How to Accept the Challenge of the EOL — Powerful, Awesome
Accepting or exploring a minority, counter-culture identity is not for the fainthearted. Because of this, exploring our sexuality requires us to believe in ourselves and the journey we embark on as we find our pace. Of course, no one experiences the same amount of scrutiny, persecution, and exclusion. Still, too many people feel ashamed to express all attributes of their being. So, the challenge encapsulates rising above. Again, how to accept the challenge of the EOL?
First and foremost, we must identify the meaning of EOL and what it entails. EOL translates to equal opportunity lover. Also, we must consider the flow our society continues to move. For instance, about half of the post-millennial (Generation Z) population identify as everything other than exclusively heterosexual. However, intrinsic reasons for exploring sexual orientation arise besides jumping on the bandwagon. Regardless of sexual orientation, what type of existence is narrow?
Why not live a fluid, versatile, bohemian lifestyle? Who would we be if we did not feel the pressure to conceal our identities to survive, if not thrive, in the world? Why would self-individuation and authenticity result in a death sentence or scapegoating?
How do we conquer all the stigmas associated with an LGBTQ+, alternative identity? Why must we let go of all the anchors on our shoulders? At last, insofar does pride contribute to our success?
Embrace the Highs and Lows of the Equal Opportunity Lover Experience
We must navigate the core of our soul to excavate our latent, subconscious desire. We do not need to conform to who society expects us to be. Instead, going with our flow allows us to live in direct alignment in the process of becoming.
After all, sexuality is a spectrum, not only a side to project depending on the people shrouding us. Yes, uncertainty arises when we operate by faith. No, the journey of embodying the fruits of the equal opportunity lover is not a breeze in the park.
Still, it is worth the investment to open the veil of sexual liberation. We do not need more of the same repression. We need to listen to what our body and heart demand. Regardless of what people think, listening to positive LGBTQ+ affirming messages empowers us to see our value. We deserve to live because we are essential members of life. Straight or gay or somewhere in between, we must unlock different attributes of our being to live life to the fullest. Indeed, concealing our identity leaves us in the silhouettes of the past.
Mental health matters as much as physical wellness. Moreover, every facet of our health needs our attention. We cannot expect people to see us if we do not see ourselves. Yet, bisexuals worldwide struggle with internalizing the lead poisoning of bi-erasure and bi-phobia. Society conditions us to think that erasure is mainstream, healthy, and well-condoned. We experience twice the love and hate, joy and pain, breakthrough and heartache, etc.
How to Accept the Challenge of the EOL: Intersectionality Blues
Society often treats bisexual men as gay men who refuse to accept or announce their suppressed identity. Bisexual women, on the other hand, experience increased fetishization and higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault. Either way, society programs bisexuals — of all shades and colors from all walks of life — with problematic, unhealthy beliefs. Nonetheless, bisexuals encompass the underrepresented populace of the LGBTQ+ community.
A person of color who happens to be queer will not experience the same discrimination as a colorless, non-straight person. Also, men experience a lower ratio of persecution than women. Maleness and whiteness erase some of the queer identity. Women, black and brown LGBTQ+ people experience the highest rates of discrimination. Therefore, not all persecution is created equal. Yes, discrimination discriminates for any volume of reasons.
We must ground ourselves in the soil of reality. Rose-colored glasses lead to more disappointment and devastation. However, we must believe in ourselves, our vision, and our desire to impact the world. Now more than ever, we need accurate representation. Debunking the myths concerning an LGBTQ+ identity must spike to the top of our priorities. Not being all the way straight is neither a sin nor a disadvantage; it is more or less an equal opportunity to immerse ourselves in heightened pleasure, awareness, novel and unique identification. We are the only ones who limit the flow of love in all forms.
How to Accept the Challenge of the EOL: Pass with Flying Colors
Instead of passing as one identity or another, challenging our authenticity grants us the freedom to hear the voice of our needs. Again, it is difficult not to pretend to be either straight or gay — we think this provides us with additional benefits, but this is a false sense of security. We start lying to ourselves, depriving the source of happiness and prosperity from our roots.
If we cannot walk outside and declare our identity, we have millions of miles to venture; if we cannot feel safe within our homes, we do not know the taste of love. Indeed, it is disheartening that we have to advocate for fundamental human rights — should this not be a given instead of an unknown? Why do we have to wait for the rest of the world to catch up to the wavelength we were on light years ago? Why not submit to our desires and honor the flow of our heart, body, and soul?
Lusting or loving someone is not a weakness; it is a strength to release the tension housed within our sexual repression.
The following age-old concept demands our respect and attention: do not dodge it until you try it.
Still, we should not force ourselves to act in a way that does not bring us a waterfall of pleasure, ecstasy, and sweetness. Of course, there are multiple ways to express bisexuality or a bi+ spectrum identity. Some will fall in love with men, robust emotions surging through their chest, but crave sexual intercourse with women only, genitalia exploding through their pants. Others might experience gray areas in their sexuality, thus having a less transparent time pinning down their actual orientation. Above all, bisexuality is an asymmetric, fluid rainbow, i.e., our true colors disperse across the sky in more ways than one.
In the end, we do not have to explain our sexuality to anyone.
After all, we do not feel inferior without giving others the consent to dehumanize us and our inherent value. We make or break how we experience our identity and orientation. Yes, we embody all the power we need to retain sustenance and a drive to conquer the day. Bisexuality is a superpower. Because of this, we must chalk to the drawing board, outlining our bittersweet escape from self-dictatorship.
Also, it does not matter whether we are top or bottom, black or white, monogamous or polyamorous, young or old, affluent or impoverished, no shame lives in bisexual’s flexible, versatile, dynamic name. We must love and accept every shade and tint of ourselves. Do not pick a side to appease society’s mind; be the equal opportunity lover you know you are inside. Roar like a lion with the eye of the tiger, not conforming or stumbling over any obstacle set on the course — variety spices up life. We must rise to the challenge to condone the flavor of vulnerability, love, freedom, openness, and breakthrough.
How to accept the challenge of the equal opportunity lover —