META: Bisexuality, Visibility, and Fanfic Labels, or, Being the Blue M&M:
Bisexuality, Visibility, and Fanfic Labels, or, Being the Blue M&M:
There's been some recent discussion as to why bisexuality tends to fly under the radar in fandom, particularly as it relates to slash fandom where characters with canonically heterosexual love interests/relationships/tendencies are frequently written as being closeted homosexuals rather than bisexuals.
My pet theory is that, in part, this has to do with how fandom labels fics with romantic/sexual pairings. As it stands, there are only two widely accepted labels for romantic/sexual pairing fics: Het and Slash, both of which tend to imply/reinforce monosexual portrayals/attitudes in fanfics. We'll get to my reasoning in a moment but first...
Long Ass Disclaimer Time:
For the purposes of this discussion, the following should be accepted as givens:
Given #1: "Slash" is intended to be read as broadly and generically as possible and includes within it the following: m/m slash; f/f slash (whether described as femmeslash, femslash or saffic), yaoi, yuri, shounen-ai and shoujo-ai.
Given #2.: Male/female and man/woman are intended to be read as broadly as possible and should be taken to include cis- and transgendered and intersexed individuals. As well as genderless characters who can be/still are read as being male or female (for example (but not limited to) robotic characters from fandoms like Transformers, or WALL-E).
Given #3: When "pairing" is used, it is used because most fanfics in my experience deal with two-person relationships. It is not intended to slight or ignore poly relationships of any sort.
While it is my belief that much of what I am saying is applicable in some shape or form to other marginalized sexualities (asexuals, transsexuals, polysexuals, etc.) my focus is on bisexuality. This isn't intended to be exclusive, it's just that I am bisexual and that is where I'm choosing to place my focus. I apologize in advance for any sense of exclusion this attitude may cause. I am not an expert on human sexuality, if my ass shows, I apologize in advance.
Getting On With It:
The problem with "het" and "slash" as labels for fics with bisexual characters is that both carry an implication about the sexuality of the participants.
Het is defined as "sometimes short for heterosexual sex/relationships/situations" [1] and as a "story or fanzine with explicit scenes of heterosexual sexual acts." [2] as well as "the opposite of "slash" [...] classifying a romance and/or sexually explicit story which has as its main focus a heterosexual relationship.." [3]
Slash is defined, in the same sources, as: "implies homosexual relationships between characters" [1]; "stories about homosexual pairings" [2] and, "a subgenre of romance fanfiction which exclusively deals in homosexual or male homosexual relationships; [...] most fans use it to mean specifically to [sic] same-sex pairings or even, to exclusively male same-sex pairings." [3]
On the surface, it can be hard to see a problem with these definitions -- after all, it's not like any of them come out and say "No Bisexuals Need Apply" or "Monosexuals Only". They're not saying bisexuals can't appear in het and slash fics, they're just not mentioning bisexuality at all. Instead of being mentioned separately, the case could be made that bisexual relationships are just being grouped with heterosexual relationships in those cases when the pairing is male/female and with homosexual relationships when they involve two males or two females.
Which still doesn't sound terrible, except that not mentioning bisexuality and/or categorizing it with heterosexual or homosexual behavior depending on the genders of the pairing in question is effectively a way of making bisexuality disappear. It may not be malicious or even intentional, but that doesn't make it any better. An unintentional snub doesn't hurt any less.
Part of the reason bisexuality is invisible and/or marginalized in fandom is because bisexuality is invisible and/or marginalized by society at large. Fandom isn't some special, separate place where we leave the biases and prejudices we carry around with us outside of fandom at the door. Those things come in with us and it's not surprising that they get reflected in fanfic.
