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Bisexual people are often interpreted through the relationship other people can see.
If you are with a different-gender partner, people may assume you are straight. If you are with a same-gender partner, they may assume you are gay or lesbian. Sometimes the relationship is even treated as proof that bisexuality was only a phase or that you eventually “picked a side.”
That can create an unusual kind of invisibility. You may be completely clear about your own orientation while repeatedly being placed into a simpler category by other people.
Correcting those assumptions can feel affirming, but having to do it repeatedly can also become exhausting. Sometimes privacy, safety, or simply conserving your energy matters more than correcting someone.
What has it been like when people assumed you were straight, gay, or lesbian because of your current or previous relationship?
Do you usually correct the assumption, let it go, or decide depending on the situation? Has being perceived one way affected whether you feel welcome in straight or LGBTQ+ spaces?
Share only what feels comfortable. You do not need to identify a partner or disclose private relationship or sexual details.