Openly

The expression “openly bisexual”¹ bugs me.

I know we’re still living in a world where coming out is difficult and fraught, and if LGBTQ people want to use that expression, it’s not my busines to stop them. But it sort of annoys me when it’s used in print or by straight people. Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but it always seems to backhandedly presume that some amount of shame is associated with being bisexual, and that this “openly” bi person is therefore being bold or transgressive.

Just because some parts of society will shame bi people doesn’t mean they have anything to be ashamed of. Maybe it’s time to retire “openly” as a modifier for people’s sexual orientation.