Bisexuality and Fandom
From Fanlore
| Trope · Genre | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms: | bi |
| Related: | bisexuality |
| See Also: | Mspec Fandom, Queer Fandom, Disaster Bi |
| Tropes · Slash Tropes · Tropes by Fandom | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Bisexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person feels sexual attraction to more than one gender/sex of people.[1][2][3]
Bisexual Characters
Books
- In the Animorphs YA series, Marco was hinted to be bisexual, and coauthor Michael Grant confirmed they had feared that publishers or networks would not allow an explicitly bi character at the time the series was coming out.[4][5]
- Jake from Warrior Cats is implied to be bisexual. He has fathered children with two different female cats, and co-author Kate Cary has stated that she views Jake’s relationship with Tallstar as romantic, although the series’s publisher considers them simply good friends.[6]
TV
- There is some debate in the Legend of Korra fandom over whether Korra and Asami are bisexual or lesbian.[7] Given that both have been in relationships with Mako, general opinion likely leans more towards the former.
- Dr. Remy Hadley in House, M.D. is bisexual and was shown in relationships with both men and women.
- Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place was confirmed to be "super bisexual" by William Jackson Harper, who plays Chidi Anagonye.[8]
- Piper Chapman from Orange Is the New Black is bisexual and has dated both men and women.
- Chuck Shurley from Supernatural is bisexual and has dated both men and women.
- Ianto Jones and Toshiko Sato from Torchwood are bisexual.
- Clarke Griffin from The 100 is bisexual.
- Clara Oswald from Doctor Who is bisexual.
- Luz Noceda from The Owl House[9]
Film
- Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe[10]
- Harley Quinn from the DC Extended Universe[11]
- Valkyrie from Marvel Cinematic Universe
Video Games
- Jacob Frye in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - After much fan discourse over Jacob's interactions with Maxwell Roth, the official Assassin's Creed Tumblr account posted that "Jacob Frye is bisexual. This is canon. The end." Many fans ship Jacob with Maxwell, who was confirmed as canonically gay.
- Kassandra and Alexios in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey are functionally bisexual, being able to romance/sleep with men and women. However the developers have not stated a canon sexuality for them, as the game design emphasizes player choice.[12]
- The same goes for Eivor in the follow-up game, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
- Billie Lurk in Dishonored - In Dishonored 2, the player can find an audiograph recorded by Billie which states "I've loved a number of women and even a couple of men".
- Legault from Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade flirts with men and women alike, though his only paired ending is a tragic one with the paladin Isadora.
- Lyn is considered bisexual, due to having both paired endings with men and with one woman-her best friend, Florina, whose own behavior suggests she has a crush on Lyn. Florina can also marry Hector, one of Lyn's potential husbands.
- Fire Emblem Fates has the player avatar Corrin, the spellcaster Rhajat, and the outlaw Niles. The latter two can marry the former no matter what their gender.
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses has eight bisexual characters:
- Byleth, the player avatar
- Edelgard von Hresvelg, leader of the Black Eagles
- Dorothea Aranult of the Black Eagles
- Linhardt von Hevring of the Black Eagles
- Mercedes von Martriz of the Blue Lions
- Lady Rhea, who is not playable but a very important NPC the player can build support with (though she can only be romanced on the Silver Snow route)
- Jeritza von Hrym, a Crimson Flower-exclusive unit
- Yuri Leclerc of the Ashen Wolves (Paid DLC only)
- The Life is Strange franchise has Max Caulfield from the original game, Rachel Amber from the original game and prequel game Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Sean Diaz from Life is Strange 2 and Alex Chen from Life is Strange: True Colors. Max, Sean and Alex are all player-controlled protagonists with one man and one woman romance option each, and Rachel is a romance option for Chloe Price in the prequel and is implied to have dated at least one man in the gap between the prequel and the main game. Some fans also consider Chloe to be bisexual; her voice actress Ashly Burch has referred to her as “sexually fluid” and says she doesn’t think Chloe likes to label herself any particular way.[13]
- The Dragon Age series includes numerous love interests who can be romanced by a player character of either gender.
- Zevran Arainai and Leliana in Dragon Age: Origins.
