Bisexual teen faced psychological prison, told not to tell anyone or else ..............

A seventeen year old teenager from St Andrew is the latest reported case of family ostracism that has come to my attention as more LGBT youth and adolescents find themselves on the frontline alone sometimes due to sheer ignorance by parents and urged by said elders siblings also participate willingly in making outcasts of their blood relatives. The young man who made contact with me via Facebook outlined his frustration in settling after the lengthy ordeal for some two and half years where he finally was told by his father to leave the only home he has known for all his life; although he has a neighbourhood female friend and of course other social ones as well his father according to the teen’s subsequent hand written report that I asked him to produce from which permission was granted to prepare this post outlining the details (less names of course) suspected he was gay and would occasionally make snide remarks.

The teen said at one point he responded to his father that if he did not see that he had a girlfriend and that she came by the house at times to which the elder would dismiss with a hmph and words to the effect “ ..... girlfriend nuh?” or girlfriend eh? Unbeknownst to the teen his immediate brother was actually set to monitor the youth’s movements and literally report to their father what he was about, so after school shenanigans or conversations and so on were watched and passed on, in one of the heated arguments the ostracised teen was surprised to learn that his father knew of a fight he was in at a bus stop one afternoon with another boy which surfaced in the cross talk several months after the fact which led him to suspect he was being informed on. While the young man’s mother was slightly more tolerant in a sense she too would warn him that if he was “battyman” he had to leave the house as she did not want that kind of nastiness around her.

Things came to a head however in September of 2013 when a male student who the teen was friendly with had met the ostracised teen first online then face to face and have been seeing each other for some time mostly away from the reporting brother but apparently other eyes were at work and word somehow got back to the brother, the teen had tried not to make this contact known to his younger informer sibling but the secret could not have been kept for long, the other party was said to be girly in a way and their meeting at a burger king store was told the father of the boy who confronted him of this other “battyboi” The ostracised teen’s neatness, order in his room and so called “prim and proper” ways were also made mention in the confrontation session where chastised the teen for being too “clean” implying that it is not a masculine trait for men to be so neat, the exchange grew in intensity according to the written report and a physical tussle ensued where the teen said he had to defend himself as his father lunged towards him with a frying pan to which he responded with the nearest thing he could find a large Jergens lotion bottle which he threw in retaliation, the matter continued where homo-negative curse words and warnings that if it was found out he was gay he would have to leave the house or change his ways in order to stay. Such are some the circumstances I have seen over the years which is sad for our young LGBTQ teens who have to exist under pain of some punishment be they psychological or physical abuse if not for some evidential reparative change.

Fast forward to March of this year where the straw that broke the camel’s back came in a fight between the teen and his prying brother to whom cordial relations had deteriorated in his bid to please his father while pressuring his bigger brother, the fight landed the ostracised teen facing an ultimatum among other things contained in the written report; since then he had reached out to other Facebook friends and so on prior to the forced eviction of sorts, he is able to return home at set times for clothing and so on in the absence of his father as his mother seems more sympathetic although she cannot speak to openly or outwardly. Such tense standoff can only last for a time and now he has found some community shelter assistance with an older influential thankfully and he has access to some finances from his mother who still gives the teen his pocket money not as often as before though when his father contributed to the amount.

This case is just one in a series of many that are sometimes hard to confirm but the reports are out there and the numbers of displaced youth climb all over the island, in my home parish of St Catherine there has been a spike in homo-negative cases and the numbers have gone up, just last month I was told of another matter where a male had to literally flee his home after some physical abuse, he is now with a friend for now; thank God for community shelter assistance I am all too aware of that informal avenue as my own shift way back in 1996 was interrupted and aided by such a phenomenon, good friends and caring people are hide to find but kindness matters out there despite the fallouts that can occur when such a helping hand is extended; my own drama in July of last year is picture proof where a young man I was offering assistance erred and I had to take strong action only after three days at my home and a strong sit down session explaining my expectations and house rules.

How else can the displaced youth be helped? When none state actors such as JFLAG, JAS do not want to directly addressed this longstanding matter yet they rejoice with a flowery promise by youth minister that homeless youth will be helped without questioning if the ministry will have as part of the response any reparative therapy interventions?

