As this is bisexual awareness month I thought I would attempt to tackle some of the myths around the topic in my latest poem which I’ve titled Love Without Labels. Being bisexual myself I know the challenges faced by me and others like me. Thanks to stereotypes from wider society which are reinforced by a press and media who sees us greedy promiscuous and sex mad we are labelled often without any justification. The truth is that bisexuality is about who you’re attracted to and not who you sleep with. In fact some bisexual people go through their whole lives without having a relationship or even a one night stand with anyone of the same sex though they may always be attracted to them. I hope you enjoy what I think will be a thought provoking read.
Love Without Labels
Being bisexual means
you have
the double the chance of romance
or alternatively
double the potential
for heartbreak
on Valentine’s day
or the high school dance
you will be asked
if you’re into threesomes
or who you prefer
between men or women
and which sex are better at turning you on
and the questioners
being genuinely shocked
when you reply it depends how I feel at the time
and what I need to be fulfilled
as a bisexual transwoman
I like both guys and girls
it really is about
the individual
rather than the parts
they may or may not have
you don’t even need act on your desires
it’s all about attraction
that and nothing else
it’s about knowing yourself
who you like
and why you like them
it’s about excitement and honesty
not forgetting equal choices
and rights
it’s being who you want to be
and loving who you love
without prejudice or labels
and being able to accept yourself
for who you really are
rather than fitting in to binary boxes
society designed
when they didn’t have you in mind
so you can ask what celebrities I like
and I’ll admit to Jon Bon Jovi Jimmy Conners and Donny Osmond
but I won’t lie and say I don’t fancy Madonna
of course I do
along with a few other women whose names may surprise you
if I ever decided to say
but I don’t play that game
there are some things
a woman never shares
and that kind of detail
is something I’m sure you can leave
to your imagination
to inspire whatever thoughts you have
and we don’t need to know
I am not willing to
cross
lines that should never be crossed
what I am or who I kiss in bars
nightclubs or underneath the stars
should be no concern of yours
or of anyone else
I am not selfish
I am just being me
an individual with choices to make
and that is why
I am bisexual
I had options
based on attraction and personality
my sexuality is nobody else’s business
but mine
but I have double the chances
of mistletoe kisses
at Christmas time
and double the chances
of heartbreak
at weekends
when potential leading men meet potential leading ladies
and I who wanted both Scott and Charlene
in Kylie and Jason’s soapland fairytale
end up with neither bride nor groom
© Gayle Smith 2020
Skirtingroundmylife 