Outside of fandom, bisexuals are stereotyped as being confused, greedy, promiscuous, fence-sitters who are only dabbling with both genders until they make up their mind and pick a side. Bisexual women are stereotyped as a straight man's fantasy while bisexual men are cheating dogs who fool around with men behind the backs of their poor unsuspecting wives. Bisexuals of both genders are frequently characterized as 'half-straight and half-gay' rather than as having a separate and distinct sexuality. [4]
In fanfic, where pairings are usually the driving force behind the creation of stories and can be a source of fierce loyalty and furious debate between rival 'ships,' bisexuality can get lost in the shuffle because most fics aren't meant to be a serious exploration of a character/s' sexuality. Many fics are written or pairings are created simply because the author wants to see these two (or more) characters together for happy fun-times.
Note: There's NOTHING wrong with pairing characters for no better reason than 'I felt like it.' I've done it (Huffer/Pipes in Transformers -- the characters never met canonically) and some of the best fanfic I've read features pairings that have no canonical backing. I know of at least two pairings that are highly popular within their respective fandoms that have zero basis in canon (Beachhead/Cover Girl in GI Joe and Jazz/Prowl in Transformers).
It's when you get to the OTP, the One True Pairing that things can get sticky. For most people, their OTP is just their favorite pairing, the two (or more) characters they like to see together for various reasons. But for some people, the OTP is a cause that must be defended unto the death and the unbeliever must be either converted or shunned for not having the sense to realize how perfect Frick and Frack are together.
"One of the common tropes of OTP-ism is that all relationships pale in comparison to the OTP, of course Character A's real sexuality can only be that which pairs them with B. Since all relationships with the gender B isn't are by definition lesser than [sic] A can't really be attracted to that gender. It's stupid logic, but that's OTP-ism for you." (source: alixtii from his essay "Bisexuality and Fanfiction") [5]
OTP-ism stems largely from the fact that many romance stories are, generally speaking, not about real-world relationships. They're about a fantasy and when it comes to fantasies, things can be highly idealized and much more dramatic than they are in the real-world. Characters in books and movies and on TV, no matter how realistic the show is, live in a world that is created to showcase them and as such, things are a whole hell of a lot neater than they are in the real world. This is the reason why Everybody Loves Raymond, even though he's kind of a douche at times and it's the reason why Horatio Caine can always crack the case and why Chuck hasn't been stuck in 'protective custody' in Gitmo.
So, on the one hand, the idea that a person has that one special, perfect person they are destined by fate to be with is an understandable trope. It's been a constant for thousands of years because it speaks to us. Romeo and Juliet probably wouldn't have become a classic if the two had survived because where's the drama in "Our folks decided our happiness was more important than some stupid feud!"
On the other hand, think about the same conceit in terms of hair color: Character A is involved with Character B who is a redhead. A fic writer pairs Character A with Character C, a long-term friend with whom A has had some chemistry in the past. Character C has dark hair.
Now, imagine that the writer claims, either in the fic itself or in their justification of the pairing that Character A never really liked redheads, that A was confused about their hair color preferences but now they're with Character C and they've decided to stop lying to themselves and be honest about their preference for dark-haired individuals.
Better yet, imagine the mocking the writer would be in for after suggesting that Character A could never again be attracted to a redhead after being with Character C and their fabulous dark hair. Because the idea that somebody's ability to be attracted to one hair color could be negated entirely by falling in love with (or just having sex with) someone of a different hair color is ridiculous.
People make these distinctions about gender preferences all the time -- in fics, in the media and in life. "Character A can't be gay s/he is/was married/in a relationship with/once spoke to a man/woman!" is a common argument against slash pairings that is not only bi-phobic, but also demonstrates a lack of understanding about the diversity of human sexuality to boot.
This argument is often refuted with "Yes Character A can, s/he is bisexual!" -- which at least acknowledges the existence of non-monosexuality, so there's points for that. Though I find myself wondering how many fics use bisexuality as just a convenient lampshade versus how many use it as an actual facet of the character's personality?
Granted, the difference between "convenient lampshade" and "actual facet" is going to be a highly subjective one, even among bisexuals. But my guess, which comes right out my ass, is that many fics feature characters who are called bisexual but who are portrayed as being monosexual.