It has been clear for many years to some of us that corporatist typed NGOs who in public advocacy cry stigma and discrimination yet with all the clout they have simply refuse to do or implement the frontline response to homelessness. The Safe House Pilot 2009 is all the proof we need and the refusal way back in the day when the AIDS hospice became irrelevant given the changes in the cohort of infected persons’ suffering was greatly reduced as anti-retrovirals became more sophisticated hence persons living longer, it was repeatedly suggested by those in the know then that although the hospices were closing as they were also expensive to run; the displacement issues were also real then in the late nineties into 2000s yet all three spaces were subsequently closed; yet another easy way out was chosen instead of addressing the issue with some sort of residency response one of which was situated in the very area where the present homeless MSM/Transgender persons were at the shoemaker gully nearing the middle class Golden Triangle residency.

Is there really any interest in solving the homeless issues when everywhere else especially the US as of late under the President’s PEPFAR directive states are addressing their least populations. Something to think about.

also see:

Homeless MSM and rejection

Insensitive Parents and Displaced MSM Part III

Children’s Advocacy & LGBT Agencies inconsistent approach to Homeless MSM Youth

Kingston’s Homeless MSM challenges scream for proper attention

Outcomes when offering community based shelter for displaced gay/bi brethren

Youth Ministry to develop programmes to address LGBT youth, homeless, destitute and vulnerable children (2014)

Peace and tolerance

H

Bisexuality Visibility Day: Bi-phobia/Bi-erasure by default continues?

Unfortunately the answer is yes until some revolutionary changes comes, I cannot believe that an audio post I had done in 2011 is still relevant in today's world although the agitation in Jamaica has been stepped up so much yet as the call letters LGBT roll conveniently off the tongues of spokespersons we still see bi- erasure and indeed lesbian erasure as well taking place. Why have the groups listed in the name of rights and recognition yet they have to be screaming for attention?

No real assistance has been even allotted to specific groups to form themselves so as to fill in the gaps where needed they are only included gratuitously when relevant to sound good but screw them otherwise.



also see: Biphobia in the L & G communities maybe higher than thought from 2011.

As today is seen in some parts of the world as Bisexuality Day I want to recognise my bisexual friends and readers as well while highlighting some of the challenges they face here in Jamaica chief among them then are viewed as "carriers" of HIV and are often described negatively as the bridge between the homosexual and heterosexual populations. While there is some truth to it that cannot be all that end up becoming hence the biphobia especially from the lesbian community.

Celebrate Bisexuality Day is observed on September 23 maybe 24th as it falls on a Sunday by members of the bisexual community and their supporters originally in the United States but has been extended worldwide.

This day is a call for bisexual, pansexual, friends and supporters to recognize and celebrate bisexuality,bisexual history, bisexual community and culture, and the bi/pansexual people in their lives.
First observed in 1999, Celebrate Bisexuality Day is the brainchild of three United States bisexual rights activists: Wendy Curry of Maine, Michael Page of Florida, and Gigi Raven Wilbur of Texas.

Wilbur said,

“Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility. The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways we are still invisible. I too have been conditioned by society to automatically label a couple walking hand in hand as either straight or gay, depending upon the perceived gender of each person.”

This celebration of bisexuality in particular, as opposed to general LGBT events, was conceived as a response to the prejudice and marginalization of the bisexual persons by some in both the straight and greater LGBT communities.

In its first year, an observance was held during the International Lesbian and Gay Association, which occurred during the week of the 23rd. While at first it only took hold in areas with an extremely strong bisexual presence, it is now celebrated worldwide.

It features event such as discussions, dinner parties and dances in Toronto and a large masquerade ball in Queensland, Australia. At Texas A&M University, the week featured discussion panels and question-and-answer sessions. Princeton University celebrates this day each year by throwing a party at its LGBT Center.

It has also been celebrated in Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

In its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include denying that bisexuality exists. Inclusiveness is the name of the game now if we are to get anywhere but with the elitist position taken by the group one wonders when will we begin to move on anything? with recent ugly events further darkening our LGBT history that of aloofness towards the homeless msm population more and more persons in and outside the LGBT community are asking what are the reasons for these organizations.

It is refreshing to see other individual voices saying their piece and going out on their own, I would love to see an all out Jamaican bisexual website or at the very least a couple of blogs related to bisexual issues exclusively. There has been some discourse regarding bisexuality but the backlash from the MSM and same gender loving, SGL female communities suggests we have a far way to go towards inclusiveness and tolerance, ways that are to be facilitated by a JFLAG or similar groups.

