Trans

Sexuality:
BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories'
JosephineHO
I98I
Ed.D.I99?
Ph.D.I988
?OOI
CenterfortheStudyofSexualities

I994I994I996
I998I998
?OOo

It is a fundamental of taxonomy that nature rarely

deals with discrete categories. Only the human mind

invents categories and tries to force facts into separ-
ated pigeonholes Kinseyet.al.639).
ThetrajectoryofbisexualityasanidentityandamovementintheAnglo
Americanworldhadbeencloselyentangledinthetensionfilledinterminglingof

gender/sexualitymovementsandculturalresignificationsintheturbulentyears

betweenthe1960sandthe1990s.Assuch,bisexualformationsaffordanopportunityto

observehowgender/sexualcategories,andstrugglesagainstsuchcategorization,could
ifonlyunwittinglyinthelattercase)producesomecomplicatedeffectsthatundermine

theoriginalactivistobjectivetobuildaworldofinclusionandopenness.Thecontempo-
raryhistoryofbisexualityfurthercautionsagainstasuperficialandoversimplified

inclusionarypoliticsthatmaypolitelyacknowledgetherightfulexistenceofmarginal

subjectswhileleavingintactthegender/sexualityassumptionsthatconstitutepreju-
dicedcategorizationagainstthesubjectsinthefirstplace.Fortheinimicaleffectof

gender/sexualcategorizationliesnotonlyinitsrefusaltoacknowledgesubjectswhose

gender/sexualitymaybeintermediate,ambiguous,indeterminate,orunrecognizable.
Evenwhennewlyemergedsubjectivitieshaveforcedtheirwayuntothescenewiththe
I
JosephineHo
helpofdramaticsocialchangeandmovementactivism,thenewlyexoneratedcategories

arealwaysalreadyimbricatedbyawidearrayofexistinggender/sexualityprejudices

which,ifnotconsciouslyresisted,wouldcontinuetopoisonthealliance.Afterall,
gendercategoriesandidentitiesarenotonlydeeplyimplicatedinthewaysinwhich

individualsexperienceandpresentthemselves,butarelikewisedeeplyengrainedinthe

waysinwhichindividualssexualitiesareunderstoodandevaluated.Consideringthe

sexnegativitythatstillsurroundsus,thepathtogender/sexualityunderstandingis

boundtobelinedwithnumerousungroundedassumptionsifnotageoldprejudices.In

thepresentpaper,Ihopetotracetheemergenceofthesubjectpositionofbisexualityin

theAngloAmericancontextandinvestigatehowthissupposedlysexualcategoryis

infestedwithgender/sexualprejudicesinallitssocialinteractions,totheextentthatthe

dynamicandpowerassumptionsofcategoriesareconstantlyinvokedandapplied

wheneverthepresenceofthetranssexualbetterknownasthebisexual)ortrans
gendersubjectisfelt.
I

Whilebothhomosexualbehaviorandbisexualbehaviorhadbeenreportedbythe

Kinseyreportsinthe1940s& 1950sastooccupyquitesignificantpercentagesinthe

generalpopulationofAmerica,thepracticeofbisexualitycuriouslydidnotarouseany

attentionorfollowupresearch,incontrastwiththestringofresearchesthatimmediate-
lyfolloweduponthetopicofhomosexuality.Itwasnotuntilthe1960sand1970swhen

ageneralliberalizationofsexualmorespreparedfertilegroundfortheemergenceofa

widevarietyofsexualsubjectivitiesthatbisexualitybecameincreasinglyvisible.This

visibility,ashistorywouldhaveit,wasconstitutedbyamixtureofculturalsignifica-
tionsaswellasmovementactivism.
Predecessorsofthebisexualmovement,mostnotablytheSexualFreedomLeague,
hadsurfacedinthesexuallyliberatinglate1960swithmemberscloselyconnectedto

heterosexualswingercommunitiesandeventheSanFranciscoS/M community,who

wereexperimentingwithbisexualinteractions'atthetimeinordertochallenge

existingsexualassumptionsandrestrictionsDonaldson32;Tucker,BayAreaBisex-
ualHistory4849).Eventheearlygayliberationmovementwasoncesaidtobeso

inclusiveastoadvocatesexualfreedomandthepotentialforpeopletobesexualwith

bothgenders,thusleavingquiteabitofroom forbisexualbehaviorwithinthegay

movementPaul27).'Gaysandlesbianswhomaintainedrelationshipswithopposite
sexpartnersesp.spouses)wererarelysingledoutorcriticized,foritwasgenerally

understoodasanecessity,awaytosurviveintheheterosexualworld,andidentity

politicshadnotyetmadeexclusionarypracticespopular.Therewaslikewiselittleneed

forthesubjectpositionofbisexualtobehighlightedorpoliticized.Itwasinfactthe

mediahypeof1974thathelpedmakebiintoastylish,chic,andtrendyterm,'
attractingnumerousmodels,celebrities,actresses,popmusicians,andavantgarde

