The Invisi_les: Biphobia, Bisexual Erasure and Their Impact on Mental Health

Abstract

In the last few years, research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health increased, but little scientific literature has been focused on bisexual health. This critical review aims at understanding the relationship between discrimination towards bisexual people and their mental and physical health. The first part of the article reviews different forms of bisexual discrimination, such as biphobia, bisexual invisibility, and bi-erasure, showing how biphobia is different from homophobia, especially considering how heavily it is perpetrated inside and outside the community. The second part of the paper focuses on gathering data about bisexual people’s health, showing the differences with the gay and lesbian community, as well as the diverse effects that discrimination can have on physical and mental outcomes. Finally, the last part focuses on the healthcare experiences of bisexual people and what can be done to improve their health.