BISEXUAL AWARENESS WEEK

As much as the world is slowly becoming more accepting of LGBT sexualities and gender identities, it can still be pretty difficult for those who identify as bisexual to fit in. If you're female and bi, you're sometimes told that you're doing it for attention or that you've been brainwashed by the patriarchy into being attracted to women; if you're male, you're told that you're just a confused gay guy who isn't ready to fully come out yet. And regardless of what gender you are, most bi people are treated as if they're selfish or inherently non-monogamous for not being able to "choose a side."

That's why Bisexual Awareness week, which started on Monday (September 21) as a lead up to the official Celebrate Bisexuality Day on September 23, is such an important concept -- because it gives us the chance to dispel all these myths and normalize being bisexual by talking about it. Bisexual men and women report a higher rate of depression, anxiety, and attempts at suicide or self harm, and bisexual women in particular are far more likely to experience domestic or sexual violence than any other group. And in a culture that still has a hard time admitting that bisexuality is even a thing -- despite how many characters in "Orange Is The New Black" appear to be bi, for example, nobody's ever actually said the word "bisexual" in three whole seasons -- it can be a lot harder for bisexual people to get the support they need.

While you shouldn't expect or force anyone to be open about their sexuality -- after all, it's such a private and personal aspect of life for many people -- it's always super encouraging to see celebrities and other public personas (like YouTube stars!) talk about their own experiences with bisexuality. Here are some things our favorite actors, artsts and musicians said about being bisexual that made us want to pump our fists in the air.