JosephineHo TransSexuality:BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories
?
artiststotelltheirindividualstoriesofbisexualityasaproclamationofanadventurous

personalityoranextraordinarylifestyle. Theglamourofsuchvisibilitydidnot,
though,necessarilytransferuntotheordinarybisexuals;infact,tobisexualactivists,the

confirmationofbisexualityasanormalform ofhumanbehaviorbycontemporary

scholarssuchasKateMillettandMargaretMeadwasmuchmorebeneficialand

affirmingDonaldson3941).
Asgender/sexualityorientedliberationmovementsgrewandbacklashesembodied

inseveralimportantsetbacks'followedinthesecondhalfofthe1970s,theurgentneed

tovalidatemarginalidentitiesandlivesmadeessentialisticandexclusionarynotionsof

identityincreasinglyappealingandpowerful.Tangentically,transgender/sexualsub-
jectsfounditincreasinglydifficulttomaneuvertheircomplicatedanddiversegender/
sexualitybelonging.Or,toputitdifferently,thefluctuatingortransgressingdesiresand

identitiesoftransandbisubjectsbecameincreasinglyincompatiblewiththosemove-
mentsthatemphasizedsingletrackidentityandloyalty.Bisexualactivistswhosuffer-
edfromsuchessentialismandexclusionwerestillquiteunderstandingofsuchemotional

fixationsonidentity,forwhenpeoplehavegonethroughpainandsoulsearchingto

reachtheiridentities,whichprovidethemwithasenseofunity,asociallocation,anda

politicalcommitment;toseethoseidentitiesfluctuatewouldbeunnerving,andwould

threatenthemeaningoftheirpersonalhistoriesUdisKessler,Bisexualityinan

EssentialistWorld58).Still,asexpected,theessentialistictendencyoftentookthe

formofexclusionarypractices,asbisexualactivistsoftheOffPinkCollectiveinUK

observed:
theGayandlesbianmovementinthe1960sand1970semergedinthecounter

cultureasaninclusivemovementforsexualliberation,buthasgonethrough

aseriesofnarrowing,firstsplittingupgaymenandlesbians,reservingthe

termgayonlytomen,andthenfurtherdelimitingthedefinitionofgaytothat

ofnegativelyexcludinganddenouncinganyheterosexualattractionor

encounter.Rose6)
-
Thisnarrowingtendencywaspromptedmostprofoundlybyahistoricallyinduced

andunfortunateequationofsexualorientationwithpoliticalstance.'Anditisherethat

existinggender/sexualityprejudicesproduceddifferentialeffectsamongthelesbianand

gaycommunities.Asthewomensmovementinthe1970sgraduallyturnedlesbianism

intoapoliticalorintellectualconceptHollibaughandMoraga252),womenspoliti-
calcommitmentcametobeunderstoodasencompassingasexualdesireforwomenthat

implicatesnothinginrelationtomen.OneoftheunfortunatefalloutsofAdrienne

Richsinfluentialessayoncompulsoryheterosexualitywastoeliminateheterosex-
ualityasaviablechoiceforwomenseroticfulfillment.For,asacompulsoryact,
heterosexualintercoursecametobeseenasasuspiciousactofcollusionwithpatriar-
chalheterosexuality,andsleepingwiththeenemywasadoptedasagraphicdescrip-
tionforsuchcollaboration.Alongasimilarlineofthinking,TiGraceAtkinsonsphrase
Feminism isatheory;lesbianism isapracticewassaidtohavebeennarrowedto
?OO4
o
Feminismisthe theory,lesbianismisthe practiceUdisKessler,Identity/Politics
18).Aslesbianismbecametheonlyviablesexualidentityforfeminism,thepolitical

aspectoflesbianidentitycametobe,forsomewomen,evenmoreimportantthanits

valueasadescriptionoftheiraffectionaloreroticpreferencesOchs229).Consequent-
ly,lesbianidentityasaneroticallychargedsubjectpositionwasbeingbanishedoutof

sight,nottomentiontheidentityofbisexualwomenwhodaredtoinsistonadouble

relationshipwithbothwomenandmen:Attheendofthe1970s,ratherthanbeinga

womenlovingwoman,alesbianwasawomanwhodidnotsleepwithmenUdis
Kessler,Identity/Politics23).
Significantly,whilebisexualwomeninthelesbiancampweredenouncedasoppor-
tunistictraitors,gaymenasacommunitydidnotseem tofeelthesamestrengthof

resentmentorsenseofbetrayalaslesbiansdidtowardthebisexualsamongthemeven

attheheightofidentitypolitics.RobynOchshasnotedthatduetothepowerdynamics

associatedwithasexistsociety,theaccusationofsleepingwiththeenemydidnot

seemtocarrythesameconnotationofsurrenderordisdainfulnessforgaymenasfor

lesbianwomen231).Inthegaycamp,bimen,reappropriatedasgay,eitherceased

toexistasaseparateandseparablecategory,orelsewereputdownascloseted,self
hating,orselfignorantmenwhowerereallygayifonlytheyhadthecouragetosay

soGarber26).Inotherwords,bisexualitywasconsideredanactofbetrayalinthe

lesbiancampbut,andnotwithoutgenderconnotations,anactofcowardiceinthegay

camp. Bisexualityamonggaysandlesbianswereperceivedquitedifferentlyalso

becauseofanotherimportantgender/sexualityassumption:undertheinfluenceofwhat

TeresadeLauretistermedthebeliefofhomm)osexualityfromtherootwordhommo,
meaningmale),thepurposeofallsextendedtobeseenasmalegratification,and