Let us hope in the near future something can be done about that either by them despite the insulation or some other group, organization or individuals. Meanwhile a newly formed two year old group intends to work with this section of the community in short order as they will launch their programs on engaging groups to lift their identities and self worth, looking forward to seeing and covering more positive developments in this department.

Peace and tolerance

H

Not Separate But Not Equal? Bisexuality Explained (At Least 13 Times)

Demonized, ostracized, unrecognized, and sexualized…what gives? Though the “bi” in “bisexual” brings to mind either/or dualities, true-to-life bi experience is entirely unique.

Every year, Bi Visibility Day is observed on September 23. (http://september23.bi.org). Still, when it comes to bi visibility and/or invisibility, myths and misconceptions abound.

Dr. J.R. Little has identified 13 prevailing types of bisexuality. On the face of it, these discoveries seek to classify bi experience as seen through a control group study. At the very least, this reveals the fluidity of sexuality in general. Predominant bisexual traits Dr. Little found are the following:

1. Alternating: May be with a man, then after a relationship ends, may choose a female partner for a subsequent relationship, continuing to alternate.

2. Circumstantial: Primarily heterosexual, but will choose same sex partners only if they have no access to other-sex partners, like in gender-segregated circumstances.

3. Concurrent Relationships: Have primary relationship with one gender only, but other casual or secondary relationships with people of another gender concurrently.

4. Conditional: Either straight or gay/lesbian, but switches to a relationship with another gender for a specific purpose, like young straight males who prostitute with men for money or lesbians who marry men for social acceptance, or to have children.

5. Emotional: Have intimate emotional relationships with men and women, but only have sexual relationships with one gender.

6. Integrated: Have more than one primary relationship at the same time, one with a man and one with a woman.

7. Exploratory: Either straight or gay/lesbian, but have sex with another gender just to satisfy curiosity or “see what it’s like.” (Bi-curious.)

8. Hedonistic: Primarily straight or gay/lesbian but will sometimes have recreational sex with a different gender purely for sex.

9. Recreational: Primarily heterosexual, but engage in gay or lesbian sex only when under the influence of substances. (Party-sexual.)

10. Isolated: 100% straight or gay/lesbian now but has had at one or more sexual experience with another gender in the past.

11. Latent: Completely straight or gay lesbian in behavior, but has strong desire for sex with another gender (having never acted on it).

12. Motivational: Example – straight women who have sex with other women to please their male partner who requests it for his own arousal.

13. Transitional: Temporarily identify as bisexual while in the process of moving from being straight to being gay or lesbian, or going from being gay or lesbian to being heterosexual.

No matter what your orientation is, sexual discovery is a process. Whether or not you agree with Dr. Little—or bisexuality in general—if you seek to understand bisexuality, do your best to meet bi folks where they are, without trying to marginalize them or inflict a sense of “wrongness” on them for having their own experience.

Q&A ON BISEXUALS: Examining Stereotypes and Misconceptions

Q: What is bisexuality?
A: Bisexuality is the capacity for physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to more than one gender/sex. A bisexual identity affirms a reality beyond dualistic categories of sexual orientation and challenges the foundation of binary thinking in this regard.

Q: Do bisexuals have to have partners of different genders/sexes to be satisfied?
A: Bisexuality is the potential – not the requirement – for involvement with more than one gender/sex. This involvement may mean sexually, emotionally, in reality, or in fantasy. Some bisexuals may have concurrent partners; others may relate to different genders/sexes at various time periods. Most bisexuals do not have to be involved with more than one gender/sex at a time in order to feel fulfilled. 

Q: Aren’t bisexuals “oversexed”?
A: Attraction does not necessitate acting on every desire. Just as there is a range of behaviours within heterosexual society and the lesbian and gay communities, there is also a range within the bisexual community. Some have one partner; some choose to be single; some have multiple partners; some bisexuals are celibate. The bisexual population has the same variety of sexual activity as other groups.

Q: Can bisexuals be counted on for long-term committed relationships?
A: A bisexual, like a lesbian, gay, or heterosexual identity is independent of relationship choices: monogamous; polyamorous; non-monogamous; or whatever the parties agree upon. Bisexuals are as capable as anyone else of making a long-term monogamous commitment if that bisexual is also a monogamous person.

