A qualitative interview study of bisexual people’s lived experiences of intimate relationships

Objectives: The aim of this research was to explore bisexual people’s lived experiences of intimate relationships. Research has identified a number of negative perceptions of bisexual people, many of which relate to relationship practices. We were particularly interested in how bisexual people build, maintain, and negotiate their identities and relationships within this context of biphobia and bisexual marginalisation. Design and methods: Bisexual voices are largely silent in existing research, and qualitative interviews were ideally suited to generate diverse and in-depth narratives of bisexual people’s lived experiences of bisexuality and relationships. Twenty participants, who self-identified as bisexual and in a relationship(s), were recruited through a variety of sampling strategies. Thematic analysis was chosen to identify patterns in the data. Results: These participants discussed how bisexual people are (mis)understood by others as unstable individuals who make unreliable partners. They made cautious attempts to reposition bisexual identities as having liberatory potential by celebrating the romantic and cultural possibilities of bisexuality. While many participants positioned their partners as (at least partially) supportive of their bisexuality, they also emphasised the potential for their bisexuality to disappear within their relationships. In response, they engaged in various strategies to maintain an ongoing sense of bisexual identity. Conclusions: This study offers new knowledge about the (lack of) visibility or validity for bisexual people within and beyond their intimate relationships. We conclude by discussing the implications of our study in terms of supporting the wellbeing of bisexual people.