by Ray Rico

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Conversations about LGBTQ+ health often leave a large gap. We hear about the needs of lesbians, gay men, and transgender people, but bisexuals, especially bisexual men, are rarely centered. Their stories stay quiet. Their challenges stay unrecognized. Their strengths remain uncelebrated. Yet they live in every part of our city, carrying unique pressures that affect mental health, sexual health, and overall well-being.

In Memphis, these challenges hit harder. The city faces some of the nation’s highest HIV rates, deep poverty, limited access to care, and persistent cultural stigma. When bisexual men fall out of the frame, they become even more vulnerable. If we care about wellness for our full LGBTQ+ family, we must name the realities bisexual men face and work to change them.

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The Numbers Tell a Bigger Story

National research shows a consistent pattern. Bisexual men report higher levels of psychological distress, depression, and substance use than both gay and heterosexual men. Many lack regular healthcare providers. Many struggle with medication costs. Many hide parts of their identity from doctors and family.

In Memphis, those risks are amplified. Studies of men who have sex with men in the city show high levels of discrimination and distress. Nearly half reported discrimination in their daily lives. More than one in ten faced severe psychological distress, and one in three tested HIV positive. While these studies do not separate bisexual men from gay men, they point to a truth Memphis knows well: stigma shapes health outcomes.

For bisexual men, stigma often comes from both sides. They are questioned in LGBTQ+ spaces and misunderstood in straight ones. This double burden creates isolation, health gaps, and silence that can lead to serious wellness issues.

Stories from Memphis
Names changed for privacy.

Jordan – 32
Jordan has been in relationships with both men and women, but depending on the space he is in, he feels he must highlight only one part of himself. When he dates women, people treat him as straight. When he shows interest in men, he hears comments about being secretly gay or untrustworthy. To avoid reactions, he hides parts of his life. That silence shapes his health. He does not tell his doctor about male partners, which means he misses some sexual health screenings. The pressure to keep quiet wears him down. He carries the weight of an identity he feels he cannot show fully.

Marcus – 45
Marcus has struggled with depression for years. Breakups, whether with men or women, come with judgment from others. Friends have dismissed his relationships with men as less valid and dismissed his relationships with women as confusion. These comments left him feeling like he was always on trial. Only after finding a counselor who understood bisexual identity did he begin to feel grounded. Learning how to talk about his identity without shame became a part of his healing.

Anthony – 27
For Anthony, dating has been the hardest struggle. He feels distrusted by gay men and misunderstood by women. He describes a cycle of having to “prove” who he is, only for people to assume he will cheat or leave. These pressures build up. To cope, he drinks when anxiety spikes. He avoids telling people in his life that he is bisexual, fearing suspicion or gossip. His mental health and relationships suffer from the fear of being judged.

These men represent a much larger group whose experiences often remain unspoken. Their stories show that invisibility is not a neutral space. It creates real harm, real isolation, and real barriers to care.

The Wellness Picture

Mental Health
Bisexual people have some of the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts within the LGBTQ+ community. For bisexual men in Memphis, the strain intersects with race, class, religion, and family expectations. Many carry their identities quietly because they fear rejection from people they care about. That silence becomes a mental health burden of its own.

Sexual Health
Disclosure is key to good sexual health care, but many bisexual men do not feel safe being open with doctors. Without trust, they miss HIV prevention tools like PrEP or regular STI screening. In a city with some of the highest HIV rates in the country, silence can be dangerous.

Access to Care
National surveys show bisexual men are more likely to have trouble paying for medical visits, prescriptions, and mental health services. Memphis’s health landscape varies widely by neighborhood. Some areas have strong resources. Others have very few. Bisexual men often fall between systems that rely on identity labels they may not feel safe using.

Community Acceptance
Many bisexual men feel unwelcome in spaces that are supposed to support them. In LGBTQ+ settings, they may be questioned or stereotyped. In straight settings, they may feel pressure to “pick a side.” This floating between worlds can create loneliness. Social connection is a central part of wellness, and many bisexual men spend years without it.

Breaking the Silence in Memphis
Memphis has an opportunity to build stronger support for bisexual men by making simple, direct changes.

Affirming Health Care
Providers should use open language and stop assuming the gender of partners. Clinics can train staff on bi-affirming practices so patients feel safe sharing the information needed for good health.

Mental health Resources
Support groups, peer networks, and therapists trained in bisexual identity can ease distress. Knowing that someone understands the stigma specific to bisexual people makes a major difference.

Targeted Outreach
Public health messaging can start naming bisexual men directly. When outreach says only “gay men,” bisexual men may not see themselves in the message. Inclusive language builds trust.

Community Visibility
Media, programs, and events can highlight bisexual stories. Representation breaks stigma. It tells bisexual men that their experiences matter.

Intersectional Approach
Many bisexual men in Memphis are also Black, Latinx, or living with low income. Their health cannot be separated from the realities of race, class, and access. Efforts to support them must reflect the full picture of who they are.

Moving Forward
Bisexual men in Memphis experience real challenges, but not because of their identity. The harm comes from how they are perceived, misunderstood, or overlooked. Silence leaves people unsupported. Stigma pushes them away from the care they need. Yet within this community are voices, resilience, and strength that deserve to be seen.

By naming these truths and creating spaces that welcome bisexual men fully, Memphis can move toward a version of wellness that includes everyone. Bisexual men are an essential part of our LGBTQ+ family. They deserve visibility, care, and celebration.

MEMPHIS-AREA RESOURCES
Here are some local organizations, clinics, and support services that bisexual people (and anyone in the LGBTQ+ community) can access in Memphis:

Music City PrEP Clinic
Offering comprehensive sexual health services for those not living with HIV and people living with HIV in a safe, professional, and shame-free environment.
3002 N Germantown Pkwy • Memphis

Planned Parenthood – Midtown
HIV testing, gender-affirming care, and sexual health services
Memphis Health Center Midtown • Inclusive Services

CHOICES
Center for Reproductive Health
LGBTQ+ health, wellness exams, STI screening, general care
Memphis, TN • 901.274.3550

Shelby County Sexual Health Clinic
STD/HIV testing, sexual health services
814 Jefferson Ave • Room 102, Memphis
901.222.9385

OUTMemphis
Peer groups, support, counseling, HIV/Hep C testing, community space
892 S. Cooper St • Memphis • Drop-in Hours • Programs

Friends For All
Free HIV/STI testing, prevention services (PrEP, PEP), counseling, mobile outreach
Based at 1548 Poplar Ave • STI/HIV testing and clinics

My Sistah’s House
Safe housing, advocacy, support services for queer, TLGBQ people
Memphis-based • Nonprofit

Memphis Crisis Center
24/7 confidential helplin...

Focus LGBT+ Magazine

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