ABSTRACT
The concept of bisexuality, with its challenge to the traditional hetero/homo binary, its sensationalized news headlines, and its connoted sensuality is an often misunderstood and oversimplified identity. Social workers have an ethical responsibility to clients to educate ourselves about diverse clients and cultures, including clients with various sexual orientations. Bisexual people display myriad sexual behaviors that reflect their diversity as individuals. When bisexual people experience their own biphobia and believe the myths of bisexuality, they are internalizing their oppression and losing their sense of self and legitimacy. Bisexual people experience unique issues in finding and maintaining romantic relationships. Bisexual people have different experiences when they are in same-gender relationships than when they are in other-gender relationships. T. M. Witten introduces qualitative research with an international subject group of trans-bisexual-identified people in exploration of successful aging. The movement toward culturally competent practice can help social workers heighten their sensitivity and understanding of all parts of their client's narrative and identity.