womenwereneverconsideredagentsofsexuality.'Consequently,bisexualgayswere

believedtohavethebestofbothheterosexualandhomosexual)worlds,butbisexual

lesbiansweresaidtobesacrificingtheirlesbianloverssoastohelpthemselvesplayinto

thehandsofmen.''Aspoliticalinfightingspreadamongthehomosexualcommunities,
lesbianandgayidentifiedbisexualsweregraduallyrealizingwhatshiftsinthesocial

institutions,psychiclives,andsystemsofmeaningwithinthelesbianandgaycommu-
nitiesmadeouridentityandourmovementnotonlypossiblebutnecessaryUdis
Kessler,Identity/Politics18),thusthepoliticizationofthebisexualidentity.'
II

Theinvalidationordenunciationofbisexualsinthegayandlesbiancommunities

wasmuchmorethanapoliticalvendetta;infact,theresentinglabelsheapeduponthe

bisexualsreflectedamassiveemotionalforcebehindsuchindictments.Forthediscon-
tentdirectedatbisexualitywassignificantlyanddeeplyintertwinedwithothercultur-
allyinduced sexualdiscontentsagainstmultiple partners,againstpromiscuity,
againstsexualopenness,etc.Theoccasionalorhabitualpromiscuityofgayscouldbe
4
JosephineHo TransSexuality:BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories

relegatedtoadefectofindividualconduct,anacceptablereality;butthestructural

multiplicityofbisexuals,evenwhenitwasonlyapotentialinsteadofareality,was

beyondacceptance.Forthebiidentityitselfannouncedarejectionofonegender,one

sexualpartner,onechoice,onelovearejectionofallthatishighlytreasuredbya

monogamymindedculture.
Asidentitypoliticstransformedlesbianandgaypolitics,andasexclusionary

definitionsreplacedinclusionarypracticesinthegayandlesbianmovement,bisexuals

cametobecastasindiscriminate,diseaseridden,unwillingtocommit,promiscuous,
opportunistic,apolitical,cowardly,inaphase,anddeceitfulYoung53).Worse,they

werealsoreferredtoasfencesitters,traitors,copouts,closetcases,peoplewhose

primarygoalinlifeistoretainheterosexualprivilege,powerhungrycoldhearted

seducerswhouseanddiscardtheirsamesexloverslikesomanyKleenexUdis
Kessler,BisexualityinanEssentialistWorld51).''Thelabelsthemselvesbespokeof

aprofoundresentmentthatcouldnotbeadequatelyexplainedbymerepolitical

estrangement.Judgingfromtheprevalenceofsuchlabelsinthelesbiancommunityin

particular,theresentmentstemmednotonlyfromasenseofforlornbitternesstoward

occurrencesofpersonalerotic/emotionalinfidelity.Italsoreflectedapoignantrecogni-
tionoftheharshrealitiesofexistinggenderinequalityexpressedaslegitimateand
profitablepatriarchalheterosexualitythatmadeanypossibleinclusionofadifferent
genderobjectchoiceapredeterminedandinevitabletragedy.Whetherbisexualschose

toactupontheirbipotentialornot,themereinsistenceoftheirbisexualidentity

affirmedastructuralopennessthatpresagedanimminentthreatfortheirlovers.
Suspectedofdisloyaltyinpersonalrelationshipsandalienatedastraitorstothehomo-
sexualcause,itwaslittlewonderthatbisexualsfrequentlyexperiencedafeelingof

politicalandpersonalhomelessnessSchuster267).
Ifthegayandlesbiancommunitysufferedfromgender/sexualityassumptionsinits

evaluationofbisexualgaysandlesbians,theconfusionsandcomplexitiesinmaneuver-
ingpersonaleroticrelationshipsaswellasbisexualidentitieslikewisedidnotescapethe

impactofthesameassumptions.Justasothersexualminoritieswhohadtodowithout

socialandculturalsupport,bisexualsoftenhadgreatdifficultiesexplainingtheiriden-
titytotheirloversintheloomingmelancholyofpotentialinsincerity,promiscuity,and

infidelityallpoisonousfortheconstructionandmaintenanceofintimaterelationships

withinhighlymonogamymindedculture.Astrongsenseofguiltmightalsoresultfor

thebisexualbecausemainstream culturelookednegativelyuponindividualsofany

sexualorientation)whochosetoliveaseeminglypolyamorouslifestyle,exemplifiedby

manyofthemorallycondemninglabelsattachedtobisexuals.Inadditiontosuch

pressurefromasexnegativeculture,bisexuallesbiansandbisexualgayswhochoseto

takeactionontheirbisexualpotentialsmightalsobeseenasfulfillingthecultural

stereotypethatthebisexualsocialclimberwouldalwaysforsakehis/herloverofa

sexualminorityforanotherloverwhobelongedtomainstream heterosexuality.''Of

course,suchvaluationsreflectednothingofthesoulsearchingandpainfulstruggling

thatmanybisexualsubjectsthemselvesweregoingthrough,gropinginunchartered
5
?OO4
territorytounderstandtheirowninclusiveemotionsandinfatuationswithintherestric-
tivebinarysystemofgenderaswellastheequallyrestrictivemonogamoussystemof

