Bisexual Representation: The Best in Media

Happy Pride Month! As a proud bisexual woman, I’m always excited when I see bisexual representation in media. Whether it’s film and TV or music, it’s so incredible to feel seen. There are some pretty awful representations out there, but today we’re focusing on the ones that make bisexual people feel good.

The moment I had access to film, tv, and music, I was hooked. Not even necessarily into queer media, but just being able to engross so many incredible pieces of work. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realised how much so many characters were important to me in accepting who I am. My hope is that media continues to grow to give young queer kids like me a place to feel seen.

Bisexual Films

Love Lies Bleeding

Bringing Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian together on our screens, Love Lies Bleeding is the epitome of ‘be gay, do crime’. Katy plays Jackie, a bisexual body builder, who forms a relationship with Kristen’s character Lou. It’s a refreshingly chaotic story of messy and complicated love, reflecting a lot of real-world queer love.

Crush

For a little more of a lighthearted bisexual vibe, Crush was such a fun watch for me. It stars Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho, two openly queer actors, Auli’i’s character, AJ, is a bisexual girl who falls in love with lead character Paige. This film is such an insight into the confusion young queer love and falling in love for the first time.

Bisexual Characters in Television

Feel Good

I remember watching Feel Good during lockdown when it first came out. Watching Mae and George’s relationship evolve as they both navigate their sexualities was incredible. The story, a semi-autobiographical telling of Mae Martin’s life, is told in such a beautiful way. It explores both of their sexualities within their own right, never taking away from one another.

Grey’s Anatomy

I grew up loving Grey’s Anatomy. As soon as Callie was introduced, she became my favourite character (long before she came out as bisexual). Her story of coming to terms with her bisexuality and battling with homophobic parents is so realistic to the lives many queer people live. Callie was the first character in television I saw who really embraces her sexuality and is proud of it.

Only Murders in the Building

Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building has quickly become one of my favourite things Selena Gomez has starred in. For true crime lovers, this show is insanely perfect. Selena’s character, Mabel, is introduced as the cool and ambiguous tech-savvy woman who quickly becomes close to her older male neighbours. In season 2, Mabel develops a relationship with Alice and the writer’s made it clear she’s bisexual.

Sex Education

In every sense of the word, Sex Education is an incredibly freeing and expressive series. Each character has their own coming of age story, be it sexuality or other teenage battles. There are so many characters in this show that moved me, but Adam’s story with being bisexual hit most. It approaches a man’s experience of sexuality where masculinity feels overpowering in his life. The way many viewers didn’t immediately clock he was bisexual was a real wake up call, highlighting how we stereotype people.

Heartstopper

Bringing Alice Oseman’s comic books to life, Heartstopper tells a story of two teenage boys as they fall in love. Charlie is an openly gay character, whereas Nick is initially seen as a straight guy Charlie has a crush on. As their relationship develops, Nick ends up coming out to his family and friends as bisexual. The relationship between these two feels like such a fresh perspective on young love, yet still highlights the endless struggle queer people experience.

Teen Wolf

Anyone who knew teenage me knew that Teen Wolf was my entire being. I love that show like it’s my own child (wish I was joking). Teen Wolf featured quite a few LGBTQ+ characters. We spent the majority of the TV show believing that Jackson was your stereotypical straight jock. That was, until season 6 where it was revealed that Jackson was in a relationship with another male character. I, again, just really loved this retaliation against how we stereotype and think we can just guess someone’s sexuality by looking at them.

Bisexual Music

Halsey

I’ve loved Halsey since Room 93. I grew up loving her music, always feeling like it was so personal to me. Halsey’s openness about being bisexual was, and still is, so inspiring. They paved the way for a lot of young queer people of our generation to embrace who they are. Many songs in their discography touch on bisexuality, including Bad at Love and Strangers.

Dove Cameron

Although Dove has recently come out saying she prefers the label ‘queer’, the music she’s released about being attracted to other genders is incredible. Her songs Boyfriend and Lethal Woman openly highlight her sexuality. She’s taken a bold approach, not caring what happens to her old Disney image. Talking about her music video for We Belong, Dove said; ‘I think that’s really beautiful, speaking as someone who is bi. I didn’t want my art and my visuals to only reflect heterosexual couples’.

There are more upcoming articles about queer media, but in the meantime, you can read this article about lesbian representation in television: