MovieChat Forums > The New Normal (2012) Discussion > So, what happened to bisexuality?

So, what happened to bisexuality?

posted 11 years ago by MaleManX
29 replies | jump to latest

I kept expecting one of the guys to turn out bi, thus explaining why they kept going on and off Shania's and Bryan's gaydar. However, no, such a thing is still made to look like it doesn't exist.

I hate the idea that if a man likes other guys, he can't like women also, or vice versa. I hate society's black and white 100% gay or 100% straight view on sexuality, and it's even worse coming from a "gay" show where you would think they'd be more aware of the complexities of sexuality.

Has the word "bisexual" ever come up in a Ryan Murphy show (Glee, New Normal, etc.)?

[–] TwiceWorth 11 years ago

Ryan Murphy doesn't seem to believe in bisexuality..In Glee it's actively ridiculed.

--
"It's a scary, lonely, Chang-filled world out there."

[–] taopolis 11 years ago

I don't watch Glee in anymore but I'd curious to know how he ridicules bisexuality. Bisexuality in the gay community seems to be somewhat of a touchy subject.

[–] TwiceWorth 11 years ago

If I remember rightly, in an episode where Blaine says he might be bisexual, a character says "Bisexual is made up word that gay guys use in high school to feel normal" Or words to that effect! And they're later proven when it's shown Blaine only felt he was bi because he was drunk at the time.

Bisexuality, with men at least, has been shown as a phase or something not real- other times bi men have been mentioned it's always done so with a wryness or an eyeroll. Brittany is the only Bi woman in the cast and she's promiscious and shown not to really know how to have any kind of adult sexual relationship!

--
"It's a scary, lonely, Chang-filled world out there."

[–] alucard1-1 11 years ago

by - TwiceWorth on Fri Jan 25 2013 16:15:11

"If I remember rightly, in an episode where Blaine says he might be bisexual, a character says "Bisexual is made up word that gay guys use in high school to feel normal" Or words to that effect! And they're later proven when it's shown Blaine only felt he was bi because he was drunk at the time.

Bisexuality, with men at least, has been shown as a phase or something not real- other times bi men have been mentioned it's always done so with a wryness or an eyeroll. Brittany is the only Bi woman in the cast and she's promiscious and shown not to really know how to have any kind of adult sexual relationship!"

I believe fully in the existence of bisexuality, so keep that in mind if you keep reading.

I think the purpose for that particular line in Glee is due to a PROMINENT expression of gay's in days gone by (but not entirely absent today) where a gay guy uses bisexuality to 'put a foot out of the closet door, and test the water' so to speak. They feel that if they start out with the Bi thing, and aren't totally shat upon by those who love them... it's a springboard to coming out completely, later..

I, myself, never claimed bi... I just sort of blew down the closet door, much to the surprise of most people I knew at the time. But, I have know several... that did start out "bisexual".

Peace

[–] TwiceWorth 11 years ago

I just realised I never replied to this! I'm terrible with keeping up with imdb threads. That is a good point- my brother used it as a "springboard" for a year or so before he came out as gay. I think the thing that bothers me most Re: Ryan/Glee and Bisexuality is that when it is brought up it's in an almost ridiculing way, kind of a wry aside to the audience that it's nonsense. And the only Bi character is shown to be the most promiscuous and dumb. They couldn't even make Santana Bi, she had to be "completely all the way" for her story to warrant any meaning it seemed.

--
"It's a scary, lonely, Chang-filled world out there."

[–] AgentX7k 11 years ago

Does anyone see the denial of bisexuality to be somewhat homophobic?. Kind of like saying 'Being gay is so horrible that if someone was attracted to both why the hell would they choose to be with the same sex over the opposite? ONLY reason a guy would go for guys is if there was no chance with a woman'.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] katish7 11 years ago

there is a strong belief around the internet community that gays are actually even less tolerant to bi than straight people... which could really make sense because of somewhat jealousy or feeling of betrayal...

and apparently if so many gay weren't so straight (pun is totally intended) in their perception of their gayness, more of them could admit to their bisexuality or at least partially...

but it seems that now even in such rigid field as television more and more people are speaking out on the real fluidity of the sexuality, and in this situation Murphy will soon have to express his opinion on the matter and yes it might occur to be oh not so progressive anymore... the time of fighting for their rights and expressing their definite, straight and understandable point of view on their sexuality (like: I am gay, so let me be) is coming to the end, the time to be more flexible is now...already for a while