sexuality.
Evenwithinthelesbiancommunityofthe1970sand1980s,gender/sexualitycolor-
ingexertedverydifferenteffectsonbisexuallesbianswithdifferentgenderimages.As

femininitycametoequaldesireformenwithinthelesbiancamp,andasfemmes

femininitycametobeseenbysomelesbiansastheembodimentofpatriarchaloppres-
sion,bisexualfemmeswereviewedinanevenmoreunfavorablelightthanbisexual

butches.Abutchmaybedoingitoutofamomentsweaknessorforsomeundisclosed

purpose,butafemmemustbedoingitbecauseshewasplottingtojiltherlesbianlover

andtothrow herselfintothearmsofmenatthemostopportunemoment. Little

attentionwaspaidtothefactthatthefemmecouldbeaggressivelyflirtingwith

dominantculturesinordertosecureherownlegibilityaslesbian,asqueer,asasubject

inherownrightHemmings95).Gender/Sexualityprejudicesseemedtohavealways

exacerbatedthetensionandcomplexitiesalreadypresentinindividualeroticrelation-
ships.
Itshouldbementionedherethatsomelesbiansinparticular,femmeshave

alwaysinsistedonkeepingamuchcloserandcomplicatedrelationshipwithbisexuality.
Inspiteofbeingsuspectedbytheirbutchesofharboringaheterosexualobjectchoice,''
manylesbianfemmesmaintainedastrongcommitmenttotheirbisexualinclinations

andinventedawidevarietyofnamestoexpresstheiridentifybothaslesbiansand

bisexuals,:bi dyke, bi lesbians, bi feminist, lesbianidentified bisexual, bisexual, bi af-
fectional, formerly lesbian bisexual, bisexual lesbian, and bisexual femmes.'Theinsis-
tencehasnotonlystriventokeeplesbiannessandbisexualityconnectedbutalso

maintainedthepossibilityofafeminismthatisbothsensitivetowardalternativeerotic

choicesandclearheadedinobjectchoices:
Thepluralityofnames,andthecombinationsused,areallattempts,inour

clumsyandwomanwordlesslanguage,tocreatethisidentity,tomake

ourselvesrecognizable.Toindicatethatwe,asfeministsandwomenwho

recognizetherealitiesofsexismandheterosexism,embraceourqueerness,
ourlesbianism,ourwomanloving,andalsoclaimandembraceouropenness

tomen.Weisexv)
III

Whatneedstobestressedisthattheopennessofbisexualityenvisionedhereisto

beunderstoodnotonlyasalongperceivedopennesstopossibleobjectchoices,''but

moreimportantlyasanopennesstotheunknownandundeterminedcoursesofdevelop-
mentforidentitiesaswellaseroticdesires.Anditisinthisreconceptualizationand

recharacterizationofbisexualitythatrecenttheoristsandactivistsattempttotackle
6
JosephineHo TransSexuality:BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories

someoftheaforementionedgender/sexualityassumptionsandprejudicesattheirroot.
Sexologistswhohadbeenquiteunhappyaboutdescribingbisexualitywithauni
dimensionaldefinitionbasedmerelyongenitalorientedobjectchoicehavelongprefer-
redamorecomplicatedunderstandingofsexualorientation.TheKleinSexualOrienta-
tionGridKSOG),forone,recognizesthatpeoplessexualitymaychangeovertime.'
Furthermore,inreferencetothebisexualorientation,Kleinet.al.proclaim:sexual

orientationcannotbereducedtoabipolaroreventripolarprocess,butmustberecog-
nizedwithinadynamicandmultivariateframework64).Afterall,somepeoplemay

experiencetheirsexualityasalifelongconstant,othersasaseriesofstages,someasa

choice,andmanyasaconstantflux.Andmoreoftenthannot,thebiologicalsexofthe

objectchoiceisnotthefinaldeterminingfactorinsexualorientation;awholehostof

otherfactorsinvolvedinadynamicrelationshipmustbetakenintoconsideration.Some

sexologistshaveevensuggestedthatthosewhostudybisexualitybegintheirresearchby

identifyingthesexualaim variationsinvolved,aswellasobservingthemodesof

emotionaleroticinteractionwithbothgendersHansen& Evans5).'' Inshort,an

individualssexualorientationiscomposedofsexualandnonsexualvariableswhich

differovertimeandmayincludespecialpreferencesinattraction,behavior,fantasy,
lifestyle,emotionalpreference,socialpreference,orselfidentificationKleinet.al.67
68).
Suchamorecomplicatedview towardbisexualityhasbeenconfirmedbythe

realitiesofmanybisexuallives.Bisexualconfessionalsoftentellofexperiencesin

learningaboutonessexualorientationonlyafteronehasgonethroughanumberof

erotictwistsandturnsinlife,offallinginandoutofloveandfallinginloveagainwith

peopleofvariedgender/sexaffiliations,ofaffirmingonesexualidentityonlytofind

othereroticimpulsesatvariancewiththatchosenidentity.Theeroticdiscoveryof

bisexualityisthefactthatitrevealssexualitytobeaprocessofgrowth,transformation,
andsurprise,notastableandknowablestateofbeingGarber66).Inherleadessay

