An Examination of Attitudes toward Bisexual People at the Intersections of Gender and Race/Ethnicity

Abstract

People report more negative attitudes toward bisexual than gay/lesbian individuals, but little is known about attitudes at the intersections of gender and race/ethnicity. We examined whether attitudes toward bisexual people differed depending on: 1) target gender identity (man, woman), gender modality (cisgender, transgender), and race/ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic); and 2) participant gender identity (man, woman) and race/ethnicity (White, person of color). As part of a cross-sectional survey, 552 participants rated their feelings toward 12 bisexual targets who varied in gender identity/modality and race/ethnicity. A repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that participants rated bisexual men more negatively than bisexual women, transgender bisexual individuals more negatively than cisgender bisexual individuals, and Black/Hispanic bisexual individuals more negatively than White bisexual individuals. However, differences based on target gender identity and race/ethnicity were only observed for cisgender targets, and most effects were only observed for male participants. Efforts to improve attitudes toward bisexual people must account for heterogeneity based on target/participant characteristics.

Keywords:

• attitudes
• bisexual
• gender
• intersectionality
• race/ethnicity

Notes

1 The term “gender modality” was coined by a transgender scholar to describe how a person’s gender identity stands in relation to their gender assigned at birth (e.g., whether they are cisgender or transgender) (Ashley, 2021). Of note, the scholar who coined the term acknowledged that, “It is an open-ended category which includes being trans and being cis and welcomes the elaboration of further terms which speak to the diverse experiences people may have of the relationship between their gender identity and gender assigned at birth: the cis-trans binary is challenged by some non-binary people—especially agender people—some intersex people, some gender creative youth, and some people who were raised in a fully gender neutral manner” (Ashley, 2021, p. 1).

2 Age was calculated as year of birth minus year of data collection. Although participants were required to be at least 18-years-old, one participant’s calculated age was 17. We retained this participant in the dataset because our formula for calculating age may have resulted in imprecise estimates.

3 The sample included one participant who reported that their sex assigned at birth was male and that they were transgender, but they were excluded from the analytic sample because they did not report their race/ethnicity.

Additional information

Funding

Brian A. Feinstein’s time was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K08DA045575; P I: Feinstein). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agency.

Notes on contributors

Brian A. Feinstein

Dr. Brian Feinstein received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2015. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. His program of research focuses on understanding and reducing the health disparities affecting sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations, especially bisexual individuals. He is interested in understanding how different types of stress (e.g., discrimination, internalized stigma, rejection sensitivity) influence mental health, substance use, sexual risk behavior, and relationship functioning among SGM individuals and couples. He is also interested in developing and testing interventions to improve health and relationships in these populations.

Isabel Benjamin

Isabel Benjamin is a clinical psychology PhD student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theater from Williams College in 2019. Broadly, her research interests include stigmatizing experiences contributing to sexual and gender minority (SGM) mental health, with a particular interest in bi+ populations and targeted psychotherapy interventions.

Kate D. Dorrell

Kate D. Dorrell is a clinical psychology PhD student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and received a BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019. Her research focuses on interpersonal influences (e.g., peer, family, romantic relationships) on mental health disparities in sexual and gender minority individuals, with a focus on bisexual+ youth and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Sydni E. Foley

Sydni Foley is a recent graduate of Lake Forest College. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Neuroscience in May of 2022. She is currently the Social Media Marketing and Public Relations Intern for Bravo! Waukegan, as she makes a professional transition into fashion styling and marketing.

Helena S. Blumenau

Helena Blumenau is an undergraduate student at Lake Forest College. She will be graduating in May of 2023 with her Bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology.

Ryan T. Cragun

Dr. Ryan T. Cragun is a husband, father, and sociologist of worldviews. The focus of his scholarship is Mormonism and nonreligion. His research has been published in a variety of academic journals, like: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sociology of Religion, and Social Science and Medicine. He’s the author or editor of numerous books, including Organized Secularism in the US. For more about his work, you can visit his website: www.ryantcragun.com. Originally from Utah, he now lives in Florida and works at The University of Tampa.

Eric Julian Manalastas

Eric Julian Manalastas has a PhD in social psychology from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, an MSc in gender and sexuality studies from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and a postgraduate specialization in LGBT health from the George Washington University, USA. He is currently an associate systematic reviewer for an independent research consulting firm specializing in evidence synthesis based in Oxford, UK. His research interests are in collective action, meta-analysis, and LGBTQ psychology as a means to advance the human rights and well-being of sexual and gender minorities.