[–] LiveFromNewYawk 11 years ago

I posted this on The Following thread and I feel it fits here as well

I see sexuality as a spectrum.
You have the far extremes - the people who strongly prefer men or women (whether one is gay or straight) an they are adamant about having NO attraction whatsoever for the non=preferred gender.
You have some people who find the gender they aren't attracted to, well, somewhat attractive, nice to look at but the buck stops there and they don't see a need to take it further.
You have experimenters/temps - people who have a primary attraction to one gender but may experiment temporarily or dabble from time to time with the other gender.
You have people who are sexually attracted to both genders but prefer one over another.
AND you have the middle of the road Bisexuals!! I have no reason to believe that men or women cannot be fully bisexual. They must be the luckiest people because the field is wide open for them!! Good for them!

[–] call-betelguese 11 years ago

Ryan Murphy ridiculed it in 2 ways, by first having that line, the previous poster mentioned about bisexuality not existing and by having only his most attractive female leads: Santana, Britney, and Quinn, being bisexual or experimenting with lesbian sex. Yet, there is still no bisexual male character. That's where the real problem lies. When it comes to men, bisexuality is scorned at.

One reason i think is because in the process of coming out, many gay men, first say they are bisexual. Sort of testing the waters, as they dwell more into the gay lifestyle they feel more comfortable with the idea of the label "gay." Because of this, bisexuality for men is seen as a label self hating gay men give themselves.

Another part of it has to do with men not wanting to fit outside the straight box. Since bisexuality has a connotation closer to gay than straight, men don't want to put that label on themselves.

Like another poster stated, sexuality is very much a spectrum. Bisexuality isn't this 50/50 notion of attraction. You can be bisexual but mostly date men or mostly date women.

[–] anatja 11 years ago

I am pretty sure that although Santana identifies as a Lesbian, Britney IS bisexual.

If you love Satan and are 100% proud of it copy this and make your signature!

[–] SheWillRememberYourHeart 11 years ago

On Nip/Tuck, all the gay characters were sexually fluid (confused by heterosexual feelings in one way or another) or "predatory gays", while straight characters either were completely straight or, in the one instance where a seemingly straight character had a relationship with a same-sex character, it was made clear that nope, they're still straight and therefore the same-sex relationship is doomed from the get go.

I actually thought this representation was pretty horrid in the opposite direction.

That's why I feel like with Glee, Murphy's both showing bisexuality as real and valid with Brittany (and Quinn, to a certain degree) on the one hand without turning all the gay characters into bisexuals/confused/promiscuous. And considering there are so many gay characters he can have on a show, especially if he's going to give a representation to both gay males and gay females, I actually think he's trying to be as balanced as possible and kudos to him.

As for the dealing with bisexuality on The New Normal, we have 4 seasons of Glee to examine and not a single full one of TNN. I'm okay with giving it some more time before I start calling him out on this.

"He shall be an adder on the path, to bite a horse's heel"

[–] queenjustine 11 years ago

Yes, I think it's true that bisexuality is looked down upon in gay and lesbian culture. I am a bisexual woman, and I believe sexuality is not a black & white issue, as some others have said here.

I have a lot of gay men friends who I hang out with, and while I feel accepted and comfortable with them, I am not one of them. Similar with lesbians I know. And even with straight people, while I pass as one in daily life, since I am mainly interested in dating men, I still am not one of them.

I think (conservative) straight society feels uncomfortable with bisexuality because right away they think "promiscuous"... if you are interested in both men and women, they assume that means you are sleeping with both, which equals non-monogamy. And straight society is very concerned with monogamy as an indicator of morals. It seems that to a many members of straight society, homosexuality is preferable to bisexuality, as long as the couple in question is monogamous.

Just my take...

Luke … this is your father … come set the table for dinner.

[–] Antigone78 11 years ago

There have been bisexual characters on Nip/Tuck, and AHS.

Nip/Tuck really covered the whole gamut, mostly in a dysfunctional way (as all the characters were), but still... it was covered.

[–] nomarmvp 11 years ago

Ryan Murphy is the worst form of a bigot. One that claims his group is being discriminated on while discriminating others. He's a tool.