List of media portrayals of bisexuality

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Bisexuality series
Orientation
Bisexuality · Pansexuality · Bi-curious · Questioning
Attitudes
Biphobia · Bisexual chic · Lesbian until graduation
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Category:LGBT
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The portrayal of bisexuality in the media reflects societal attitudes towards bisexuality.

Contents

[edit] Film

Title Release Year Bisexual Characters Notes
2by4 1998 Johnny
9 Songs 2004 Lisa
Alexander 2004 Alexander the Great Bisexuality presented as a social norm.
All Over Me 1997
Anatomy of Hell 2004 "The Man" Sexuality is fluid and symbolic
Art School Confidential 2006 Audrey
Auto Focus 2002 John Carpenter
Basic Instinct 1992 Catherine Tramell Tramell portrayed as insatiable, untrustworthy and homicidal
Bedrooms and Hallways 1998
Bi the Way 2008 Documentary on bisexuality in the US.
Les Biches 1968
Borstal Boy 2000 Sexuality portrayed as fluid, but can be socially problematic.
Brokeback Mountain 2005 Jack, Ennis Sexuality of both characters portrayed as fluid, though movie was primarily thought of as 'gay'.
Butley 1974 Butley Butley portrayed as an uncommitted, emotional failure.
Cabaret 1972 Brian, Max
Chasing Amy 1997 Alyssa Jones Sexuality portrayed as fluid, but can be socially problematic.
Crash (1996 film) 1996 James, Helen, Vaughan
The Color Purple 1985 Celie Bisexuality portrayed as a simple fact with no value judgments.
Confusion of Genders 2000 Alain Bauman
C.R.A.Z.Y. 2005 Zachary Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Dark Blue Almost Black 2007 Israel
Death in Venice 1971 Aschenbach Aschenbach is portrayed as a homosexual cripple and failure.
De-Lovely 2004 Cole Porter Sexuality portrayed as fluid
Dodgeball 2004 Kate Veatch While some male characters try to date her, others believe that she is a lesbian. Turns out to be bisexual, and gets together with main male character.
Dog Day Afternoon 1975 Sonny Sonny is portrayed realistically as a true bisexual.
Don't Tell Anyone 1998
Face to Face 1976 Bisexuality is portrayed as a symbol.
Femme Fatale 2002
The Fox 1967
French Twist 1995 Loli Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Frida 2002 Frida Kahlo Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Go Fish 1994 Daria Daria has sex with a man and on her way home is challenged by a "jury," who question whether a woman who has sex with a man can call herself a lesbian. She contrasts how a gay man who has sex with a woman is characterized as being "bored, drunk [or] lonely" but if a lesbian has sex with a man "her whole life choice becomes suspect."
Goldfinger 1964 Pussy Galore See notes under her character in literature.
Goldfish Memory 2003 Various Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Grande École 2004 Paul, Mécir Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Grindhouse 2007 Dr. Dakota Block
Henry & June 1990 Anaïs Nin, June Miller Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
High Art 1998 Syd
The History Boys 2006 Dakin Portrayed as aware and unconfused, in opposition to his homosexual contemporaries.
Imagine Me & You 2005 Rachel Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
In extremis 2000 Thomas, Vincent Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Kinsey 2004 Alfred Kinsey Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Kissing Jessica Stein 2001 Helen, Jessica Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Les temps qui changent 2004 Sami
The Libertine 2005 John Wilmot
Love Songs 2007
May 2002 May
Midnight Express 1978 Controversial, film replaces consensual affair between prisoners with a fictionalized rape.
My Own Private Idaho 1991 Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Nowhere 1997 Dark, Mel
The Pillow Book (film) 1996 Jerome
Piñero 2001 Miguel Piñero
Portrait of a Marriage 1990 Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Puccini for Beginners 2006 Grace, Allegra, Samantha Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
The Raspberry Reich 2004 Various Bisexuality is believed to be a necessary part of the 'revolution'.
Race You to the Bottom 2005 Nathan, Maggie Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Dr. Frank N. Furter, Rocky, Magenta, Columbia, Brad, Janet, Eddie Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Savage Nights 1992
The Sex Monster 1999 Laura
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills 1989
School of Flesh 1998 Quentin
Saturday Night at the Baths 1974
Score 1972 All characters Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Shortbus 2006 Sofia Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Sobreviviré (I Will Survive) 1999 Iñaqui
Something for Everyone 1970
Sunday Bloody Sunday 1971 Bob Elkin Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Swimming 2002 Josee
Relax...It's Just Sex 1997
Teorema 1968 The Visitor, Paolo Symbol, sexuality portrayed as fluid with no value judgments.
Three of Hearts 1993 Ellen
Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family 2004 Sam, Steven Documentary about a three-way bisexual relationship.
Torch Song Trilogy 1988 Ed
Transamerica 2005 Toby[1][2] Kevin Sexuality portrayed as fluid; pansexuality suggested
Velvet Goldmine 1998 Brian Slade, Mandy Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
The War Widow 1976 Amy Portrayed as bisexual, but seen as a lesbian.
Water Drops on Burning Rocks 2000 Leopold, Franz Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Women in Love 1969
Wild Side 2004 Djamel Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Ya lyublyu tebya (You I Love) 2004 Timofei Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Y tu mamá también 2001 Tenoch, Julio Sexuality portrayed as fluid but sometimes socially problematic.