forthevolumeCloserto Home: Bisexuality & Feminism 1992),RuthGibianproposes

thatitisbecauseourculturedefinessexualorientationintermsofsexualstasisin

termsoffindingatrueselfandatruelove)andsettlingtherethatitoftenencour-
agesaninvalidationofouremotionalhistoryandanerasureofconflictingfeelings,
paradoxes,andambiguities5),thusturningbisexuallivesintolivesbuiltuponnothing

butbadfaith.Gibianthuschallenges:If,inotherpartsofourlives,wedontstriveto

bestaticbeings,butvaluegrowth,developmentandchange,whyshouldoursexual

beingsbeanydifferent?4).Thefactofthematteris,manybisexualshavealready

demonstratedwiththefull,complex,andoftencontradictorystoriesoftheirlife

historiesthatsexualityisanarrative,notafixedlabelGarber74).
Thisunderstandingofbisexualformationsasfluidityandcomplexityreflectsthe

recenteffortsofbisexualsandtheoriststonavigatethepitfallsofidentitypolitics.
Whenoneoftheearliestbianthologies,Bi Any OtherName: Bisexual People Speak Out ,
waspublishedin1991,theeditors,LoraineHutchingsandLaniKaahumanu,had
7
?OO4
providedaglossarythatdefinedbisexualaspeoplewhohaveerotic,affectionate,
romanticfeelingsfor,fantasiesof,andexperienceswithwomenandmen,and/orwho

selfidentifyasbisexual369). WhentheOffPinkCollectivepublishedBisexual

Horizons: Politics, Histories, Lives in1996,bisexualityisnolongertobeunderstoodin

termsoftwo,becausevalidationofallofthecomponentsofsocial/sexualcomplex-
ityissaidtohavealreadybeengraduallyrecognizedJordan15).Onlyoneyearlater,
anothervolumeonbisexualityclearlystatesthattheimportantdividinglineisthat

bisexualitytranscendstherigidityofone,movingbeyondwhatMarjorieGarbers

referstoasmonosexualrestrictiveness18)andtowardmultiplicity:Movingacross

sexes,acrossgenders,acrosssexualities,binesswarmlyembracesmultipledesiresand

identificationswhilerepudiatingallmonosexualimperativesBristow225).Asthe

selfdefinitionofbisexualsmovesbeyondthetwogender/twosexsystem,amuchmore

complicatedvisionthatseemstoextendbeyondtraditionallyconceivedbisexuality

alsoemerges.NaomiTuckerclaims:Irelatebisexualitytoopenness.Itis,forme,a

willingnesstoacknowledgefeelings,despiteprevailingtaboos,andtobreakdownthe

prefabricatedbarriersthatourcultureinstillswithinusTucker,WhatsinaName
246).
Whenopennessandcomplexityagaincharacterizethebisexual,asitdidonce

beforeinthe1960s,otheroldconceptssuddenlyregainednewcurrency.Writingabout

bisexualityinthemid1990s,MarjorieGarberproclaims:Thisisthenewbisexuality,
whichistosay,theoldbisexualitybisexualityaseroticism,unpigeonholedsexual

identity,not bisexualityasthethirdchoicebetween,orbeyond,heteroorhomosex
Garber18).TheideasofFreudandMarcusearereturningwithanewvengeance.As

Garberputsit,itisexactlyinthepositiveimpulsetowardperverseness,theerotic

appealoftransgression,thedesirethatitselfcomesfrom crossingaboundarythat

bisexualitystructuresitsessentialbeing29).Assuch,thebisexualimperative,andits

challengetomainstreamnotionsofmonosexualityistoinsistuponcomplexity,to

insistuponthevalidityofallofthecomponentsofsocial/sexualcomplexity,toinsist

upontheequalvalidityofallthecomponentsofsocial/sexualcomplexityJordan15).
Suchanewandliberatedvisionofbisexualityhasalsotendedtohighlightthe

subversivepotentialofbisexuality.Atypicalexamplereads:
Bisexualityunsettlescertainties:straight,gay,lesbian.Ithasaffinities

withallofthese,andisdelimitedbynone.Itis,then,anidentitythatisalso

not anidentity,asignofthecertaintyofambiguity,thestabilityof

instability,acategorythatdefiesanddefeatscategorization.Garber70)
JoEadiehasevenproposedthatweembracetheideaofatacticalidentitysinceall

identities,attributes,personalitytraits,beliefsanddesiresarenegotiateddifferentlyin

differentconditions18).Inotherwords,anidentificationisanidentitythatwehold

untoonlywithinparticularcircumstances.Incasequestionsareraisedconcerningthe

utilityandvalidityofsuchanextremelyfluidnotionofidentity,advocatesassurethat
Theambiguousnatureofoursexualityneedntimplyanyambiguityinourpolitics
8
JosephineHo TransSexuality:BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories
Orlando230).Afterall,astheysay,wecanalwaysfollowKleinet.al.indistinguishing
betweensexual orientation theentirecomplexityandmultiplicityofourexperience,
includingattraction,behavior,fantasies,emotionalpreference,socialpreference)and

