A Qualitative Examination of Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer (Bi+) Male Youth's Experiences With Discrimination

Bisexual, pansexual, and queer (bi+) people have distinct experiences of discrimination compared to other sexual minority people, and experience discrimination from both outside and within the LGBTQ+ community. Further, attitudes toward bi+ men are particularly negative and there are unique stereotypes about them (e.g., that they are actually gay). It is unknown if bi+ male youth experience similar or different types of discrimination compared to bi+ adult men. As bi+ identification continually increases among youth, it is critical to understand discriminatory experiences in this population. Thus, the current study's goal was to characterize experiences of discrimination among bi+ male youth. Fifty-seven bi+ male youth ages 14-17 completed a survey and a semi-structured interview. Most identified as bisexual (63%), followed by pansexual (28%), and queer (9%). Participants were racially and ethnically diverse (61% youth of color) and included cisgender (75%) and transgender (25%) youth. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using collaborative qualitative analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) contexts in which discrimination occurs; (2) proximity to and types of discrimination; (3) uniqueness of bi+ discrimination; (4) intersectional forms of discrimination. Results indicate that bi+ male youth experience multiple forms of discrimination (e.g., macro/microaggressions, ambivalent familial responses), across diverse contexts, including experiences unique to bi+ individuals (e.g., assumptions of promiscuity). Transgender, and youth of color were generally more likely to report experiencing discrimination, including experiences at the intersections of their identities. These findings offer novel insights into the challenges facing bi+ male youth and highlight potential avenues to support their wellbeing.