[edit] Literature

Title Author Release Date Bisexual Characters Notes
Advise and Consent Allen Drury July 11, 1959
American Gods Neil Gaiman June 19, 2001 Sam
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis 1991 Paul Denton, Sean Bateman
Ancient Evenings Norman Mailer 1983
Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence Rebecca Walker 2007
Belle de Jour: diary of a London call girl Anonymous (Belle de Jour) 2006 Belle (Anonymous) Published blog [3]
Blonde Joyce Carol Oates 2000 Cass, Eddie Cass and Eddie are manipulative. Marlon Brando also appears, but his bisexuality is not made apparent.
Breakfast on Pluto Patrick McCabe 1998 Pussy
Bye-Bye Jane Ransom 1997 Rosie
The City and the Pillar Gore Vidal 1948 Bisexuality is portrayed as the most "natural" human state.
Claudine Novels Colette, under the name of her husband, Willy 1900, 1901, 1903
The Color Purple Alice Walker 1982
The Corrections Jonathan Franzen September 2001
Cry to Heaven Anne Rice 1982
The Dispossessed Ursula K. Le Guin 1974
Drawing Blood Poppy Z. Brite 1993 Zack Zack is portrayed as promiscuous, but able to commit.
Dusty Answer
The Fifth Sacred Thing Starhawk 1993
The Fox D. H. Lawrence 1923
The Front Runner Patricia Nell Warren 1974 Harlan Brown, Vince Matti Harlan is portrayed as homosexual, but he was formerly married to a woman; Vince identifies as gay, but still sleeps with women.
Goldfinger Ian Fleming 1959 Pussy Galore Portrayed as a lesbian until she falls in love with James Bond.
Giovanni's Room James Baldwin 1956 David Portrayed as vacillating, weak, and neurotic; Giovanni is portrayed as the villain and a killer.
Glamorama Bret Easton Ellis 1998 Victor Ward While outwardly homophobic refers to his past identification as bi and is easily seduced by Bobby Hughes. Sean Bateman from Rules also reappears.
How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theatre
"His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood" Poppy Z. Brite 1993
Just As I Am: A Novel E. Lynn Harris 1995
The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. Le Guin 1969
The Last of the Wine Mary Renault 1956
Less Than Zero Bret Easton Ellis 1985 Clay
The Lost Language of Cranes David Leavitt 1986
Lost Souls Poppy Z. Brite 1992 Zillah, Nothing Zillah is portrayed as sexually driven; Nothing is portrayed as young, lonely, and loving).
The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon
The Metaphysical Touch
Milk and Cookies
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh Michael Chabon April 1988
The Neanderthal Parallax Robert J. Sawyer 2002, 2003 All Neanderthals Neanderthals are all bisexual in the parallel universe.
Orlando: A Biography Virginia Woolf 1928
The Passion Jeanette Winterson 1987
The Persian Boy Mary Renault 1972
Portrait of a Marriage Nigel Nicolson 1973 Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson Based on the true story of Vita and Harold Nicolson, a bisexual couple.
Primal Tears Kelpie Wilson 2005 Sage is a half human, half bonobo.
The Rules of Attraction Bret Easton Ellis 1987 Paul, Sean, Victor Lauren Hynde has relationships with three bisexual men: the flamboyant Paul Denton, the unstable Sean Bateman and the vacuous Victor Johnson. Clay from Less Than Zero also appears.
The Sea Change
Son of a Witch Gregory Maguire 2005
Stranger in a Strange Land Robert A. Heinlein 1961 Valentine Michael Smith Smith is raised on Mars, a planet without gender.
Time Enough for Love Robert A. Heinlein June 1973 Bisexuality is portrayed as the norm.
Two for One--a novel about having choices
The Vesuvius Club/The Devil in Amber Mark Gatiss 2004/2006 Lucifer Box
While England Sleeps
"Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" Gregory Maguire 1995
Women in Love D. H. Lawrence 1920
Woman on the Edge of Time Marge Piercy 1976 In the Utopian future of Mattapoisett, people freely pick partners based on interpersonal compatibility above all other factors.
Young in One Another's Arms

