The Effect of Intersectionality on Bisexual People’s Connection to Queer Characters

Abstract

In recent years, LGBTQ representation has surged in entertainment media. While this is important for many reasons, seeing other queer characters in movies and TV shows is known to cause a positive emotional response and a connection of the person to that character. While this phenomenon has been well studied, there is no information on how additional shared identities affect connection. This paper delves into how intersectionality places a role in the connection that bisexual people have towards queer characters in entertainment media. It uses the narrative method to assess the personal experiences of bisexual people of varying races, ages, and genders to the extent that one's race, age, or gender aligning with that of a queer character affects their connection to that character. Bisexual people were interviewed about their general connection to queer characters and then were asked to what extent would that character’s race, age, or gender aligning with their own would affect their connection. The results revealed that more marginalized races and gender identities experienced stronger connections to the characters when their race or gender aligned with the characters. Additionally, age was found to be more of a factor for youth than it was for older people. The research concluded that intersecting marginalized identities strengthened one’s emotional connection to queer characters more than common racial or gender identities.