If I write a slash fic about Cyclops and Wolverine where I justify the pairing by saying that both men are bisexual, but essentially refuse to acknowledge any possibility that either character might still have or might one day again be attracted to a woman in any way, shape or form then I'm not really writing two bisexual characters. Instead, I'm writing about two once-closeted gay men who've come out, stopped deluding themselves and become safely monosexual again. Bisexuality, in this case, is being used more to preempt any one who tries to sink my ship, not as a part of who the character is.
Please Note: This is NOT to say that all characters must be written as bisexuals or that monosexuality is wrong. In the first place, I don't subscribe to the idea that everyone is bisexual. I think the Kinsey Scale helps make the point that attraction and desire exist on a continuum rather than as clear-cut divisions, but that a person's sexuality is what they say it is, not where society finds it convenient to put them.
But I'm talking about fiction, which unlike reality, has to make sense to work. If you include something in a story, it should be there for a reason and/or have an impact on what's happening. I believe it was Chekhov who said something to the effect of "if you have a gun on a table in the first act, it should be fired in the third." [6]
Meaning, if Cyclops and Wolverine are said to be bisexual in the fic, there should be some evidence to support that claim within the fic itself.
It doesn't have to be huge, glaring evidence like Cyclops and Wolverine invite Emma Frost over for a three-way (though if anybody writes this/has written this, please post a link below so that I may examine it for scientific purposes -- and by scientific purposes, I mean seeing how much drool my keyboard can stand). And there doesn't have to be an "as you know" conversation that runs "As you know, Logan, being bisexual these days is very hard since monosexuals tend to presume our choice of relationship partner equates to our true sexual preferences, little realizing that one can be in an exclusive relationship with a member of one gender and still feel attraction to individuals of the opposite gender..." -- unless, of course, it's followed by "Where the hell did I leave that ball gag?"
The acknowledgement could be something as simple as "Hey, Summers, check out the rack on that one!" "What is with you and high school girls?" "High school? She's twenty, easy!" "Yeah, you hope she's easy.." "Awww, shut up...you know I love you." Or Scott and Logan helping each other deal with a year of firsts after losing Jean Grey -- first Christmas, first New Years, Jean's birthday, things like that. Just so that there's something that shows that their bisexuality means more than just "used to sleep with girls."
Of course, even if the fic in question does treat bisexuality respectfully, there's still the problem of how to classify it once it's ready to post. Is a fic about Cyclops and Wolverine building a relationship together while dealing with their grief over Jean Grey het because it's about their past m/f relationship or is it slash since it deals with a current m/m relationship?
If it were me, or at least the 'me' I was a week ago before I started this essay, I'd likely label the story slash for the current relationship and make mention of the past m/f relationship in the summary and my author's notes. A friend of mine says she labels fics 'slash' and 'het', depending on the fic's pairing, and presumes that readers will clue in to the fact that the character(s) are bisexual since they're beng shown with partners of both genders.
While I think this type of labeling (or perhaps lack of labeling) can work and work well, I also wonder if maybe there shouldn't be a label for bisexual characters and/or stories? On the plus side, a label would make these stories more visible and easier to find. Sure, chances are there wouldn't be many of these stories and the overall effect would be like throwing a handful of blue M&Ms into a popcorn bowl full of red and yellow ones, but those blues would still stand out. I'd know they were there and it would be nice [7]
The label would work just like 'het' or 'slash' do now, in that it could be used to describe fics ranging from G-rated hand-holding up through triple X-rated PWP. It'd be voluntary, just like any other label is and could be used in addition to 'het' or 'slash' or even as a modifier for a character to indicate that one half of a pairing is bi (Bi!Cyclops).
