Media Shapes Love and Identity
Stories are powerful. The films we watch, the TV shows we binge, and the books we keep on our shelves do more than entertain us—they shape how we think about love, relationships, and even our own identities. For bisexual people, however, these cultural mirrors have not always been kind.
Despite being one of the largest segments within the LGBTQ+ community, bisexual people are often misrepresented, stereotyped, or erased altogether in mainstream media. This lack of authentic storytelling does more than harm reputations; it impacts how bisexual individuals are perceived in dating and relationships. If love stories in media matter—and they do—then bisexuals deserve better, more accurate, and more respectful portrayals.
Common Tropes of Bisexual Characters in Media
For decades, bisexual characters have been pigeonholed into narrow and often damaging archetypes:
- The Promiscuous Bisexual: Frequently shown as unable to commit, always chasing desire, or willing to betray partners. This trope reinforces the stereotype that bisexual people cannot be faithful in relationships.
- The Deceptive Bisexual: Sometimes bisexual characters are painted as liars or tricksters whose attraction to more than one gender makes them “untrustworthy.” This trope fuels suspicion in real-life dating scenarios.
- The Phase Trope: Media has often implied that bisexuality is a temporary stop on the way to being “fully gay” or “fully straight.” By presenting bisexuality as confusion, these stories delegitimize a valid identity.
These portrayals are not harmless. They embed themselves into cultural consciousness, influencing how audiences view bisexuality in everyday life—including the world of dating and love.
The Impact of Tropes on Real-Life Dating Perceptions
What appears on screens doesn’t stay there. When bisexuality is constantly portrayed through tropes, those ideas seep into dating culture.
For example, the “promiscuous bisexual” stereotype often translates into real-world mistrust. Partners may assume that a bisexual person is more likely to cheat, even though studies show that infidelity rates are not tied to sexual orientation. Similarly, the “phase trope” can lead potential partners to dismiss bisexual individuals as people who “haven’t figured themselves out yet,” making serious relationships harder to establish.
These perceptions can cause real harm. Many bisexual people report anxiety about coming out to partners, fearing rejection or unfair judgment. Others face ongoing pressure to “prove” their loyalty or “choose a side.” When stereotypes dictate how bisexuals are treated in relationships, love becomes burdened by suspicion instead of built on trust.
Erasure and the “Invisible” Bisexual in Love Stories
Sometimes the issue isn’t negative portrayal—it’s complete erasure. In countless films, novels, or series, characters who could be bisexual are simply labeled as either gay or straight, depending on their current partner. Their bisexuality disappears, leaving viewers with a binary that doesn’t reflect reality.
This invisibility is damaging. For bisexual audiences, it means fewer role models and fewer love stories that resemble their own lives. When bisexuality is erased, it suggests that bisexual people’s relationships don’t count, or that their identity is conditional on who they’re dating at the time.
Erasure also reinforces the misconception that bisexuality doesn’t exist as a stable identity. This message can leave bisexual people feeling isolated, as though they are the only ones living with an experience that the culture refuses to acknowledge.
Positive Shifts: Growing Representation in TV, Film, and Books
Thankfully, representation is changing. Over the last decade, there has been a growing movement toward more nuanced depictions of bisexuality. Some TV shows and novels have introduced characters who openly identify as bisexual and whose storylines are not reduced to stereotypes.
For example, when a character explicitly names their bisexuality and is allowed to pursue meaningful, complex relationships, it validates bisexual viewers who see their experiences reflected on screen. Musicians, actors, and public figures who identify as bisexual also contribute to this visibility, challenging outdated assumptions and showing the diversity of bisexual love.
These shifts matter because they help dismantle old stereotypes and replace them with narratives that reflect real lives. The more audiences see bisexual people in committed, respectful, and authentic relationships, the harder it becomes for harmful tropes to dominate cultural imagination.
The Need for Better Bisexual Love Stories
Despite progress, the need for better bisexual love stories remains urgent. Good storytelling has the power to reshape perception, challenge bias, and open doors for empathy. For bisexuals, that means narratives that go beyond sexualization or confusion and instead highlight love, vulnerability, and commitment.
Strong bisexual love stories can normalize the idea that bisexual people can—and do—have healthy, stable, and fulfilling relationships. They can highlight diversity: some may be monogamous, others polyamorous, some long-term, others brief but meaningful. The point is not to fit bisexuality into one mold, but to represent its richness.
When creators take responsibility to tell these stories with respect and honesty, they help counteract decades of erasure and stereotyping. Better representation is not just an artistic choice; it’s a cultural necessity.
From Screen to Reality: How Representation Affects Dating Culture
Representation doesn’t just influence how bisexual people see themselves—it shapes how others interact with them. Dating apps, social media, and even casual conversations often mirror the narratives people have absorbed through pop culture.
If media constantly frames bisexuality as unstable, those biases can show up in dating profiles, conversations, and partner expectations. Conversely, when bisexual characters are shown in loving, trusting, and enduring relationships, it becomes easier for people to accept and trust bisexual partners in real life.
The ripple effect is clear: better stories create better perceptions, which in turn foster healthier dating environments. Cultural narratives are not just entertainment—they are blueprints for behavior.
Building a Future of Inclusive Love Stories
The responsibility for change lies with multiple groups: creators, audiences, and communities. Writers, filmmakers, and producers can commit to portraying bisexual love with nuance and respect. Audiences can demand better representation by supporting inclusive content and calling out harmful tropes. Communities—both online and offline—can amplify bisexual voices, ensuring that stories come from those who live them.
Ultimately, bisexual people deserve love stories that affirm, not diminish. By challenging harmful tropes and embracing authentic narratives, we move toward a cultural landscape where bisexuality is seen as what it truly is: a valid, stable, and beautiful identity.
Inclusive love stories do more than entertain; they change hearts and minds. And for bisexual individuals navigating dating and relationships, that change could mean the difference between suspicion and trust, invisibility and recognition, stereotype and truth.
Conclusion
Media shapes the way we love, and for too long, bisexual people have been shortchanged by harmful tropes and erasure. While progress is being made, the journey toward fair and accurate representation is far from over.
Better bisexual love stories are not just about fairness in art—they are about dignity in life. They allow bisexual individuals to see themselves reflected honestly, give partners better tools to understand and respect them, and create a culture where bisexual love is not doubted but celebrated.
The future of storytelling holds the power to change reality. And for bisexuals everywhere, that future can’t come soon enough.