Bisexual erasure is a big problem in popular media culture in general, with many reports showing a significant link between the lack of bisexual visibility and poor mental health among bisexuals (reports also show these individuals have a higher risk of suicide and poor mental health than the general population.) It is a problem that exists across the media and contributes to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes. But there’s particularly a problem in the media's coverage of alternative musicians. There are many examples of bisexual musicians having their identities erased and ignored or misportrayed by the media. Click below to read more about it.
Since the 70s, one of the most notable examples of this is David Bowie. Portrayed at the time as a straight man who experimented, David Bowie first came out as gay in an interview with Melody Maker in 1972 but later came out as bisexual in 1976. Bowie’s sexuality had been focus of much debate even after his coming out; he dealt with biphobia in an interview with Mavis Nicholson in 1979, and still decades later was asked to confirm his sexuality in an interview with Jonathan Ross in 2003. Yet, even after his death, articles are written in debate over his sexuality some claiming that he was in fact gay, others still portraying him as a straight man who experimented. Even some fans claiming it was simply a marketing campaign, saying “we will never really know” despite Bowie’s coming out twice as bisexual.
Bowie is not the only classic rock musician to have his identity erased by the media. Freddie Mercury is another famous example. Unlike Bowie who was portrayed by the media as a straight man who experimented, many articles are written claiming that Mercury was gay, interpreting the song Bohemian Rhapsody as a coming out song, Mercury is also listed in many lists of gay stars who lost their lives to HIV/AIDs. His sexuality has also been debated since his death, though it is widely assumed that Freddie Mercury was gay when in reality he was bisexual, it’s stated in his obituary and it is often forgotten that he wrote the song ‘Love of My Life’ about his long-term partner, Mary Austin.
So if both these classic rock musicians were open about their sexuality why is it still debated and misportrayed in the media even after their deaths? Unfortunately, many people still have a very binary view of sexuality, believing that it is only possible to like either women or men and the myth that bisexual people eventually have to ‘pick a side’ still prevails; an idea that can be damaging to young people exploring their identity and discovering their sexuality. Even within the LGBT community, despite the seemingly inclusive acronym, bisexual people still experience biphobia. Although as a society and a community we like to believe we have made progress, biphobia and bisexual erasure are still big issues and many current bisexual musicians have their identities erased.
Many people are unaware that Green Day frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong is openly bisexual. He first came out in a 1995 interview with the Advocate and has since discussed the song ‘Coming Clean’ on the album Dookie, stating, “It was a song about questioning myself”. Yet, people still assume Billie Joe Armstrong to be straight.
Though it is not just bisexual male musicians who have their identity erased by the media. The frontwoman of the hard rock band Halestorm has also been open about her sexuality on twitter and has made multiple posts to raise awareness for the situation in Chechnya, and other LGBT+ issues and yet her bisexuality and support is mostly ignored completely rather than misrepresented by the media and is often left out of lists of LGBT artists, while artists who are not openly LGBT are considered gay icons, for example, Courtney Love. While Love has been relatively open about past experiences with women , she is not out as bisexual and has in fact made transphobic comments in the past, used the f slur and when asked what made her a gay icon, responded with; “Surviving, and also the ability to do drag, to clean up nice.” Though it is impossible to confirm or deny whether or not Love is bisexual, it is still erasive that she and many other straight artists are revered as LGBT icons while bisexual artists are largely ignored by the media; especially female bisexual artists. However, if you know of any bisexual musicians that have not been mentioned and that need more recognition, or have any opinions on issues raised, message us! We’d love to hear your thoughts.