As for the downsides, well, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that if a 'bi' label were adopted and caught on, it would be misapplied left, right and center. Or, more correctly, it would be applied to the types of fics that would make me crazy because they'd reinforce bi-phobic stereotypes and clichés. But to be fair, slash and het are applied to stories that reinforce homophobic and sexist stereotypes respectively. A bi label, just like slash or het, would be a mark of content rather than quality.
Another problem is that the label might not be accepted or even widely used, meaning it would be about as useless as no label at all.
Hell, even after working in this essay for over a week, I'm still not 100% sure we absolutely need a label. Part of me wonders if a recognition that 'het' and 'slash' apply to acts rather than preferences would serve instead of a label -- though another part of me balks at this since a person or a character still bisexual no matter who they're sleeping with or not sleeping with. If I write Cyclops as bi, he's still bi regardless of whether he's with Logan or Jean Grey or is living a celibate life in order to avoid racking up any more kids from alternate dimensions.
This isn't a simple issue -- if it was, this essay wouldn't have taken me over a week to write -- but I think one of the ways for bisexuality to become more visible is for those who write bisexual characters to make those stories easier to spot. Because it would be nice to see more blue M&Ms.
-------------------
NOTES:
[1] Source: Ye Olde Jolly Jolly Anal-Retentive General Fandom and Fanfiction Glossary
[2] Source: Ms. Nitpicker's Fanfic Glossary:
[3] Source: Glossary of Fan Fiction Terms @ Wikipedia
[4] Bi-phobic stereotypes taken from "Some classic elements of bi-prejudice" and "7 popular myths of bisexuality countered &/or analysed", both by Jennifer Moore. Her site, Jennifer's Bisexuality Index Page is full of other resources as well.
[5] alixtii's article was written in response to trobadora's article ( Monosexuals, this one's for you), which was itself written in response to chasingtides' article, Biphobia: It's What's For Dinner.
[6] Actually, he didn't quite say it quite like that -- you can read more
here: Chekhov's Gun @ Wikipedia
[7] Once again, I’m speaking about bisexuality, but I honestly believe that this idea can and should apply to other sexualities. There’s no reason not to add more colors of M&Ms to the bowl.
----
X-posted to Dunmurderin @ InsaneJournal.com
There's been some recent discussion as to why bisexuality tends to fly under the radar in fandom, particularly as it relates to slash fandom where characters with canonically heterosexual love interests/relationships/tendencies are frequently written as being closeted homosexuals rather than bisexuals.
My pet theory is that, in part, this has to do with how fandom labels fics with romantic/sexual pairings. As it stands, there are only two widely accepted labels for romantic/sexual pairing fics: Het and Slash, both of which tend to imply/reinforce monosexual portrayals/attitudes in fanfics. We'll get to my reasoning in a moment but first...
Long Ass Disclaimer Time:
For the purposes of this discussion, the following should be accepted as givens:
Given #1: "Slash" is intended to be read as broadly and generically as possible and includes within it the following: m/m slash; f/f slash (whether described as femmeslash, femslash or saffic), yaoi, yuri, shounen-ai and shoujo-ai.
Given #2.: Male/female and man/woman are intended to be read as broadly as possible and should be taken to include cis- and transgendered and intersexed individuals. As well as genderless characters who can be/still are read as being male or female (for example (but not limited to) robotic characters from fandoms like Transformers, or WALL-E).
Given #3: When "pairing" is used, it is used because most fanfics in my experience deal with two-person relationships. It is not intended to slight or ignore poly relationships of any sort.
While it is my belief that much of what I am saying is applicable in some shape or form to other marginalized sexualities (asexuals, transsexuals, polysexuals, etc.) my focus is on bisexuality. This isn't intended to be exclusive, it's just that I am bisexual and that is where I'm choosing to place my focus. I apologize in advance for any sense of exclusion this attitude may cause. I am not an expert on human sexuality, if my ass shows, I apologize in advance.
Getting On With It:
The problem with "het" and "slash" as labels for fics with bisexual characters is that both carry an implication about the sexuality of the participants.
