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A bisexual character may be clearly attracted to more than one gender, yet audiences often describe them as straight, gay, or lesbian once they enter a relationship.
Sometimes the story itself contributes to this by no longer acknowledging bisexuality after the character chooses a partner. In other cases, fans, reviewers, or promotional material focus only on the current relationship and treat earlier attractions as confusion, experimentation, or a completed phase.
This can mirror what bisexual people experience in real life: being classified according to the person beside them rather than understood as having an orientation that continues regardless of relationship status.
A relationship can be important without redefining someone’s entire identity. At the same time, viewers may interpret fictional characters differently, especially when the writing leaves their identity unclear or avoids labels.
Have you seen a bisexual character treated as straight, gay, or lesbian after entering a relationship—and how did that affect the way their story felt to you?
Please discuss the writing and audience response without attacking other members for interpreting an ambiguous character differently.