Biphobia Is Louder Than Ever This Pride – Stop Asking Us To 'Be More Queer'

In a month in which we're meant to celebrate queer joy in all its forms, you only need to look at the online discourse around bisexuality at the moment to feel like something is seriously amiss.
For instance, look at all the backlash against JoJo Siwa and her relationship with Love Island's Chris Hughes. Following her CBB appearance, the former Dance Moms star has been at the centre of several headlines about her personal life, following the news that she'd broken up with her long-term partner Kath Ebbs and later began dating fellow housemate Chris Hughes.
JoJo, who identifies now as 'queer' rather than lesbian has sent the internet into a spiral over the fact that she is dating a man, as though we have a right to say 'no, sorry, your coming out experience is OVER'.
It's a similar thread of conversation when it comes to Billie Eilish right now – who has also had her bisexuality up for debate online after being spotted kissing long time friend and actor Nat Wolff, sparking gross biphobic tweets such as…
billie eilish when it's time to eat that girl for lunch pic.twitter.com/cbOZJg0ormhttps://t.co/mpQuDpb2LL
— becstat de lioncourt (@vampirhae) June 8, 2025
The proportion of people aged 16 to 24 years identifying as bisexual more than doubled from 2.8% to 7.5% between 2018 and 2023, and while at 32 I might be a bisexual pensioner in comparison to JoJo and Billie, what message are we sending to young people who are trying to understand their sexuality by engaging in 'how gay is gay enough' discourse?
Because who are any of us to ask someone to prove their sexuality? What receipts are you looking for? Because if someone is only queer enough if they solely date someone of the same gender… I think you may be missing the point of bisexuality in the first place.
I've known my sexuality since my teen years (shout out to the girl I worked at HMV with who sparked my bi awakening, yes I know it was as obvious as a brick through a window) – in my younger years I was only out in certain groups of friends and family and even now, I'm still firmly in the closet in others. And if there's one thing I've faced time and time again, it's scrutiny over how 'believable' my bisexuality is.
Only recently I was asked 'well, if you are bisexual, how many women have you slept with?' by a complete stranger who had overheard a conversation between a friend and myself in a pub – as if that is a completely normal fucking question to ask someone, as if there is a number I have to hit or go past to be allowed to determine my own sexuality. What do you want from me? t.A.T.u. lyrics tattoo'd on my forehead?
Someone's sexual history as a marker for their 'queerness' is a beyond outdated belief – more than once I've had someone of an older generation ask me how someone can be gay or bisexual if they've never had sex with someone of the same gender, normally countered by my response 'how did you know you were straight then?'.
And it's not just straight people I've had to convince – I've played into the troupes and stereotypes of bisexuality in a bid to appear 'queer enough' in certain LGBT circles and spaces. It is utterly fucking exhausting – when others limit my sexuality to whatever relationship I am in, my past and who knows, future, is completely disregarded.
twitter when a bisexual is bi: pic.twitter.com/2yuyBvrsos
— jessica ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ (@tinkjobej) June 8, 2025
If I'm in a relationship with a man, I'm a bisexual for attention. If I'm in a relationship with a woman, I'm a lesbian who can't admit it. And all of the enraged tweets about JoJo, Billie and other celebs who identify as bisexual and dare to date someone of the opposite sex just prove my worries right. Again, if you were a 14 year old scrolling social media and seeing people tear someone apart for their dating history not being 'gay enough', what message are we sending that teenager, especially if they think they might not be straight?
Then, of course, there's the ever present homophobia we face just by talking about our sexuality and its history in the first place. Even writing this has probably gotten me firmly scored off the Christmas card list of some family members – but enjoy saving on stamps this festive season I guess!
In a world that is attacking the rights of our entire LGBT+ community, why are we turning on one another? It has never been a more fucking terrifying time to be anything but cis het and we are all having our experiences as queer people invalidated. The least we can do is protect one another's.
And in the month of Pride, is publicly questioning someone's sexuality something to be proud of?
Jojo Siwa Breaks Silence On Miley Cyrus' Controversial Joke About Her At World Pride
Heartstopper's Kit Connor Supported By Cast And Fans After Being Forced To Come Out As Bisexual
'I Want To Tell My Parents I'm Bisexual, But I'm Scared Of What They'll Think'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