Het is defined as "sometimes short for heterosexual sex/relationships/situations" [1] and as a "story or fanzine with explicit scenes of heterosexual sexual acts." [2] as well as "the opposite of "slash" [...] classifying a romance and/or sexually explicit story which has as its main focus a heterosexual relationship.." [3]
Slash is defined, in the same sources, as: "implies homosexual relationships between characters" [1]; "stories about homosexual pairings" [2] and, "a subgenre of romance fanfiction which exclusively deals in homosexual or male homosexual relationships; [...] most fans use it to mean specifically to [sic] same-sex pairings or even, to exclusively male same-sex pairings." [3]
On the surface, it can be hard to see a problem with these definitions -- after all, it's not like any of them come out and say "No Bisexuals Need Apply" or "Monosexuals Only". They're not saying bisexuals can't appear in het and slash fics, they're just not mentioning bisexuality at all. Instead of being mentioned separately, the case could be made that bisexual relationships are just being grouped with heterosexual relationships in those cases when the pairing is male/female and with homosexual relationships when they involve two males or two females.
Which still doesn't sound terrible, except that not mentioning bisexuality and/or categorizing it with heterosexual or homosexual behavior depending on the genders of the pairing in question is effectively a way of making bisexuality disappear. It may not be malicious or even intentional, but that doesn't make it any better. An unintentional snub doesn't hurt any less.
Part of the reason bisexuality is invisible and/or marginalized in fandom is because bisexuality is invisible and/or marginalized by society at large. Fandom isn't some special, separate place where we leave the biases and prejudices we carry around with us outside of fandom at the door. Those things come in with us and it's not surprising that they get reflected in fanfic.
Outside of fandom, bisexuals are stereotyped as being confused, greedy, promiscuous, fence-sitters who are only dabbling with both genders until they make up their mind and pick a side. Bisexual women are stereotyped as a straight man's fantasy while bisexual men are cheating dogs who fool around with men behind the backs of their poor unsuspecting wives. Bisexuals of both genders are frequently characterized as 'half-straight and half-gay' rather than as having a separate and distinct sexuality. [4]
In fanfic, where pairings are usually the driving force behind the creation of stories and can be a source of fierce loyalty and furious debate between rival 'ships,' bisexuality can get lost in the shuffle because most fics aren't meant to be a serious exploration of a character/s' sexuality. Many fics are written or pairings are created simply because the author wants to see these two (or more) characters together for happy fun-times.
Note: There's NOTHING wrong with pairing characters for no better reason than 'I felt like it.' I've done it (Huffer/Pipes in Transformers -- the characters never met canonically) and some of the best fanfic I've read features pairings that have no canonical backing. I know of at least two pairings that are highly popular within their respective fandoms that have zero basis in canon (Beachhead/Cover Girl in GI Joe and Jazz/Prowl in Transformers).
It's when you get to the OTP, the One True Pairing that things can get sticky. For most people, their OTP is just their favorite pairing, the two (or more) characters they like to see together for various reasons. But for some people, the OTP is a cause that must be defended unto the death and the unbeliever must be either converted or shunned for not having the sense to realize how perfect Frick and Frack are together.
"One of the common tropes of OTP-ism is that all relationships pale in comparison to the OTP, of course Character A's real sexuality can only be that which pairs them with B. Since all relationships with the gender B isn't are by definition lesser than [sic] A can't really be attracted to that gender. It's stupid logic, but that's OTP-ism for you." (source: alixtii from his essay "Bisexuality and Fanfiction") [5]
OTP-ism stems largely from the fact that many romance stories are, generally speaking, not about real-world relationships. They're about a fantasy and when it comes to fantasies, things can be highly idealized and much more dramatic than they are in the real-world. Characters in books and movies and on TV, no matter how realistic the show is, live in a world that is created to showcase them and as such, things are a whole hell of a lot neater than they are in the real world. This is the reason why Everybody Loves Raymond, even though he's kind of a douche at times and it's the reason why Horatio Caine can always crack the case and why Chuck hasn't been stuck in 'protective custody' in Gitmo.