sexual identity thenamewegivetobestfitthatexperienceatanygiventime)Gibian

89).Afurtherdistinctionmayevenbesuggestedbetweensexualdesiresandsexual

relationshipssothatsubjectscouldvalidatetheirfeelingswhilealsovalidatethe

monogamousrelationshipthatisbeingmaintainedaslongasitlasts.
IV

Individuals should be allowed to navigate theirown

trails through the possibilities, complexities, and diffi

culties of life in postmodern times. Each strategy and

each set of categories has its capabilities, accomplish

ments, and drawbacks....Categories...are all imperfect,
historical, temporary, and arbitrary.... We use them to

construct meaningful lives, and they mold us into

historically specific forms of personhood. Rubin 477 )
-
-
Theemphasisonopennessandcomplexityinbisexualityismuchmorethana

simpletheoreticalfeat.Ithasfoundechoesinthelifestoriesofmanywhocannow

confessanddiscusstherealitiesoftheirdifferentlyconstructedsexuallivesrealities

thathavealwaysalreadytransgressedbeyondthehegemonic,exclusive,twogender
orientedsystem ofcomprehension.'Infact,withtherigidcompartmentalizationof

binarysystemsloosened,awidevarietyofalternativesexualencountersandexperi-
enceshavenowbecomeboththinkableandspeakable.
Themostnaughtyexamplemaybethenotsounusualintimaterelationsbetween

gaysorlesbianswithsomeoneoftheoppositesex.PatCalifiaoncerecountedwhenhe

wasstillalesbian,shehadstumbledintoperformingfistingforagayman.Shouldthis

eroticencounterbeconsideredheterosexualorhomosexual?ShouldCalifiabeconsid-
eredbisexual?Thequestionsaremeaningfulonlyifwelimitourselvestothinkingin

termsofthegenitals.For,asCalifiaiskeentonotice,Menathandballingpartiesdont

usuallycruiseeachothersdicks.Theycruiseeachothershandsandforearms184),
anditwasCalifiassmallhandsthatmadethegaymengranthertheopportunityto

learn.Genitalsarehardlythefirstortheonlyfactorthatmakesuperoticattractionor

arousalafterall.Califiaisalsounequivocalaboutthat:whenIturnontoamanits

becausehesharessomeaspectofmysexualitylikeS/M orfisting)thatturnsmeon

despite hisbiologicalsex185).Inotherwords,bisexualitybecomesamoottermwhen

sexualityisunderstoodbeyondgenitalterms.Inanotherexampleofthemutualdesire

andfascinationbetweenfamouslesbianJoanNestleandgaymanJohnPreston,thenon
genitalnatureofsuchaneroticdesirebetweenamanandawomanisbynomeans

heterosexualbututterlyqueerHemmings96).Perhaps,asGayleRubinreadsbutch
9
?OO4
andfemmeaswaysofcodingidentitiesandbehaviorsthatarebothconnectedtoand

distinctfromstandardsocietalrolesformenandwomen467),bisexualactsshould

alsobereadasbothconnectedanddistinctfromstandardgayandlesbianandheterosex-
ualroles.Andifwefollowthesamelineofinquiry,thentheseeminglyproblematic

lesbiandesireformasculinityinFTMsorfortransgenderedbutches,theseemingly

uncharacterizabledesireofapreopMTFforaneffeminategay,andmanyother

unconventionalcombinations,desiresthathavelongbeensubjectedtosuspicionand

questioning,wouldalsoacquiresomeroomforbreathing.
Assuchcasescontinuetosurfacewhenbravesoulschoosetovalidateandaffirm

theirfeelingsandexperiencesdespitesocialandsexualstigma,thecommunityof

marginalsexualitiesisonceagainremindedofitscomplacencyinregardtothelimits

ofgender/sexualitycategoriesandrelatedassumptionsandprejudices.Fortoview

theseunorthodoxrelationsasheterosexualorhomosexualwouldbeagrossmisrepre-
sentationofwhatwasgoingon.Andtodescribethesesubjectsasbisexualinthe

dimorphicsenseofthewordwouldbelikewiseanoversimplification.Gender/sexuality

categoriesaresimplyunabletoarrestthereallifesubjectsthataresaidtoinhabitthem;
norcouldsuchcategorizationcomprehendthecomplexdynamicsofgender/sexuality

formations.Justwhenyouthoughtanewcategoryhasbeeninstalledtoadequately

describeacertainkindofsubjectivity,acloserlookrevealsotherinnuendos:Some

butchesarepsychologicallyindistinguishablefrom femaletomaletranssexuals....The

boundariesbetweenthecategoriesofbutchandtranssexualarepermeableRubin473).
Andwhenagendersubjectdecidestoshiftcategories,thesameexactpersonfalls

utterlyoutoffavorovernight:Awomanwhohasbeenrespected,admired,andloved

asabutchmaysuddenlybedespised,rejected,andhoundedwhenshestartsasex

changeRubin475).'
Theseandmoreexampleslikethem havealreadydemonstratedtheimpactof