Q: Isn’t calling oneself bisexual just a phase a person goes through because he or she is afraid to “come out” as lesbian or gay?
A: Some people do go through a transitional period of bisexuality on their way to adopting a lesbian, gay, or heterosexual identity. For many others, bisexuality remains a long-term orientation. In fact, researchers have found that homosexuality and heterosexuality are often transitional phases in the coming-out process for bisexual people.

Q: Aren’t bisexuals just “confused”?
A: It is natural for bisexuals, gays, and lesbians to go through a period of confusion in the coming-out process. Historically, society has stigmatized same gender/sex attractions and denied the possibility of a bisexual orientation. In this situation, confusion is an understandable reaction until one is able to come out and find a supportive environment. Most bisexuals are absolutely clear about their sexual orientation.

Q: Do people choose to be bisexual?
A: For bisexuals the choice is to live openly and honestly or to be silenced by the invisibility of the closet. No one really knows the origins of sexual orientation, including bisexuality. However, whether it is biologically determined or not, sexual orientation should not determine one’s access to full participation in society.

Q: Do bisexuals want “special rights”?
A: Bisexuals want to live their lives without the threat of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, and the military. To ensure their basic civil rights, bisexuals are seeking equal protection under the law, including same-sex marriage.

Q: Do bisexuals spread AIDS?
A: Bisexuals have been scapegoated as “carriers” of HIV/AIDS to heterosexuals and lesbians. The fact is, risky behaviours spread HIV, not one’s sexual identity. HIV is transmitted when the body fluids of an infected person (e.g. blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk) enter someone else’s body. Practising safer sex and not sharing injection drug paraphernalia is important for everyone – bisexual, heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or transgender – who is interested in stopping the spread of AIDS.

Q: Should the lesbian and gay communities be inclusive of bisexuals?
A: Bisexuals have always been a part of, as well as apart from, the lesbian and gay communities. Bisexuals are part of the generic definition of gay in the same way that lesbians are. Because heterosexuals lump them all together, bisexuals encounter the same kinds of harassment and discrimination as gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Bisexuals lose their jobs, their homes, and their children, and are discharged from the military when they are honest about their sexual orientation. It is important that bisexuals be included to accurately describe the larger gay community.

Q: When the going gets tough, won’t bisexuals hide in the heterosexual community? Don’t bisexuals dump their same gender/sex partners for different gender/sex partners to pass as straight?
A: People leave relationships for all kinds of reasons, and not just because of the gender/sex of their partner. Anyone regardless of sexual identity who is unable to make a commitment to a relationship may use a person of any gender/sex to leave. To “pass” for straight and deny one’s bisexuality is just as painful and damaging for bisexuals as it is for gays and lesbians to stay in or re-enter the closet. Bisexuals are not heterosexual.

Q: Do some bisexuals identify as heterosexual? What about lesbian or gay?
A: All human sexuality studies have found that there is a notable disparity between what people do (sexual behaviour  and what people call themselves (sexual identity). Many people are unaware that identifying as bisexual is even an option. 

(Significantly, no studies have measured the incidence of bisexual feelings and fantasies that have not been acted upon.) Many people who have sex with more than one gender/sex do not identify as bisexual for a number of reasons, including fear of discrimination and social stigmatization from both heterosexual society and the lesbian and gay communities. 

Thanks to Bialogue for sharing this. 

Asexuality .......... a closer look

Over the week there has been some interest in this subject following a youth forum in Kingston, persons were not aware of this one and were only used to homosexuals (deemed as men only), lesbians (viewed outside of homosexuals), bisexuals to a lesser extent and heterosexuals I guess due to the heightened discussion on the buggery law and possible review. The presenters started to explore the others at the forum thus Asexuality came up for mention, persons could not believe such persons do exist in Jamaica and indeed at all.

All the more reason to push for the HFLE manual recently pulled from schools just because it dealt with homosexuality and anal sex: MORE HERE

Here is what I found for easy reading from wipe out homophobia's website:

What is Asexual?

 

Asexual people have the same emotional needs as anyone else, and like in the sexual community they vary widely in how they fulfill those needs. Some asexual people are happier on their own, others are happiest with a group of close friends. 

Other asexual people have a desire to form more intimate romantic relationships, and will date and seek long-term partnerships. Asexual people are just as likely to date sexual people as we are to date each other.

Sexual or nonsexual, all relationships are made up of the same basic stuff. Communication, closeness, fun, humour, excitement and trust all happen just as much in sexual relationships as in nonsexual ones. Unlike sexual people, asexual people are given few expectations about the way that our intimate relationships will work. 

