S6E4: What Do You Mean? Definitions of Bisexuality in Research

Hosted by bi+ academics, writers, and advocates Bailey Merlin and Jace Rios Rivera, Bisexual Killjoy talks about all things bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, plurisexual, and overall bi+ness) because bisexuality isn’t a phase; it’s a phenomenon. Get even more Bisexual Killjoy content by joining our Patreon and following us on Instagram.

This week we’re taking a closer look at what researchers mean when they say “bisexual,” and why the answer matters. We unpack “To Bi: An Exploration of Sexual and Romantic Identities, Attractions, and Behaviors,” a study exploring how sexual and romantic attraction relate to people’s experiences and whether they identify as bi. We break down the distinction between who you’re attracted to and who you’ve actually been with, including the finding that sexual history didn’t significantly predict whether someone identified as bi. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a particular dating history to call yourself bisexual, there’s something here for you.

We also get into the choices researchers make before the results ever reach us, including this study’s decision to separate bisexual and pansexual identities. How do those choices shape what we can learn about bi+ people? And how do the definitions used to study us relate to the language we use to find each other and build community? Along the way, we talk about where we agree with the authors, where we push back, and why doing research that serves bi+ people means being clear about who’s included…and who’s missing.

As always, we want to hear from you! You can chat with us on our Discord Server, send us a message, or email us at podcast@bisexualkilljoy.com

Resources:

Vonlanthen, C., Savoie, É., & Roy-Charland, A. (2026). To Bi: An Exploration of Sexual and Romantic Identities, Attractions, and Behaviors. Journal of Bisexuality, 26(1), 78–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2025.2566033

Sound engineer: Richie Smith