gender/sexualitycategoriesandtheirculturalloadingsuponmarginalsexualities,often

resultinginpainfulbickeringandestrangement.Astranssexuality,asexualitythat

transcendsandtransgressesthebiologyorientedcategorization,perhapsbisexuality

anditsramificationsmaybebetterservedifweadoptbisexualsexologistandactivist

DavidLoureasbroadvisionforbisexualityinthelastinterviewhegave:
Of course its not just about sex. Its about a way of being. Its about he

right forus to be different, the right forus to express who we are....The

political issues are fargreaterthan just oursexuality; they involve issues of

powerand dominance. They involve issues of misogyny...of class struggles...
Notes
I.ThispaperwasfirstreadattheFifthInternationalSuperSlimConferenceonPoliticsofGender/Sexuality

heldbytheCenterfortheStudyofSexualities,NationalCentralUniversity,December13,2003.Seehttp://
sex.ncu.edu.tw/conference/slim/slim5/5thSLIM.HTM
?.KinseyhadsaidinboththeMaleandFemalevolumesthatitwasimpossibletodeterminethenumberof
IO
JosephineHo TransSexuality:BisexualFormationsandtheLimitsofCategories

personswhowerehomosexualorheterosexual.Still,itwaspossibletodeterminesexualbehavioratany

giventime,andthereportlisted37% ofmaleshadatleastonesamesexexperiencetoorgasmKinseyet.
al.650).Incomparison,46% ofthemalessurveyedhadengagedinbisexualthatis,bothheterosexualand

homosexualactivitiesorreactedtopersonsofbothsexesinthecourseoftheiradultlives656).
o.Itislikelythatbeforebisexualitygotitsmediaboostandadefinitesocialimagein1974,peoplewerejust

experimentingwithandexploringallkindsofsexualpossibilitiesingrouporgieswithoutpinningitdown

tobisexuality.BisexualactivistDavidLourearecalledinaninterview:Ifyouwerelyingdownblindfolded

andanumberofpeopleweretouchingyou,youcouldnttellwhethertheyweremaleorfemale....Oh!Alight

bulbgoeson!Maybethereisntadifference?Tucker,BayAreaBisexualHistory48)Thatistosay,the

natureofthosesexualcontextshadmadegenderandstatusirrelevantforconsideration/satisfactionof

desire.
4.TheideaofbisexualitywasconsideredsoharmlesstothegaycrowdthatwhengayhistorianDennis

AltmanwroteHomosexual: Oppression and Liberation in1971,heevenoptimisticallypredictedthatagreater

acceptanceofhumansexualitywillreducethestigmaassociatedwithunorthodoxsexualitiesandspuran
increaseinovertbisexuality246).ItwasofcoursenotclearwhetherAltmanhadinmindmore

heterosexualmenfindinghomosexualsexacceptableandpalatable,ormoregaymenfindingheterosexual

sexacceptableandpalatable.
5.InthemonthofMay1974,twoleadingUSpopularmagazines,Newsweek andTime,concurredinfeaturing

bisexualityasthenewestchicwithsymptomatictitlessuchasBisexualChic:AnyoneGoesandTheNew

BisexualsGarber1819).
6.SandraBernhardtandDavidBowiewerethemostnotableexamples.MorerecentlistingincludesDrew

BarrymoreandAngelinaJolie.
7.TheRightsaggressiveoffensiveonabortionrightssincethemid1970s,AnitaBryants1977efforttoSave

theChildrenfrom therecruitmentofhomosexuality,andthestalloftheEqualRightsAmendments

ratificationprocessin1974weresomeofthemostprofoundcasesofsetbackcf.Seidman99).
8.UdisKessleralsocautionsthatsuchessentialistictendenciesmightchangebisexualityfromapotential
foreithertoarequirementforbothidentity,andthis,infact,iswhathappened.Thelorewhichdeveloped

describedbisexualsaspeoplewhocouldnotbesatisfiedwitheithersex,butwhohadtobeinvolvedwith

both,usuallyatthesametime.Bisexualsthenbecamestereotypedasswingerswhoeschewedcommitment

andwerepromiscuousbecausetherewasnootherwaytocategoricallydescribethebisexualdrivethat

paralleledthehomosexualorheterosexualdriveBisexualityinanEssentialisticWorld60).
9.Ironically,whilelesbiansnarrowedtheirselfdefinitiontoexcludeanycontactwithpatriarchyandits

heterosexuality,itwasalsoatthisexacthistoricalmomentthatthepredominantlyheterosexualwomens

organizationknownasNationalOrganizationofWomenNOW)begannarrowingitsdefinitionofwomen

ingeneralbydeclaringthatthelavendermenaceishinderingfeminismsefforttorecruitmorewomen

fromthegeneralpopulationOchs230).Theexorcismwassodeeplyfeltthatlesbianswhohadalready

experienceddiscriminationintheNewLeftattendedthe1970NOW conventionbywearingTshirtsthat

proudlyproclaimedtheirstigmatizedlabelLavenderMenace.ThiswasalsowhenRitaMaeBrownand