Figuring out how to flirt, to be intimate, or to be monogamous in a nonsexual relationships can be challenging, but free of sexual expectations we can form relationships in ways that are grounded in our individual needs and desires.

Attraction

Many asexual people experience attraction, but feel no need to act out that attraction sexually. Instead they feel a desire to get to know someone, to get close to them in whatever way works best for them. Some asexuals describe attraction as "romantic", "platonic", or "aesthetic" attraction, to differentiate them from sexual attraction. Asexual people who experience attraction will often be attracted to a particular gender, and will identify as gay, bi, or straight.

Arousal

For some sexual arousal is a fairly regular occurrence, though it is not associated with a desire to find a sexual partner or partners. Some will occasionally masturbate, but feel no desire for partnered sexuality. Other asexual people experience little or no arousal. 

Because we don’t care about sex, asexual people generally do not see a lack of sexual arousal as a problem to be corrected, and focus their energy on enjoying other types of arousal and pleasure.

Note: 

People do not need sexual arousal to be healthy, but in a minority of cases a lack of arousal can be the symptom of a more serious medical condition. If you do not experience sexual arousal or if you suddenly lose interest in sex you should probably check with a doctor just to be safe.

Identity

There is no litmus test to determine if someone is asexual. Asexuality is like any other identity- at its core, it’s just a word that people use to help figure themselves out.

also see:

Relationships

Asexual people have the same emotional needs as anyone else, and like in the sexual community we vary widely in how we fulfill those needs. Some asexual people are happier on their own, others are happiest with a group of close friends. Other asexual people have a desire to form more intimate romantic relationships, and will date and seek long-term partnerships. Asexual people are just as likely to date sexual people as we are to date each other.

Sexual or nonsexual, all relationships are made up of the same basic stuff. Communication, closeness, fun, humor, excitement and trust all happen just as much in sexual relationships as in nonsexual ones. Unlike sexual people, asexual people are given few expectations about the way that our intimate relationships will work. Figuring out how to flirt, to be intimate, or to be monogamous in nonsexual relationships can be challenging, but free of sexual expectations we can form relationships in ways that are grounded in our individual needs and desires.

Attraction

Many asexual people experience attraction, but we feel no need to act out that attraction sexually. Instead we feel a desire to get to know someone, to get close to them in whatever way works best for us. Asexual people who experience attraction will often be attracted to a particular gender, and will identify as lesbian, gay, bi, or straight.

MORE HERE

Lesbian lovers quarrel in Spanish Town ........

An obviously problematic same gender loving female relationship matter that spilled over into the public domain made news in the Star this week as its headline. Certainly the other comments made were not reported here as a bystander who is a community member also lamented the fact that one half of the accused women was verbally abused by men playing cards and gambling nearby. 

I was not out and about that night in question so I missed this.

They claimed to want to know why a woman would have another woman as her mate and then have a male lover at the same time, as if to suggest if one is gay then one should stick to that side and not dable in both worlds.

A possible clue to bi-invisibility? seeing that gay matters take up so much space in public discourse as a front for LGBT umbrella matters. We have seen the outcomes that switch hitting, the colloquial term used can cause but some say disclose while others say don't, many bisexual activists reject the call to disclose one's bisexual preference while some agree providing they see that it won't erode the relationship at the stage the revelation was made.

Have a read of the article:

Woman beats lover for cheating

A fight between two women who claimed to be lovers attracted a lively crowd in Spanish Town on Sunday night.

The Star learnt that the fight started after one of the females observed her partner boarding a taxi to leave from the town centre with a male.

She displayed her disapproval by going into the Toyota Corolla station wagon and attacked the female by raining blows on her.

"Mi nuh tell yuh from before yuh left Portmore and now yu a dis mi, cum out di car," the attacker said in a fit of anger.

The woman started throwing blows inside the car while a curious crowd gathered.

"How can you do this to me after all we've being through," she said, as she delivered several blows.

While the incident was occurring, several bystanders questioned how such a slimly built woman could have launched such a serious attack.

"People free to live how they want. But they must seek God. A living nasty and sinful act this, they need Jesus. This is sin," a female bystander said.

Checks at the Spanish Town station reveal that the police have knowledge of the incident but no report was made.

