Results of a new survey conducted by triple j shows that bisexual men are the least likely to come out to their peers and loved ones.
The station questioned 11,000 people between the ages of 18 and 29, to gauge who within the community had come out of the closet, and how each participant identified.
Bisexual men were the least likely to be out of the closet at 40%, while bi+ women were close by at 48%. This was compared to men who identified as gay (83%) and women who are lesbians (86%).
“In the media, bisexuality is portrayed in woman as quite a cool thing… but I think for men it detracts from their masculinity,” a participant told triple j’s Hack.
“I think that if you’re a guy who is interested in other guys that somehow makes you less of your gender.”
The participant added that his part in the survey was the first time he had externally acknowledged his bisexuality.
Julia Taylor of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society is trying to learn more about the reasons behind bisexual people feeling the need to remain closeted, with a large-scale study on the mental health of those who are attracted to more than one gender.
“Research shows that there are certain issues that are present for gay and lesbian people as well as bisexual people,” Taylor said.
“But there are particular protective factors for gay and lesbian people that bisexual people aren’t privy too.”
Taylor adds that while bisexual women are seeing a little more representation on screens, bisexual men remain near invisible.
“When you’re deciding something as difficult and personal as coming out, looking up to people who have lived through it is a really important thing … and when there’s no role models for bisexual men that’s a real hindrance to the coming out journey.”