So, on the one hand, the idea that a person has that one special, perfect person they are destined by fate to be with is an understandable trope. It's been a constant for thousands of years because it speaks to us. Romeo and Juliet probably wouldn't have become a classic if the two had survived because where's the drama in "Our folks decided our happiness was more important than some stupid feud!"
On the other hand, think about the same conceit in terms of hair color: Character A is involved with Character B who is a redhead. A fic writer pairs Character A with Character C, a long-term friend with whom A has had some chemistry in the past. Character C has dark hair.
Now, imagine that the writer claims, either in the fic itself or in their justification of the pairing that Character A never really liked redheads, that A was confused about their hair color preferences but now they're with Character C and they've decided to stop lying to themselves and be honest about their preference for dark-haired individuals.
Better yet, imagine the mocking the writer would be in for after suggesting that Character A could never again be attracted to a redhead after being with Character C and their fabulous dark hair. Because the idea that somebody's ability to be attracted to one hair color could be negated entirely by falling in love with (or just having sex with) someone of a different hair color is ridiculous.
People make these distinctions about gender preferences all the time -- in fics, in the media and in life. "Character A can't be gay s/he is/was married/in a relationship with/once spoke to a man/woman!" is a common argument against slash pairings that is not only bi-phobic, but also demonstrates a lack of understanding about the diversity of human sexuality to boot.
This argument is often refuted with "Yes Character A can, s/he is bisexual!" -- which at least acknowledges the existence of non-monosexuality, so there's points for that. Though I find myself wondering how many fics use bisexuality as just a convenient lampshade versus how many use it as an actual facet of the character's personality?
Granted, the difference between "convenient lampshade" and "actual facet" is going to be a highly subjective one, even among bisexuals. But my guess, which comes right out my ass, is that many fics feature characters who are called bisexual but who are portrayed as being monosexual.
If I write a slash fic about Cyclops and Wolverine where I justify the pairing by saying that both men are bisexual, but essentially refuse to acknowledge any possibility that either character might still have or might one day again be attracted to a woman in any way, shape or form then I'm not really writing two bisexual characters. Instead, I'm writing about two once-closeted gay men who've come out, stopped deluding themselves and become safely monosexual again. Bisexuality, in this case, is being used more to preempt any one who tries to sink my ship, not as a part of who the character is.
Please Note: This is NOT to say that all characters must be written as bisexuals or that monosexuality is wrong. In the first place, I don't subscribe to the idea that everyone is bisexual. I think the Kinsey Scale helps make the point that attraction and desire exist on a continuum rather than as clear-cut divisions, but that a person's sexuality is what they say it is, not where society finds it convenient to put them.
But I'm talking about fiction, which unlike reality, has to make sense to work. If you include something in a story, it should be there for a reason and/or have an impact on what's happening. I believe it was Chekhov who said something to the effect of "if you have a gun on a table in the first act, it should be fired in the third." [6]
Meaning, if Cyclops and Wolverine are said to be bisexual in the fic, there should be some evidence to support that claim within the fic itself.
It doesn't have to be huge, glaring evidence like Cyclops and Wolverine invite Emma Frost over for a three-way (though if anybody writes this/has written this, please post a link below so that I may examine it for scientific purposes -- and by scientific purposes, I mean seeing how much drool my keyboard can stand). And there doesn't have to be an "as you know" conversation that runs "As you know, Logan, being bisexual these days is very hard since monosexuals tend to presume our choice of relationship partner equates to our true sexual preferences, little realizing that one can be in an exclusive relationship with a member of one gender and still feel attraction to individuals of the opposite gender..." -- unless, of course, it's followed by "Where the hell did I leave that ball gag?"