ENDS

See more from sister blogs:

Butch women interviewed on national television ...... lesbophobia, enlightenment or both?

Lady Switch Hitters & the Boyfriends who complain ...

Bi-sexual men & the women involved

BISEXUAL CLAIM NOT TRUE' - J'cans bash recent survey

Same gender loving women troubles

There was a murder of a lesbian in East Kingston only months ago (see link immediately above this) where she was allegedly threatened by a male companion of her then female romantic interest as his friends pressured him into not competing with a woman for another woman imperative as that would have been considered as serious breach of the highly valued machismo or masculinity in Jamaica.

Here is a video on an older discussion on the matter of disclosure last year from CVM TV's CVM @ Sunrise show.

here is an older case where two same gender loving females were murdered in eastern Jamaica some years ago due to the same resistance to competing with another woman from a male's point of view imperative:

Here is the article from the Star News: "They Were Lesbians" or HERE.

Luckily this reported fight in Spanish Town did not result in a more violent lesbophobic outcome but then again SGL women have always had far less negativity towards them than gay men especially effeminate brothers. Even the adult entertainment industry has over the years sought to capitalize on this tolerance.

Peace and tolerance

H

additional reading:
Also see: Jamaica : Lesbian Shotta Killed Man in quarrel over women

Scientific U-Turn: Male Bisexuality Is Real

This information though a bit dated is needed as we here in Jamaica are hardly guided by any proper recognition and discussion on bisexuality and to link it to homophobia and homo-negativity. The chronic issue of bi-erasure and bi-invisibility is disturbing as the leading agency forget most times than not the "B" in the LGBT community that they say they represent committing bi-phobia by default.

The study cited: Rosenthal, A.M., et al., Sexual arousal patterns of bisexual men revisited. Biol. Psychol. (2011),

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.06.015 can be viewed HERE

A famous study conducted in 2005 proclaimed that male bisexuality is an illusion. Despite study participants claiming to be attracted to members of both sexes, when the subjects were hooked up to genital sensors and shown same-sex male and same-sex female pornography, individuals were only seriously aroused by one type or the other. The results were taken as evidence that, in terms of arousal, men are either gay, straight or lying.

"I'm not denying that bisexual behavior exists," Michael Bailey, a psychologist at Northwestern University and senior author of the 2005 study, told the press at the time, "but I am saying that in men there's no hint that true bisexual arousal exists."

Now, he and his colleagues are saying quite the opposite. They've conducted a new study, published online in the journal Biological Psychology, called "Sexual arousal patterns of bisexual men revisited." Upon this visit, they found more than just a hint of male bisexuality.

The bisexual pride flag. Public domain image.

Much more stringent criteria were used to recruit bisexual male study participants this time around. "Last time, they got their guys from an ad in an urban newspaper read by a hipster crowd," Allen Rosenthal, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology and the lead author of the new study, told Life's Little Mysteries. This time, instead of relying on self-reporting of sexual orientation, men only qualified as bisexuals if they had had sex with at least two members of each sex and had carried on a romantic relationship of at least three months with a member of each sex. [Why Do We Have Sex? ]

The participants were subjected to the same genital-sensor-and-porn test as in the 2005 study. (Responses to same-sex male and same-sex female porn are used for comparison rather than same-sex male and heterosexual porn, because researchers have previously found that men of any sexual orientation can be aroused by heterosexual porn. "With using a hetero stimulus, you don't know who they're focusing on," Rosenthal said.)

The results: "Bisexual men in the present study demonstrated bisexual patterns of both subjective and genital arousal," the authors wrote. Another not-yet-published experiment, Rosenthal said, found that bisexual men are significantly more aroused by bisexual porn — porn showing sex between two men and one woman — than are straight or gay men. [What If There Were More Than Two Sexes? ]

Rosenthal believes his new results will be validating to a lot of bisexual men who had heard about the earlier research and felt misrepresented or misunderstood by science.

However, the authors believe that the new results don't completely invalidate the old. "I think that both studies are correct, but about different populations of bisexual men. I'm confident in what they did last time; the reason why we have different results is that we used different recruitment methods," Rosenthal said. Some self-reporting bisexual men aren't aroused by both of the sexes to which they claim to be attracted. Others really are. "The big open question is which results are more representative of your average bi guy on the street."

If they can generate funding for such an experiment, the Northwestern psychologists will scale up their study in order to profile bisexual males of all types.