[edit] Comic books

See also: List of gay, lesbian or bisexual comics characters
Title Bisexual Characters Notes
Anima
The Authority Swift, Jenny Sparks Prominent gay superheroes Apollo and Midnighter also feature.
Batman Poison Ivy Violent supervillain.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Buffy Summers Otherwise heterosexual Buffy Summers sleeps with Satsu [4]
Captain Marvel Marlo Chandler, Moondragon
Doom Patrol Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Hellblazer John Constantine Sexuality portrayed as trivial aspect of character.
Justice League Icemaiden
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Jekyll/Hyde
Lost Girls
Marvel 1602 Werner
Outsiders Grace Choi Long list of sexual conquests.
Secret Six Knockout Violent supervillain.
Spider-Man Electro, Black Cat Electro is a violent supervillain
Black Cat is a one-time love interest of Spider-Man.
Starman Mikaal Tomas Mikaal belongs to an alien race where sexuality is indiscriminate.
Strangers in Paradise Francine, Casey
Supergirl Blithe Sexuality portrayed as fluid but socially problematic.
Thunderbolts Andreas von Strucker, Skein Violent supervillains
Outed during separate runs.
X-Factor Jamie Madrox, Rictor Jamie's duplications occasionally exhibit alternative sexual desires.
Rictor enjoys keeping his sexual orientation somewhat vague.
X-Men Mystique, Destiny As originally intended by Chris Claremont, a committed couple.
Violent supervillains.
X-Statix / X-Force Doop Doop is a sentient, nonhumanoid Cold War lab experiment.

[edit] Television

Title Bisexual Characters Notes
24 Mandy A terrorist.
All My Children Lena Kundera, Maggie Stone Lena was the first recurring bisexual character in daytime television. Maggie was sexually confused throughout most of her time on the show. Dated and had sex with several men before committing herself to Bianca Montgomery and identifying as a lesbian.
Babylon 5 Susan Ivanova Her sexuality is not explicit, but heavily implied.
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series) Number Six, D'Anna Biers (also known as Number Three) Number Three, Number Six and Gaius Baltar have a triangle relationship in Season 3.
Bob and Rose Bob Identifies as gay, though finds the only female he's attracted to is Rose.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Willow Rosenberg; possibly Angel, Spike, Andrew Willow identifies exclusively as a lesbian. Joss Whedon confirms the possibility of Angel and Spike as a one-night stand (and compares them to Apollo and Midnighter). Andrew is frequently hinted to being gay, but his self-identification is not explicit.
Casanova Giacomo Casanova Tries to sleep with a man, only to discover she's a woman and sleep with her anyway.
Coupling Jane Claims to have slept with fifteen women, but seems to be pretending for the attention.
Dark Angel
Degrassi: The Next Generation Paige Michalchuk After she breaks up with Alexandra "Alex" Nuñez in Season 5, her next fling is with a male, Gavin "Spinner" Mason.
Desperate Housewives Andrew Van de Kamp Sociopath - However shows reform in the fourth season. Hinted at a sexual attraction to women, but identifies as gay.
Dirt Leo Spiller, Julia Mallory, Leo possibly in denial of homosexuality; Julia "only when stoned".
Doctor Who Captain Jack Harkness From the 51st century when pansexuality is the norm.
Drawn Together Foxxy Love, Captain Hero
Ellen Ellen In terms of behavior only. Closeted lesbian for first three seasons.
Farscape Chiana Sexuality portrayed as fluid.
Family Guy Lois Griffin, possibly Stewie Griffin
Firefly Inara Takes a female client in the episode War Stories (Firefly episode) and mentions having done so in the past occasionally.
Footballers' Wives Conrad Gates
Hollyoaks Craig Dean Primarily straight
House (TV series) "Thirteen"
The L Word Alice Pieszecki, Jenny Schecter, Phyllis Kroll Sexuality portrayed as fluid, but can be socially problematic. Often shown as a phase.
L.A. Law C.J. Lamb First kiss between women on a prime time television series and first regular bisexual character on a prime time TV.
Law & Order Episodes "Castoff" and "Obsession" both feature psychotic bisexuals
The Midnight Caller episode "After it Happened"/1988 - spreading AIDS from the Gay community to straight women.
Nip/Tuck Quentin Costa, probably Julia McNamara and Kimber Henry, possibly Christian Troy and Matt McNamara
The O.C. Alex Kelly, Marissa Cooper
One Tree Hill Anna Taggaro First recurring bisexual character of color on television.
Oz Chris Keller, Tobias Beecher Keller homicidal sociopath; Beecher previously married but falls in love and engages in sexual relationship with Keller.
Queer as Folk (US) Hunter, Lindsay Sexuality portrayed as fluid, but can be socially problematic.
The Real World: Sydney Shauvon Torres Bisexual woman in reality tv show.
This Life Ferdy
Roseanne Nancy Bartlett, Beverly Harris
Secret Diary of a Call Girl Belle/Hannah
Sex and the City Samantha Jones
The Staircase Murders Michael Peterson
A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila Tila Tequila Bisexual themed reality dating show.
Scrubs The Todd, Robert Maschio In 'My Lucky Charm' he begins to hit on men, stating 'The Todd appreciates hot, regardless of gender'.
Six Feet Under Russel, Keith Charles,Billy Chenowith Russel is confused; Keith is primarily gay; Billy is primarily straight.
Skins Tony Stonem Narcissist, sociopath, primarily straight.
South of Nowhere Ashley Davies Displayed a romantic/sexual attraction to ex-boyfriend Aiden Dennison on more than one occasion, but often identifies as a lesbian.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Jadzia Dax, Kira Nerys and Ezri Dax in alternate universe Jadzia's relationships with females portrayed as related to previous existence as a male, alternate-universe Kira portrayed as a hedonistic tyrant.
Sugar Rush Sugar, Saint
Torchwood Jack, Toshiko, Ianto All main characters sexualities intended to remain fluid. Other characters Gwen and Owen's sexualities remain ambiguous.
Will & Grace Karen Walker
Xena Xena, Gabrielle Possibly lovers; implied from middle of the series to its end. Hints that Xena may have been sexually intimate with two women before Gabrielle are also present.

