What does it mean to be bi-curious?
If a Google search brought you here, then it’s very possible that you’re bi-curious. Otherwise, you might be wondering “what in the world is that?”
You’re not alone. To the unfamiliar, it can be hard to keep up with the ever-emerging terms associated with the sexuality spectrum. That’s why we’re here to break down what bi-curiosity is all about.
While some argue that labels are limiting and the more we have the more counterproductive it is, others find it helpful to label their feelings and experiences. Bi-curious is one of those identification markers that some people associate with nowadays. But is it the same as being bisexual? And how can you know if someone is bi-curious anyway?
What bi-curious means
It’s actually what it sounds like: being curious about exploring or experimenting with bisexuality. That’s the definition found in Merriam-Webster. In other words, a bi-curious person would be someone who’s interested in exploring their attraction to their and other genders. They’re asking questions about their sexuality but don’t have the answers yet, and this brings us to our next question.
Is bi-curious the same as bisexual?
The term bi-curious was designed to help people identify an existing curiosity without having to commit to any of the well-established sexual orientations. Bi-curiosity allows people to watch their arousal taking shape without any commitment. This is what differentiates bi-curiosity from bisexuality.
Therefore, bi-curious is considered a temporary identity.
The controversy behind the term bi-curious
Bi-curiosity didn’t come without controversy. There’s a lot of stigma surrounding it, and the reasons are various.
On the one hand, there’s a popular belief that some cis and heterosexual women identify as bi-curious in an effort to be hot in the male gaze. For this reason, there’s a fear amongst the LGBTQ+ community that bi-curious people might mess with them and leave.
On the other hand, the whole idea of bi-curiosity reflects a belief that someone must have a certain amount of sexual or romantic experience before they can identify as bisexual or something else. However, we don’t expect straight people to be sexually experienced before we believe they’re straight. We also don’t hear terms as lesbo-curious or gay-curious.
Some believe that both these concerns are no more than biphobia in disguise. Bisexuality has a history of invisibility as it’s a sexual orientation that hasn’t always been believed or taken seriously, and as such, the word bi-curious could be used to play into that invalidation.
Ultimately, you have the final say, and if you identify as bi-curious, know that it’s valid.
Who can be bi-curious?
As previously mentioned, bi-curiosity encompasses those folks exploring attraction to their gender as well as others. But this not only includes people who were previously considered straight; gays and lesbians can also be bi-curious. So to answer the question: anyone can be bi-curious!
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