Alhi Leconte/ Staff Writer
Actor Keith Powers landed himself in hot water when he made a comment that did not sit well with his LGBTQ community fan-base. The up-and-coming actor’s idiotic statements about bisexuality went viral, reflecting that of many other ignorant cisgender heterosexual men.
During an interview with Hollywood Unlocked, he was asked about the craziest rumors he’s heard about himself, leading him to bring up a rumor that he was alleged to be bisexual.
“I seen a troll page say something about me being bisexual — which is funny ’cause I’m like, ‘there’s a such thing as bisexual for men?’” Powers said. “I think you’re either gay or straight, personally. To each his own. I’ve seen that before, how can someone just take that and do that.”
Powers could have just said he wasn’t bisexual, but he felt the need to show his ignorance and disrespect a part of the LGBTQ community that doesn’t always get the visibility and support they deserve.
After all the backslash, Powers released a video on Instagram apologizing for his offensive comments, especially to his LGBTQ friends. He also added that he is educating himself to prevent offending the youth who are struggling with their sexualities.
Bisexuality has been wrongly diminished to being a transitional step to homosexuality. People who identify as bisexual have to deal with the assumption that they’re simply going through a phase, lying or being promiscuously greedy.
However, because bisexuality in females is often sexualized, men face this problem more so than women, leading to many bisexual men remaining quiet about their sexuality.
Sexuality is on a spectrum and it isn’t just gay or straight. More acknowledgement of bisexuality in a progressive society has made it less tolerable to discredit it or say it doesn’t exist.
Additionally, people are becoming more conscious of the fact that sexuality is not taboo. Open-mindedness and a fear of offending others are additional reasons as to why it’s considered inappropriate to take away from the value of bisexuality.
To closed minded individuals who try to dispute bisexuality in men — just know it’s real. The LGBTQ community is growing and society should grow with it.
As far as Keith Powers goes, if you’re getting recognized for biphobia more than your acting roles, you’re doing something wrong.
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Infographic created by Caroline Lozano.
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