Why, Hollywood?

[karate0kat]

So I've been thinking (a dangerous pastime, I know).

Why does bisexuality not exist on TV?  Or rather, why does it exist but no one is willing to acknowledge it?

Comments

[karate0kat]

I think it was really just the fear that they would be perceived as homophobic if Willow "went back" to men after Tara.

I agree that's why. And I can understand that. And it's not like it's entirely unrealistic for someone who's bisexual to have so many same sex partners in a row that they seem homosexual. It's just that no one addresses the back and forth. At least on the shows I watch. TV characters aren't ever allowed to 'switch' more than once. That's more of an industry wide problem than a problem with either show I mentioned.

And my biggest problem is really how the writers and characters talk about it. I've heard Joss refer to Willow as gay several times, and same thing with Shonda over at Grey's.

And on Buffy, Willow has that line to Anya in the troll episode: "Hello! Gay now." Which...not really. Unless her entire relationship with Oz wasn't actually loving and meaningful (which I refuse to believe) then she's bisexual and could therefore still be attracted to men. They did something similar on Grey's recently too, where the new lover confronts the old lover who's now "gay", and everybody talks about it like it's a given that she's not going to be attracted to the guy anymore (and this is the same guy she used to test the theory that she still likes having sex with men even though she had a relationship with a woman).

It's just...*headbang*

Hey, you know what? I just remembered, Bones did the bisexual thing with Angela. She was with guy, then a girl, then after breakup with said girl had comfort sex with previous guy, and is probably heading towards renewed relationship with guy. And I don't believe anyone freaked out or called them homophobic. I think they've maybe even said the word bisexual before, and I know for certain they've talked about the whole 'she likes who she likes' thing. So good on Bones. See? It can be done!