near someone.

A few believe that if they are near bisexuals, that they will turn them bisexual too.

Most people fear bisexuality because at one time or another they have had feelings for someone of the same sex and they fear the consequences and dangers of being labeled as a homosexual. So, in order to masquerade their true feelings, they lash out by discriminating and committing violent acts (typically called over compensating). They think that this will help make them feel normal especially when it is done in front of peers.

Sometimes people simply do not understand the facts concerning sexuality. Also, confusion over HIV and AIDS, such as what it is, how it is transmitted and what kind of people can catch it, clouds issues.

It is easy to make fun of people and things they do not understand.

Also, occasionally when people don't understand another's viewpoint or someone opposes their own viewpoint, they label and discriminate.

Sex is a biological need. Unfortunately, getting sex can be a lengthy and difficult ritual. Dating (finding a partner, having common interests, good chemistry and having several dates before anything happens) is complicated. It can be very frustrating.

A lot of people notice that some bisexuals have a less conservative view of sex. Sex can be simple, carefree and fun.

Some branches of Christianity demand that bisexuals and other people that do not think or act as they do, be converted to their way of behaving. Little do they admit that it backfires. They try to get people to believe that bisexuality is wrong and only God can save them. From that, some bisexuals do start believing that it is bad. So a lot of bisexuals start joining churches and other organized religions. That is why there's a high degree of bisexuality within religious institutions.

More and more people are overcoming these hurdles to understand that this is a large world and that there are many types of people and it takes everybody to make it work.

If people would concentrate on self-improvement, stop discriminating, stop criticizing others and allow people the freedom to lead their own lives, it would be a better world for all.

In Germany they came first for the Communists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a

Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I

didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then

they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't

speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't

speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they

came for me, and by that time no one was left to

speak up.

Martin Niemoeller

(1892-1984) 

Return to the main page