Complicated? Report on Bisexual Peoples' Experiences with Public Services Launches

A new report into the experiences of bisexual people in the UK was launched today.

Complicated?, published by The Equality Network,  is the first UK research report to focus specifically on bisexual people’s experiences of accessing services.

The report reveals some worrying statistics including:

• Two thirds of respondents feel they have to ‘pass’ as straight when accessing public services
• Only a quarter of respondents feel comfortable being ‘out’ in LGBT spaces
• Almost half (48%) of respondents reported having experienced biphobic comments. 38% have experienced unwanted sexual comments about their bisexuality
• Just under half of respondents (44%) said they would only sometimes or never feel comfortable disclosing their sexuality when accessing sexual health services

It is particularly concerning that biphobia was most often reported when respondents tried to access NHS and LGBT services, which are key to health and wellbeing, but happily the report also highlights examples of good practice and suggests ways for institutions and services to be more inclusive.

A pdf of the report is available from the Equality Network website, where you can also request a hard copy.

Image: “US Navy Midwife checks on a mom” by Suzanne M. Day, shared under Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

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Libby Baxter-Williams

Libby is a 30-something Londoner, who spends more time reading picture books than is seemly. She became a bi activist entirely by accident, but now she can't imagine living any other way. In the event of an emergency, she'll have a large gin and tonic, thanks.

Latest posts by Libby Baxter-Williams (see all)

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