[edit] Music

Title Artist Notes
"ACDC" Sweet
"Bicoastal" Peter Allen
"John, I'm Only Dancing" David Bowie
"Sexuality" Billy Bragg
"My Wife Left Me For My Girlfriend" The Bellamy Brothers
"The Middle" Edie Carey
"Bisexual Girl" Coyote Shivers
"Bye Bisexual Boy" Das Pop
"If It Isn't Her" Ani DiFranco
"In or Out" Ani DiFranco
"Shameless" Ani DiFranco
"I Like Dick and Jane" Laya Fisher
"My Boyfriend's Back" Monica Grant
"Coming Clean" Green Day About Billie Joe's own sexuality.[1]
"This Door Swings Both Ways" Herman's Hermits
"Bisexual Military" Hypnotic Clambake
"Hey Mister, She Was My Baby Last Night Candye Kane
"Sneakin' In The Back Door" The Late Bloomers
"Bi" Living Colour
"Softcore" of Montreal
"Which Way Do You Go?" Paxton
"I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry song)" Katy Perry
"Nancy Boy" Placebo
"Sissy Blues" Ma Rainey
"My Bride" Robin Renee
"I Do Both Jay and Jane" La Rissa
"The Last Word" Tom Robinson
"More Lives Than One" Tom Robinson
"I Kissed A Girl" Jill Sobule
"Double Your Chances" STA-PREST
"I Like It Both Ways" Supernaut
"I Spent My Last $10 on Birth Contol and Beer" Two Nice Girls
"Sissy Man Blues" Josh White
"Kiss That Boy" Leah Zicari

[edit] Theatre

Title Character Notes
Alfred Kinsey: A Love Story[5] Alfred Kinsey
Butley Butley
Diagnosis: Jew Pain[6] Michael Feldman Stand up comedy show about Feldman's life.
Gemini Francis Treated sympathetically, seen in positive light.
The History Boys Dakin Self-aware, complacent, unconfused
Rent Maureen Unable to commit.
Rocky Horror Show Various portrayals
The Shadow Box Brian Bisexuality simple fact.
Torch Song Trilogy Ed
The Vagina Monologues "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy"

[edit] Video games

Title Character Notes
Bully Jimmy Hopkins Kissing various characters, male or female, regains health; homosexual content is optional.
Darkstalkers Lilith Aensland and Morrigan Aensland Both succubi
Fable Potentially any If the player does not marry and have sex with female characters, the personality status screen will label the character as gay. Otherwise, the player will be labeled as bisexual.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Vamp A villain; according to dialogue within the game, "Vamp" is considered slang for bisexual.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Colonel Volgin A villain.
Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh Curtis Craig First game to establish playable character as bisexual.
Morrowind Crassius Curio Non player character, attempts to seduce players of either sex.
The Sims All All characters can potentially fall in love with either gender, however Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and DS versions appear to have removed any same-sex 'romance' interactions.
Fallout 2 Miria and Davin A player character can marry either of them, regardless of sex.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Therese and Jeanette Voerman; various The player can choose the sex of his character and seduce characters regardless of the sex chosen. The character Jeanette/Therese Voerman (the characters have a split personality and are therefore actually the same character) is apparently explicitly bisexual.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Coming Clean", The Advocate interview with Billie Joe Armstrong (24th January, 1995)