The acknowledgement could be something as simple as "Hey, Summers, check out the rack on that one!" "What is with you and high school girls?" "High school? She's twenty, easy!" "Yeah, you hope she's easy.." "Awww, shut up...you know I love you." Or Scott and Logan helping each other deal with a year of firsts after losing Jean Grey -- first Christmas, first New Years, Jean's birthday, things like that. Just so that there's something that shows that their bisexuality means more than just "used to sleep with girls."
Of course, even if the fic in question does treat bisexuality respectfully, there's still the problem of how to classify it once it's ready to post. Is a fic about Cyclops and Wolverine building a relationship together while dealing with their grief over Jean Grey het because it's about their past m/f relationship or is it slash since it deals with a current m/m relationship?
If it were me, or at least the 'me' I was a week ago before I started this essay, I'd likely label the story slash for the current relationship and make mention of the past m/f relationship in the summary and my author's notes. A friend of mine says she labels fics 'slash' and 'het', depending on the fic's pairing, and presumes that readers will clue in to the fact that the character(s) are bisexual since they're beng shown with partners of both genders.
While I think this type of labeling (or perhaps lack of labeling) can work and work well, I also wonder if maybe there shouldn't be a label for bisexual characters and/or stories? On the plus side, a label would make these stories more visible and easier to find. Sure, chances are there wouldn't be many of these stories and the overall effect would be like throwing a handful of blue M&Ms into a popcorn bowl full of red and yellow ones, but those blues would still stand out. I'd know they were there and it would be nice [7]
The label would work just like 'het' or 'slash' do now, in that it could be used to describe fics ranging from G-rated hand-holding up through triple X-rated PWP. It'd be voluntary, just like any other label is and could be used in addition to 'het' or 'slash' or even as a modifier for a character to indicate that one half of a pairing is bi (Bi!Cyclops).
As for the downsides, well, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that if a 'bi' label were adopted and caught on, it would be misapplied left, right and center. Or, more correctly, it would be applied to the types of fics that would make me crazy because they'd reinforce bi-phobic stereotypes and clichés. But to be fair, slash and het are applied to stories that reinforce homophobic and sexist stereotypes respectively. A bi label, just like slash or het, would be a mark of content rather than quality.
Another problem is that the label might not be accepted or even widely used, meaning it would be about as useless as no label at all.
Hell, even after working in this essay for over a week, I'm still not 100% sure we absolutely need a label. Part of me wonders if a recognition that 'het' and 'slash' apply to acts rather than preferences would serve instead of a label -- though another part of me balks at this since a person or a character still bisexual no matter who they're sleeping with or not sleeping with. If I write Cyclops as bi, he's still bi regardless of whether he's with Logan or Jean Grey or is living a celibate life in order to avoid racking up any more kids from alternate dimensions.
This isn't a simple issue -- if it was, this essay wouldn't have taken me over a week to write -- but I think one of the ways for bisexuality to become more visible is for those who write bisexual characters to make those stories easier to spot. Because it would be nice to see more blue M&Ms.
-------------------
NOTES:
[1] Source: Ye Olde Jolly Jolly Anal-Retentive General Fandom and Fanfiction Glossary
[2] Source: Ms. Nitpicker's Fanfic Glossary:
[3] Source: Glossary of Fan Fiction Terms @ Wikipedia
[4] Bi-phobic stereotypes taken from "Some classic elements of bi-prejudice" and "7 popular myths of bisexuality countered &/or analysed", both by Jennifer Moore. Her site, Jennifer's Bisexuality Index Page is full of other resources as well.
[5] alixtii's article was written in response to trobadora's article ( Monosexuals, this one's for you), which was itself written in response to chasingtides' article, Biphobia: It's What's For Dinner.
[6] Actually, he didn't quite say it quite like that -- you can read more
here: Chekhov's Gun @ Wikipedia
[7] Once again, I’m speaking about bisexuality, but I honestly believe that this idea can and should apply to other sexualities. There’s no reason not to add more colors of M&Ms to the bowl.
----
X-posted to Dunmurderin @ InsaneJournal.com