“I can't quite be myself”: Bisexual-specific minority stress within LGBTQ campus spaces.

Abstract

Studies on queer/trans-spectrum students’ campus experiences show that colleges and universities continue to be hostile and unwelcoming for them despite the implementation of programs and initiatives to improve campus climate. Bisexual students, however, face a unique type of marginalization within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, with research on their experiences in higher education suggesting they are not safe from marginalization even in what should be safe LGBTQ campus spaces. This study examines the experiences of 9 bisexual students engaged in LGBTQ campus spaces to address the following research questions: First, to what degree did bisexual students experience bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces? Second, how, if at all, did bisexual-specific stress impact their participation in these LGBTQ campus spaces? The findings of this study revealed that all participants experienced bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces, and as a result of bisexual-specific stress and lack of support in addressing these issues, participants shared negative impacts on their participation within LGBTQ campus spaces. Understanding the challenges bisexual students experience within LGBTQ campus spaces can help student affairs professionals and others working with queer/trans-spectrum students work toward creating more bisexual-inclusive LGBTQ campus spaces.

Diversity and Inclusion: Impacts on Psychological Wellbeing Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Communities

“…According to previous studies engaging with minority stress theory (Cyrus, 2017;Fulginiti et al, 2020; Table 1), the rising likelihood of psychological health problems among LGBTQ adolescents is a result of increased social stress, which includes stigma, discrimination, bias, and victimization. Adolescence is a crucial period in cognitive growth, with elevated impact of pressure on psychological wellbeing and an increased susceptibility to substance use (Tavarez, 2020;Fulginiti et al, 2021). At this critical juncture, experiencing discrimination at the hands of academic, clinical, or religious establishments, or internalizing victimization as a consequence of discrimination, transphobia, or biphobia, will create substantial mental difficulties for LGBTQ adolescents (Budge et al, 2020;Formby and Donovan, 2020).…”

A systematic literature review on bi+ college students using an ecological lens.

“…At the micro- and mesolevels, LGBTQ+ resource center professionals and student leaders must transform LGBTQ+ campus spaces into welcoming environments free from biphobia (Tavarez, 2022a). For instance, practitioners should consider how they are fostering in/formal spaces where bi+ students can enjoy affinity time with other bi+ students, embodying what Horowitz and Newcomb (1999) found to be a “very normalizing experience” for bisexual individuals (p. 160).…”

“…Research aligned with the macrolevel spotlights the cultural stigma surrounding plurisexualities and the monosexist stereotypes and bisexual erasure that results. Tavarez (2022a) recommended educating campus community members around what biphobia looks like and why it is harmful, challenging biphobic rhetoric, and holding folks accountable when they exhibit biphobic behaviors. Additionally, it is critical that any power-conscious approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives includes monosexism and its intersections.…”

“…A robust body of literature (i.e., 20 publications) provided evidence for the marginalization bi+ students experience, including by fellow queer people. In particular, the literature detailed the marginalization of bi+ students in LGBTQ+ spaces (e.g., Kay, 2022;Prieto Godoy, 2020;Tavarez, 2016Tavarez, , 2022aVaccaro, 2006). Waling and Roffee (2017) spoke to a "hierarchies of queerness" wherein bi+ people who are read as straight are excluded from the LGBTQ+ community (p. 311).…”

Sexual minority and religious majority: Nonreligious gay/lesbian people’s and cisgender heterosexual Christians’ evaluations of gay and lesbian Christians.

“…For example, some of this research has shown that gay, lesbian, and heterosexual people perceive bisexuality as less stable, legitimate, and genuine than they perceive heterosexuality and homosexuality (Burke & LaFrance, 2016, 2018; Mohr & Rochlen, 1999). Additionally, gay and lesbian people often hold the most power in sexual minority circles (Matsick & Rubin, 2018; Roberts et al, 2015; Weiss, 2003) and bisexual people have experienced negative stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination within sexual minority spaces dominated by gay and lesbian people (Anders et al, 2023; Callis, 2013; Hartman, 2006; McLean, 2008; Tavarez, 2022). Therefore, when studying the details of overlapping ingroup and outgroup perceptions, it makes sense to be specific about corresponding group labels.…”