MarthaShelley,knownlesbians,weredrivenoutofthewomensmovementAdam97;Echols21315).
IO.TeresadeLauretis,SexualIndifferenceandLesbianRepression,Theatre Journal 4021980):15577
II.Suchaview,heavilyladenwithagenderonlypoweranalysesfrequentlyassociatedwithcultural

feminism,findsaninterestingparallelcharacterizationinJaniceRaymondsvendettaagainsttranssexuals.
I?.Thefirstbisexualgroupsthendevelopedinthe1970sinlargeU.S.cities.TheNationalBisexualLiberation

GroupwasoriginallyfoundedinNewYorkin1972andclaimedalargemembershipintheU.S.andabroad

by1975withitspublicationThe Bisexual Expression,probablytheearliestbinewsletter.NewYorkCitys

BiForumbeganin1975,SanFranciscoBayAreasBiCenteropeneditsdoorin1976,andChicagosBiWays

formedin1978
Io.Inresponse,awholearrayofnameshasbeendevelopedbybisexualstoresisttheweightofstigmaand
II
?OO4
todescribetheiridentityandexistence.SomeofthebiaffirmativebuttonsphotographedinBi Any Other

Name include:HappyBiNature,BiphobiaShield,BisexualandProudtobeLesbian,Unityisour

BiWord,BlatantlyBisexual,Bitheway,dontassumeImgay,SafeSexBiAllMeans,Bisexual

andProudtobeGay,Stop,thisisinsultingtobisexualpowerHutchins&Kaahumanu,214).WhenLiz

Naniawroteaboutthe1987NationalMarchonWashingtonforLesbianandGayRights,shewasalso

thrilledtofindglitterysignsproclaiming:WereNotFenceSitters,WereBridgeBuilders,Bisexualityis

aViableOption,andEqualOpportunityLover366).
I4.Ironically,inthelesbianworld,aproclamationofbeingbiisreadassurrenderingtoheterosexuality;yet

intheheterosexualworld,thesameproclamationofbeingbiisreadasarefusaltoabidebytheheterosexual

norm.DvoraZipkinonceretorteddefiantly:Bisexualitysays,evenifIamsleepingwithmen,donotassume

thatIamheterosexual,forIamgaytoo.I,too,live,affirmandvalidatealesbianlifestyle.Afterall,Imgay

too63).
I5.Manylesbianswhocameoutinthe1970satmosphereofpoliticalidentitiesturnedtowardheterosexuality

inthe1980s.Theywerebitterlyresentedandwereawardedthehatefultermsofhasbiansorexlesbians
Young7779).
I6.Incontrasttosucheffortstorecognizethecoexistenceofthelesbianandthebisexualinthesamesubject,
otherslabelshavebeenreadasdeliberateeffortstoavoidthebiword:gaymarriedmen,lesbianswho

sleepwithmen,heterodyke,heterosexuallymarriedgaymen,queerheterosex,heterosexualwomenwho

swingwithwomen,lesbianswithboytoys,lesbiansandgaymenwhosportsfuckwiththeoppositesex,
etc.Hutchins&Kaahumanu216)
I7.Alongwiththegayaffirmativeadoptionofthetermqueerasaninyourfaceselfdescriptionbygays,
lesbians,andothersexualminorities,theSanFranciscobasedbipublicationofAnything That Moves also

adoptsthenegativestereotype,anythingthatmoves,asalabelofselfpridein1991
I8.Astothechangesinsexualorientation,theymaycomeaboutbecauseofpersonalchoices,circumstance,
meetingaparticularpersonorpersons,or,simply,becauseofonesmostbasicsenseofselfZipkin62).
I9.FeministssuchasEstherNewtonandShirleyWaltonhavelikewiseexpressedtheirdiscontentwith

existingsexualvocabulary,claimingthatweneedatleastfourdifferentconceptstocommunicatewith

eachotheraboutsex:sexualpreference,eroticidentity,eroticrole,anderoticacts244248).Existing

sexualidentitiessuchasheterosexual,homosexual,orbisexualobviouslysayverylittlebeyondthebiologi-
calsexofapersonsobjectchoice.Infact,suchtermsreflectwhathasbeentermedthegenitalizationof

humansexualityDeCeccoxiii).
?O.NotalltheoristsofbisexualityareasupbeatasGarber.StaceyYoungcautionsthatweneedtorecognize

thatbisexualityisimbricatedinthehomo/heterobinarismthatstructurestherestofsocietyitdoesnot

transcendthatdichotomy,thoughitmayinsomecasesworktosubvertit.Ourtaskshouldbetointerrogate

thisimbricationwithaneyetohowitmightbetransformednottocircumventthatdifficultworkasifby

fiat69).GayleRubinhaslikewisecautionedagainstcrudelyequatingsexualorientationwithsexual

identitiesandpoliticalpositions480n).
?I.AndyPlumb,whosayshehasbeenabisexualtransvestite,aquadrisexual,amalelesbian,andan-
drogyne,aDontlabelme/postmodernsexualbeing,nowdescribeshimselfasaBiBiSexualdoingthe
transgenddance18).
??.GayleRubinsessayoncatamitesandkingsaptlydescribessuchawkwardness.
?o.Rubinfurtherobserves,Obnoxiousbehaviorthatwouldbetoleratedinabutchwilloftenbeconsidered

intolerableinanFTM.Likeothergroupsofstigmatizedindividuals,transsexualsareoftensubjectedto

particularlystringentstandardsofconduct482n).
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