2 hours ago

• Yahoo

Tammy Hembrow Divorcing Matt Zukowski After 7 Months of Marriage: 'I Blame No One But Myself'

Tammy Hembrow confirmed that she is divorcing Matt Zukowski in a TikTok video on Saturday, June 21 The pair tied the knot in November 2024 after getting engaged a year prior, according to Daily Mail Love Island Australia star Zukowski, 29, also confirmed their split in a post on his Instagram StoriesTammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski are going their separate ways after less than a year of marriage. On Saturday, June 21, the Australian model and fitness influencer, 31, confirmed their split in a TikTok video, speaking candidly about her 'heartbreak' over their decision to divorce. She and Love Island Australia star Zukowski, 29, got engaged in December 2023 after just three months of dating. They then tied the knot on Nov. 23, 2024, per Daily Mail and the Australian outlet 'This is giving me so much anxiety … I wanted to finally tell you guys that I am going to be getting a divorce,' said Hembrow on TikTok. She then clarified that she didn't want to go into details about the split or 'bring anyone down." 'Did I think this was gonna happen? Did I want this? No. Obviously, when you marry someone, you do it thinking that it's gonna be forever,' she continued tearfully. 'And I blame no one but myself, to be honest." "I feel like I've made not the best choices when it comes to relationships. And I feel like I'm really good at putting on rose-colored glasses or just getting swept up in it all," she added. Hembrow previously told Vogue Australia that she and Zukowski had 'an instant connection' after meeting online. 'From the very first conversation, there was something that sparked between us,' she told the outlet. 'We were inseparable from that very first date!' Hembrow has three children: son Wolf, 10, and daughter Saskia, eight, shared with her ex Reece Hawkins and three–year–old daughter Posy, shared with her former partner Matt Poole. In Saturday's TikTok video, Hembrow became increasingly emotional as she described the effect of her split from Zukowski on her children as 'the worst part.' 'I don't care about me, like, I know I'll be okay, but I obviously feel awful,' she said. "...Nothing anyone could say could make me feel more s--- than I already do, like more humiliated … At the end of the day, I know this is what needs to happen, there's no other option.' Hembrow said she is focusing on her kids and 'healing' amid the divorce. 'There's been times where I felt that I've grown so much and then this whole experience has just made me feel like I still have a lot of growing to do a lot of a lot of work to do,' she said. '..There's a lesson and everything and hopefully this time I learn it.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Zukowski also confirmed the pair's split on his Instagram Stories on Saturday. 'It's with a heavy heart I share that Tammy and I have decided to separate,' the reality star wrote. 'Both of us have struggled with making this decision however, we need to do what is right for ourselves and her three children. This wasn't a decision we took lightly…,' he added. Representatives for Hembrow and Zukowski did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday, June 22. Read the original article on People

Yahoo

2 hours ago

• Yahoo

Tammy Hembrow Divorcing Matt Zukowski After 7 Months of Marriage: 'I Blame No One But Myself'

