LGBTQ+ community is the world's largest sexual minority, yet many remain unaware of their rights and struggles.

I always knew I was bi, but I only came out more widely - on social media - when I was 32. I chose Bi Visibility Day to post a tweet I had agonised over for hours, and it quickly went viral. The open hearts and loving replies I received showed me what I had been missing - a bi community. As I celebrated my identity, I felt an avalanche of curiosity. I wanted to know what else I had been missing.

So, I set up a bisexual research group, organised a bisexuality conference, and wrote a book about bisexuality called Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality. Through my work, I discovered five things about bisexuality that even surprised me.

The 'bi' in bisexual doesn't stand for men and women. Many people think it implies a gender binary, but that's not the case. Instead, 'bi' has always meant both homosexual and heterosexual attractions. While some people prefer the term pansexual, research has found that bisexual and pansexual are typically synonyms.

You don't need to have had sex with multiple genders to call yourself bisexual. We don't ask straight or gay people to prove their identity, and bisexuals don't need to either. If you experience attraction to multiple genders, you know you are bisexual.

Sometimes people who have had sex with multiple genders shy away from the term bisexual. Internalised biphobia can make it hard to accept your identity, but you don't need to prove it to anyone.

Bi people experience 'double discrimination'. It's a fact that bisexuals are often treated as lesser than heterosexuals or homosexuals. This kind of discrimination can leave many bisexuals feeling disconnected from both communities.

Finally, bisexuality is still seen as a 'choice', even in asylum decisions. A study found that decision makers assume bisexual people can choose to live heterosexual lives, leading many to be denied refugee status. This is incredibly dangerous, as coming out can have catastrophic consequences in some parts of the world.

It's Pride Month, so let's celebrate the wonderful diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you identify as bisexual or pansexual, know that you have a community you can call home - whenever you are ready.

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