Call it what you want: on the down low, on the low-low or my personal favorite, bisexuality. Either way it’s an occurrence that is heavily prevalent in the African-American community. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the term “down low” has been associated with African-American men.

Being on the down low isn’t just an issue affecting blacks, living a bisexual double life can pertain to anyone of any color.

It’s an issue that continues to be swept under the carpet but I’m here to expose the down-low lifestyle for what it is: disgusting!

How is it that one is able to live a double life? And just in terms of morals, what happens when you bring marriage into the equation? Being a heterosexual woman who has been deceived more times than I can count, I can’t imagine how I would feel if my boyfriend or husband was also feeling the guys, literally.

Many men who partake in the down-low lifestyle don’t necessarily consider themselves gay or bisexual. I’m sorry but?what do you call it?

I like to pride myself on being a pretty trustworthy woman and any young man I bring into my life had better be just as, if not more, trustworthy. Let me find out my man is dating not only women but men, I think I’d be turned off guys for years to come. I don’t want to share my man with another woman but another man? Come on, I can’t compete with a penis.

And deception is a two-way street; I can’t begin to imagine how angry and hurt I would be if I knew the woman I was interested in has had ongoing relationships with various men.

Close attention has been paid to the dow- low lifestyle especially with new cases of HIV/AIDS on the rise. So if your morals don’t get you, the health factor should make being on the down low particularly unappealing. Although, there is no medical data on hand to prove that the down-low lifestyle is directly correlated with the rise in HIV/AIDS in the homosexual community or the black community, it’s still a factor that should be considered.

Whatever your preference women, men or both, it’s important to be honest and true about your intentions. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating the outing of homosexuals everywhere. I am advocating honesty which, correct me if I’m wrong, if you’re in a relationship, how can it survive if it is based on a web of lies?

If you’re a man and you like men, fine. If you’re a female and you like females, fantastic but don’t enter a relationship on fraudulent terms. If you’re not able to be completely honest about your intentions then don’t bother wasting with either parties’ time.

Oneika Richardson can be reached at [email protected]