Tammy Hembrow confirmed that she is divorcing Matt Zukowski in a TikTok video on Saturday, June 21 The pair tied the knot in November 2024 after getting engaged a year prior, according to Daily Mail Love Island Australia star Zukowski, 29, also confirmed their split in a post on his Instagram StoriesTammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski are going their separate ways after less than a year of marriage. On Saturday, June 21, the Australian model and fitness influencer, 31, confirmed their split in a TikTok video, speaking candidly about her 'heartbreak' over their decision to divorce. She and Love Island Australia star Zukowski, 29, got engaged in December 2023 after just three months of dating. They then tied the knot on Nov. 23, 2024, per Daily Mail and the Australian outlet 'This is giving me so much anxiety … I wanted to finally tell you guys that I am going to be getting a divorce,' said Hembrow on TikTok. She then clarified that she didn't want to go into details about the split or 'bring anyone down." 'Did I think this was gonna happen? Did I want this? No. Obviously, when you marry someone, you do it thinking that it's gonna be forever,' she continued tearfully. 'And I blame no one but myself, to be honest." "I feel like I've made not the best choices when it comes to relationships. And I feel like I'm really good at putting on rose-colored glasses or just getting swept up in it all," she added. Hembrow previously told Vogue Australia that she and Zukowski had 'an instant connection' after meeting online. 'From the very first conversation, there was something that sparked between us,' she told the outlet. 'We were inseparable from that very first date!' Hembrow has three children: son Wolf, 10, and daughter Saskia, eight, shared with her ex Reece Hawkins and three–year–old daughter Posy, shared with her former partner Matt Poole. In Saturday's TikTok video, Hembrow became increasingly emotional as she described the effect of her split from Zukowski on her children as 'the worst part.' 'I don't care about me, like, I know I'll be okay, but I obviously feel awful,' she said. "...Nothing anyone could say could make me feel more s--- than I already do, like more humiliated … At the end of the day, I know this is what needs to happen, there's no other option.' Hembrow said she is focusing on her kids and 'healing' amid the divorce. 'There's been times where I felt that I've grown so much and then this whole experience has just made me feel like I still have a lot of growing to do a lot of a lot of work to do,' she said. '..There's a lesson and everything and hopefully this time I learn it.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Zukowski also confirmed the pair's split on his Instagram Stories on Saturday. 'It's with a heavy heart I share that Tammy and I have decided to separate,' the reality star wrote. 'Both of us have struggled with making this decision however, we need to do what is right for ourselves and her three children. This wasn't a decision we took lightly…,' he added. Representatives for Hembrow and Zukowski did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday, June 22. Read the original article on People

Yahoo

15 hours ago

• Yahoo

JoJo Siwa Says She Felt Pressured into Coming Out as a Lesbian: 'I Kind of Boxed Myself in'

JoJo Siwa is reflecting on her coming out experience "I kind of boxed myself in," she told the Daily Mail's YOU Magazine in a new interview Siwa is currently dating Chris Hughes, who she met while starring on Celebrity Big Brother Siwa is opening up about her coming out experience. In a new interview with the Daily Mail's YOU Magazine, the Dance Moms alum reflected on previously feeling pressured to come out as a lesbian. "When I came out at 17, I said: 'I'm pansexual, because I don't care [about gender].' But then I kind of boxed myself in and I said: 'I'm a lesbian.' And I think I did that because of pressure," Siwa, 22, told the publication. She noted that she felt the pressure came "in a weird way" from "inside the [LGBTQ] community at times." "From people I know, from partners I've had," said Siwa. "You just get put in this world where you feel like, because you now have said, 'Oh, I'm a lesbian', you have to be a lesbian. And the truth is, sexuality is fluid." In 2021, Siwa came out as LGBTQ, but during her appearance on CBB earlier this year, where met now-boyfriend Chris Hughes, she reflected on her sexuality again. "I feel, like, so queer, do you know what I mean?" she told Danny Beard, her costar and a RuPaul's Drag Race UK alum. Added Siwa: "I've always told myself I'm a lesbian, and I think being here I've realized: 'Oh, I'm not a lesbian, I'm queer.' And I think that's really cool." She added that she was "switching letters," referring to the letters in LGBTQ. "I've dropped the L and I've gone to the Q baby! That's what I love about sexuality," said Siwa, to which Beard, 33, responded: "You are Q, honey. And you know that British people love a queue!" is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Following the end of CBB, Siwa and her then-partner Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary, broke up. One month later, Siwa and Hughes, 32, showcased their friendship, posting snaps from a getaway in Mexico, along with a photo of them cuddling together. On June 2, Siwa confirmed that she and Hughes were dating in an interview with The Guardian. "It's not platonic anymore, and it's been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I'm absolutely head over heels for him and he's the same way," the "Karma" singer told the outlet. Read the original article on People