Common Myths about Bisexuality and Homosexuality Quiz

Answer: Not enough information

Roosevelt was one of the great humanitarians of this century. As far as her sexuality is concerned, "gay" advocacy groups like to include her as do "bisexual" advocacy groups. Like Alexander the Great, the truth will probably never be known. What is true is that people do not always live a lifestyle consistent with their sexual orientation. Mrs. Roosevelt was probably bisexual, but there is just as much evidence that she was homosexual. Whatever her sexual orientation was, her contributions to society were immense.

Answer: False

Some societies so condemn homosexuality that many people in their "coming-out" process prefer to label themselves "bisexual" because it seems safer then just saying homosexual and it leaves a glimmer of hope that one might still be, at least somewhat, heterosexual. To some people, the terminus is bisexuality and they remain there.

Others move from a homosexual or heterosexual lifestyle to bisexuality when they are questioning their orientation. While anyone going through a sexual orientation identification process is normally in transition, it does not mean if that person claims to be bisexual that s)he is in transition.

Answer: True

Very sadly true. In a presentation at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, Pierre J. Tremblay B.Sc., B.A., B.Ed. concludes "that gay males are at least 2 to 3 times, and maybe 4 times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual males". Coming to grips with one's own homosexuality or bisexuality can be very difficult, especially when growing up in more repressive or restrictive environments. Suicide rates are even higher among African-American youth.

Answer: Gay and bisexual men earn, on the average, 17% less

According to University of Massachusetts economics professor Lee Badgett in his book, "Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay men" (University of Chicago Press, 2001), gay and bisexual men earn less. On the other hand, lesbian and bisexual women earn, on the average 11% more than their heterosexual counterparts.

Theories on why are unclear, but there is evidence of discrimination when it comes to the lower earnings for men, and a suggestion that lesbian and bisexual women tend to be more committed to being in the workforce than their heterosexual counterparts, as a whole.

Answer: "The potential for being sexually or romantically involved with members of either gender."

According to Boston bisexual activist Robyn Ochs, bisexuality is defined by the potential. (The correct answer is a quote from Ms. Ochs, the incorrect answers are not quotes at all.) It is not necessary to have a lover of one gender or a lover at all to be bisexual - it is an orientation, not an act. Brett Anderson, Lead singer of British group Suede, said, "I'm a bisexual who's never had a homosexual experience..." Few people are actually attracted equally to either sex, rather they tend to gravitate one way or the other, even if they have encounters with both genders. Being in denial is probably better defined as possibly being in transition, a topic covered in Question 2 above.

Answer: False

Again, bisexuality is an orientation and an issue completely separate from monogamy. There is no reason, or evidence, that bisexual individuals cannot maintain a monogamous relationship.

Answer: AIDS is primarily transmitted by unsafe sex and sharing used hypodermic needles.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is transmitted primarily through unsafe sex and through sharing dirty hypodermic needles. It is not caused by being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual. AIDS does not discriminate - bisexuals and heterosexuals are not exempt.

While more difficult, it is possible for lesbians to transmit the disease to each other. A bisexual man could conceivably become infected with the HIV and transmit it to a wife or girlfriend, and this happens! However it is CAUSED by unsafe sex, not the bisexuality itself, and therefore is not the best answer.

Answer: Pedophilia and homosexuality/bisexuality are unrelated

Pedophiles generally have no sexual attraction to other adults, and have no particular preference to boys or girls. There is an assumption in some of these studies that male-male child molestation is committed by a homosexual male, but there is no basis in fact.

In one study, (Dr. Carole Jenny, Denver, July 1, 1991 - June 30, 1992), research found only 2 cases of 269 (less than 1%) in which the child molester was known to be homosexual. Groth and Birnbaum, in a 1978 study in Boston involving 175 child molesters, found that none of the molesters were homosexual, 13% were "regressed bisexual" (but none with a homosexual leaning greater then heterosexual leaning), 40% "regressive heterosexual, and 47% "fixated". (NOTE: Pedophilia should be pronounced with a long e, as in "PEA". "Hebephilia" is a term that is sometimes used to describe a psychosexual disorder involving post pubescent children, while "pedophilia", correctly applied, is a psychosexual disorder involving prepubescent children.)

Answer: Christian denominations are agreed in their opposition to homosexuality

There is no unity among the various Christian denominations. Views toward homosexuality even vary within denominations. However, more and more religious groups are accepting and affirming homosexuals and bisexuals. The Metropolitan Community Church is a group of Christian churches that are primarily for gays and lesbians, but all are welcome.

The largest is in Dallas, Texas, and is the Cathedral of Hope.

Answer: There is no evidence that heterosexual couples offer a more loving environment than homosexual couples

There is no reasonable evidence supporting the statement that children raised by gay parents are more likely to grow up gay than straight. In fact, there is more and more evidence that sexual orientation is determined by biological factors at a very young, if not prenatal period. Dr. Judd Marmor, formerly president of the American Psychiatric Association, said, "There is no evidence that heterosexual parents are more loving, stable, or supportive in their parental roles than homosexual men and women." The ethical question was placed by this author as an example of the damage the sodomy laws do to the gay and lesbian community.

In Texas, adoption agencies sometimes view gays as criminals, in violation of the sodomy laws (that do not apply to women), and therefore are unfit to be adoptive parents.