Australia Talks Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Aussies Wouldn't Date Someone Who's Bisexual

Trigger warning: this article discusses biphobia.

Just a few weeks ago, the ABC started revealing their long-awaited stats from the Australia Talks survey. which asks 60,000 Australians' opinions on pretty much everything.

Hosted by Annabel Crabb and Nazeem Hussain, the super insightful survey covers everything from the environment, sexuality, tech, politics, health, and well… life.

Tune in tonight to see this brilliant show! Australia Talks - 8PM on ABC - Join in the convo too with #AustraliaTalks pic.twitter.com/3ERs7iGiSk

— Gabriel Virata Alves (@gvxv) June 21, 2021

While some stats revealed over the past weeks have been unsurprising or even positive, another released this week on sexuality returned a super disappointing result.

One question in the survey asked respondents how open they would be to any romantic involvement with someone who identifies as bisexual (assuming that they aren’t already in a relationship), and 44 per cent of Aussies said answered "no". 

*Warning: this tweet contains explicit language.*

that australia talks statistic that 44% of australians would never date a bisexual person is fucking me up

— emma ✨ (@balfies) June 21, 2021

According to The Conversation, 1 in 25 Australians identify as either gay or bi. Plus, a triple j survey from 2018 also found that while 83 per cent of gay men and 86 per cent of gay women have come out, less than half of bisexual people have.

The main reason behind such a poor result is because of the responses from Aussies 75 or older. In that group, more than three quarters of people said it was a no-no for them.

I'm willing to bet ~44% is more representative of younger gen x, older millennials. Boomers plus would be higher.

— Jason (@Supermarket_Ape) June 22, 2021

While it’s not surprising that older generations are generally a little less open minded than young people about sexuality, it is still extremely saddening to see such a high number from that group.

For respondents aged between 18 – 24, things looked a lot different. In fact, 84 per cent were more than fine with dating someone who is bi.

Sure, it’s nice to see more positive numbers from younger generations, but with nearly half of Aussies being biphobic, it’s clear that there is still more work to be done in normalising and accepting all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially during Pride Month.

For some context, biphobia refers to an aversion towards bisexuality and bisexual people. It also includes the stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that people who identify as bisexual experience.

The reason why a person refusing to date someone simply because of their sexuality is biphobic is because of a few complex reasons.

Firstly, it dehumanises a person and identifies them only by their sexuality, ignoring all of the other unique things about a them. Secondly, a reluctance to date anyone who is bisexual is a clear aversion to bisexuality, not just a preference. And thirdly, many reasons why someone might not want to date a bisexual person because of their sexuality usually rely on negative stereotypes of bisexuality, which are often untrue and harmful.

The funny thing is that 100% of people probably already have. They just didn't know it. ;)

— Felicity Nelson (@frogsandstars) June 21, 2021

In a 2018 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it was stated that older Australians within the queer community were more likely to have suffered “first hand stigma, discrimination, criminalisation, family rejection and social isolation” and therefore have “lived through a period of social and cultural transition.”

While stigma against queer communities is still alive in Australia, there is also significant pressure and biphobia both from heterosexual people and gay people for bisexual people to ‘choose’.

*Warning: this tweet contains explicit language.*

I can't even imagine how bad the statistic would be if it was for dating trans people. I'm a bi trans bean here who is happy not dating any cis person again in my life but also just constantly terrified of how much people don't wanna be anywhere fucking near us

— Goddess of Height (@jodie__hawke) June 21, 2021

Sex therapist Matty Silver wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald in 2014 that “many bisexuals avoid coming out because they don’t want to deal with misconceptions that bisexuals are indecisive or incapable of monogamy, or going through a phase (stereotypes that also exist among straights, gays and lesbians alike).”

“Most people don't understand the concept of bisexuality, and the assumption is often made that ‘you are either, gay, straight, or lying’. Many bisexual people complain that they feel like outsiders, who don't fit in to the gay or straight world.”

While it’s disappointing that so many Aussies are still unwilling to accept the 'B' in LGBTQIA+, it’s positive to know that young Aussies are paving the way for bisexual acceptance.

Survey answers are theoretical. If someone met someone they really liked IRL who was bisexual, many probably wouldn't care.

— Matthew Stavros (@matthew_stavros) June 21, 2021

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Header Image: ABC & Getty Images via SomeMeans