Let's talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in discussions about MM romance and queer fiction: bisexuality. Not the convenient plot device kind, not the "confused character trying to figure things out" trope, but real, authentic bisexual representation that honors the lived experiences of bi men.
If you've ever heard someone mention the "bi-cycle," you know what I'm talking about, that internal ebb and flow of attraction that many bisexual people experience. Sometimes you're more drawn to men, sometimes the attraction shifts, and sometimes it feels pretty evenly split. It's a natural phenomenon, not a crisis of identity. Yet mainstream media (and yes, even some queer fiction) keeps getting it wrong, treating bisexuality as either a phase, a stepping stone to being "fully gay," or worse, a convenient way to add drama without substance.
We need to do better. Bi men deserve to see themselves reflected in gay romance and LGBTQ+ fiction with the same depth, complexity, and respect afforded to any other character. Their bisexuality shouldn't be the problem to solve; it should simply be part of who they are.
More Than a Plot Point
Here's the thing that drives me up the wall: when bisexuality only exists in a story to create a love triangle or add "spice" to an otherwise straightforward gay romance. You know the setup, protagonist meets amazing guy, they fall hard, but oh wait, there's a complication because one of them is bi and might be tempted by someone of a different gender. Roll credits on authentic representation.
Bisexuality is not a narrative complication. It's an identity.
When we treat a character's bisexuality as merely a plot device, we're doing exactly what society has done to bi men for decades: erasing them. We're suggesting that their attraction to multiple genders is inherently unstable, unreliable, or less valid than monosexual identities. In MM romance books and gay fiction, this becomes particularly insidious because it reinforces the idea that a bi man in a relationship with another man is somehow "less gay" or not fully committed to queer identity.
The reality? A bisexual man in a relationship with a man is just as queer, just as valid, and just as capable of deep, committed love as anyone else. His bisexuality doesn't disappear when he falls in love: it's a core, stable part of who he is, regardless of his partner's gender.
The Importance of Nuance in Gay Romance
In my own writing: books like NORTH SEA FIRES or Coming Into the Light: I've made it a priority to explore the lived reality of bi men. Not because it's trendy or adds complexity for complexity's sake, but because these stories matter. Bisexual men navigate a unique form of erasure that comes from both straight and gay communities. They're told they're "really gay" by some, "just experimenting" by others, and genuinely seen by far too few.
What does authentic bisexual representation look like in MM fiction and queer literature? It's showing a character whose attraction to men isn't contingent on not being attracted to other genders. It's depicting internal struggles that don't revolve around "choosing a side" but instead grapple with belonging, visibility, and the exhausting work of constantly having to justify your identity.
It's also about the small moments: a character casually mentioning a past relationship without it becoming a referendum on their "true" sexuality. A protagonist whose bisexuality informs his worldview without defining his entire personality. A love interest who sees and accepts all of who his partner is, including attractions that exist outside their relationship.
Representation in gay books and LGBTQ+ ebooks means showing the full spectrum of queer experience: not just the parts that fit neatly into existing categories.
Visit readwithpride.com to explore more MM romance and gay fiction that centers authentic queer voices.
Why Representation Matters in LGBTQ+ Fiction
For readers: especially bi men: seeing themselves portrayed authentically in gay romance books and queer fiction isn't just nice to have. It's essential. When you spend your life being told your identity doesn't exist, or that it's "just a phase," finding a character who reflects your experience can be genuinely life-changing.
Too often, bisexual characters in MM novels are written as if their bisexuality is a problem to be resolved rather than simply part of their identity. They're shown as conflicted, confused, or using their attraction to multiple genders as a way to avoid commitment. These stereotypes don't just misrepresent bisexuality: they actively harm bi readers who are looking for validation and understanding in the stories they read.
What bi men need: what all readers deserve: is to see characters whose desires are handled with empathy and respect. Not reduced to a binary "choice" between being gay or straight. Not treated as inherently promiscuous or unable to commit. Not erased the moment they enter a monogamous relationship.
Authentic gay literature and MM fiction acknowledges that bisexual men exist, that their attractions are valid, and that their stories matter.
When we write bisexual characters whose identity is integral to who they are rather than a plot complication to be overcome, we're doing more than creating good fiction. We're pushing back against decades of bi erasure. We're telling bi men that they belong in queer spaces, that their experiences are worth exploring, and that their love stories: whether with men, women, or people of other genders: are just as worthy of celebration.
The Romance Plot Challenge
Let's address the elephant in the room: how do you write an MM romance with a bisexual protagonist without inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes? It's a genuine challenge. If your bi character ends up with a male partner, some readers might dismiss previous attractions as mere experimentation. If you show ongoing attraction to multiple people, you risk playing into promiscuity stereotypes.
The solution isn't to avoid writing bisexual characters. It's to write them with intention and nuance. Show that attraction to someone doesn't invalidate previous or potential future attractions to people of different genders. Demonstrate that being in a committed relationship doesn't erase bisexuality: it just means that person has chosen that partner, not that gender.
In gay romance and MM books, this means letting bisexual characters exist without constantly justifying their identity. It means showing bi men in healthy, loving relationships with other men where their bisexuality is acknowledged, accepted, and not treated as a threat to the relationship.
Explore more nuanced queer fiction and LGBTQ+ romance at dickfergusonwriter.com.
Moving Forward: What We Can Do Better
The landscape of gay fiction and LGBTQ+ ebooks is evolving, and that's something to celebrate. More authors are writing bisexual characters with depth and authenticity. More readers are demanding representation that goes beyond tired tropes. But we've still got work to do.
As writers, we need to resist the urge to use bisexuality as a narrative shortcut. As readers, we need to seek out and support gay books and MM romance that portrays bi men authentically. And as a community, we need to create space for bisexual voices in conversations about queer literature.
Your turn: What are your favorite authentically written bisexual characters in MM romance or gay fiction? Drop your recommendations in the comments: I'm always looking for new LGBTQ+ books that get representation right. Let's build a reading list that honors the full spectrum of queer experience.
Whether you're bi, gay, or anywhere on the spectrum, you deserve to see yourself in the stories we tell. Here's to more gay love stories, MM novels, and queer fiction that reflects the beautiful complexity of who we really are.
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