What are young homosexuals’ perceptions of bisexuality and relationships involving it?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to inquire into the perceptions and attitudes that homosexuals have concerning bisexuality, with particular attention towards relationships. A qualitative approach was adopted, utilizing 6 semi-structured interviews for data collection and an interpretative phenomenological approach for data analysis. The criteria for participants comprised of homosexual identifying men and women between the ages of 18 to 25. Thematic analysis was carried out to organize the data and present the results. Findings indicated that some homosexuals possess a significant amount of negative perceptions about bisexuals, which affect how they perceive bisexuals as a potential romantic partner. Four major themes arose in exploring this: Bisexual Attraction, Stereotypes, Relationships, and Labels. These negative preconceptions and stereotypes emerged after participants had recalled their personal experiences upon encounters with bisexual individuals.