Most people think of bisexuals as drunk girls at parties who make out with other women for attention. Or they look at this person as a sex-crazed addict who can’t make a set-in-stone decision as to what their sexual preference is.

In all reality, bisexuals are people who love both genders.

“I’m pretty much (bisexual),” said senior journalism major Megan Trader. “I fall in love with people for who they are – not their genitalia.”

Bisexuals are often thought of as indecisive. They are neither truly accepted by the gay or straight community because they do not choose to be with one gender.

“There is a general feeling of being not really accepted; it’s pretty common. The bi people date other bi people because bi people understand other bi people,” Trader said. “It’s really frustrating to feel like people just think you’re really slutty because you are attracted to members of the same sex. People assume you’ll sleep with anyone and you just hook-up with people all the time instead of having meaningful relationships.”

A study done in 2011 by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found that 11 percent of the population – 33 million Americans – identify as bisexual.

Dating a bisexual man can only be deemed as enlightening because you are learning about a different type of sexual orientation. The UCLA study also found that it’s more common for women to be bisexual but a rare find to come across a man who is willing to teach his sexual knowledge and experiences he may have had with a man. He is open about different kinds of sex; anal, oral and foreplay. It’s like having a boyfriend and a gay best friend who teaches you to give good head.

One misconception is that bisexuals are usually only attracted to their own gender.

“I love my boyfriend very much and we are planning on moving in together. There are so many different kinds of relationships. I am in a monogamous one because I feel like that is the most simple and stress-free option for me, but I think different things work for different people,” Trader said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with polyamory, but it’s not for me. I wish people wouldn’t be so judgmental of others’ lifestyles. It’s not their business and they usually knock it before they try it so they don’t even know for themselves whether it’s something that might work for them.”

If someone close to you is bisexual, support them. There is nothing different about them – they will not change.

In high school, one of my closest and oldest friends came out to me as being bisexual. She was nervous as she sat next to me, trying to muster up the words, “I’m bi.” She looked like she would cry as I held her hands and told her I didn’t give a damn about her sex life as long as she was still my friend.

“Coming out should be really informal and relaxed,” said English major Maia Posten. “Just casually mention it and start incorporating yourself into the gay scene, if that is what you choose. Coming out doesn’t change who you are – it’s just another facet. There shouldn’t be a stigma to act differently.”

If you are bisexual, don’t be afraid of being yourself. There is nothing wrong with you – you are not sick.

“If you are curious about being bi, experiment,” Posten said. “There’s no harm in that as long as there aren’t communication errors. Have fun, be safe and talk with people who have been through it before.”