I'm gay, therefore I'm only sexually attracted to men. Someone who is straight is only attracted to the opposite sex. Bisexuals are attracted to both sexes. That sounds pretty obvious and grossly over simplified, especially if you're reading my blog, yet bisexuality remains heavily stigmatized and proves to be a liminal identity.
We've all heard of sexual orientation as being a spectrum, yet it remains a binary of heterosexual and homosexual. Those in the middle, bisexuals only for this example, are delegitimized and discounted as being closeted homosexuals. Its a fair to posit that women have a bit more freedom with bisexuality, yet men don't. Why? Masculinity, in one word. Possibly one of the worst things to happen to our society, haha just kidding!
Hegemonic masculinity is an exclusive club of men where admission is dependent on one's adherence to masculine norms including compulsive heterosexuality, machismo, and partaking in other typical masculine activities. The problem then for male bisexuality is it breaks the compulsive heterosexuality requirement--he has sex with men! But, bisexuality has a foot on both sides of the line with attractions to both sexes which challenge the tenets of hegemonic masculinity threatening to further destabilize the already crumbling pillar of hegemonic masculine male heterosexuality.
When men are threatened they're socialized to protect themselves and others from the perceived threat. Here lies part of the root of homophobia and heterosexism, the gender and sexually variant become stigmatized, discriminated upon, oppressed, and in many cases at risk of physical assault. All of this because some men feel threatened. All of this because some men are insecure in their sexuality.
This form of masculinity is only one aspect of a much larger constellation of gender and sexuality interactions responsible for the stigmatization and oppression of women, bisexuals, homosexuals, and queers.
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