- All romance options in Dragon Age II: Anders], Fenris, Isabela, and Merrill. The only exception is Sebastian Vael, who can only be romanced by a female Hawke.
- Iron Bull and Josephine Montilyet in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
- Zagreus of the 2019 roguelike Hades.[14]
History of the Genre
Discourse and Meta
- Bisexuality and Fanfic
- Mulder's Bisexuality: An Interpretation of His Band of Gold (May 1998) by Sonya Schryer - The X-Files
- One of the funniest things about harry potter is how jkr accidentally made harry incredibly bisexual. (2016 or before) by transpoe - Harry Potter
Controversies
When NPCs in video games can be romanced by a protagonist regardless of the protagonist character's gender, this is sometimes deemed "Playersexuality" and has been criticized as poor representation.[15][16]
Biphobia in Fandom
- Any other bi people who are into fandoms and shipping sick of bi erasure?, Archived version
- Alright, people, say it with me. (tumblr), Archived version
- Fandoms Hate LGBTQ+ People (tumblr), Archived version
Example Fanworks
Zines
Fanart
Harry Potter with the bi pride flag, fanart by Siggi, 2017.
Assassin's Creed fanart featuring Ned Wynert holding a large trans pride flag, Leonardo da Vinci with a rainbow pride flag worn as a cape, and both Jacob Frye and Kassandra sheltered under a large bisexual pride flag. The Assassin's Creed symbol in rainbow colors is above Leo's head. By A Random Trickster, 2020.
Communities & Resources
References
- ^ "The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity" (PDF). Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance, The Open University. 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
Bisexuality generally refers to having attraction to more than one gender.
- ^ Flanders, Corey E. (March 15, 2017). "Under the Bisexual Umbrella: Diversity of Identity and Experience". Journal of Bisexuality. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
Bisexuality as a single identity encompasses so many different meanings and attractions and behaviors for people who explicitly identify as bisexual. The general identity definition most commonly used, attraction to more than one gender, then leaves room for the multitudinous expressions of that identity.
- ^ "What is Bisexuality?". Full Read. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
Bisexuality is a dynamic spectrum that includes all sexuality that isn't limited to one sex.
- ^ https://twitter.com/MichaelGrantBks/status/667531031130411010?s=20
- ^ https://twitter.com/MichaelGrantBks/status/662056455348948992?s=20
- ^ Cary, Kate (29 July, 2015). “Inside my head, they are a couple. Inside the publisher’s head they are Just Good Friends. Inside your head they can be whatever you want them to be. That’s the great thing about having your own head. 😀”. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ u/yokartikdahaneler (22 July 2017). "On Korra's (and Asami's) sexual orientation". r/korrasami. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Jackman, Josh (1 October 2018). "The Good Place star reveals that Eleanor is 'super bisexual'". PinkNews. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ Philip Sledge, "The Owl House's Luz Noceda: The Story Behind Disney's First Bisexual Lead Character", CinemaBlend, September 26, 2020
- ^ Jordan Mendoza, "Tom Hiddleston's Loki confirmed as Marvel's first bisexual lead character", USA Today, June 24, 2021
- ^ Shannon Lewis, "The DCEU's Harley Quinn Is Bisexual - Is She In The Comics?", Screenrant, February 22, 2020
- ^ Wright, Steve (14 June 2018). "Assassin's Creed Odyssey gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, asexual relationships are possible". Stevivor. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ “Hella talk: an interview with Ashly Burch on Chloe Price, queerness & ‘Life is Strange’”. Femhype. Published 27 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ Jasmine Henry, "Supergiant Games Roguelike 'Hades' Has a Bisexual Protagonist, J Station X, March 27, 2019
- ^ Cole, Alayna (27 September 2017). "Avoiding the avoidable: Why 'optional' queer content isn't solving the diversity problem (and how to fix this)". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ Solar, By Arin (3 March 2021). "Are Player-Based Romances in RPGs Representation?". Game Rant. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
| Related Concepts, Fandoms, Terms, Fanworks | |
| See also | List of fictional bisexual characters • Media portrayals of bisexuality |
