Post submitted by Brian McBride, former HRC Digital Strategist 

Today, HRC marks the start of Bisexual Awareness Week, also known as #BiWeek. The week will culminate on Saturday, September 23, with Bi Visibility Day.

A bisexual person is someone who can be attracted to more than one gender, and studies show that as many as half of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population identify as bisexual -- making them the largest single group in the LGBTQ community.

Now, more than ever, politicians and other notable figures are coming out as bisexual. They include Oregon Governor Kate Brown, professional wrestler Anthony Bowens, North Carolina State Rep. Cecil Brockman, Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui, actor and model Nico Tortorella, YouTube Star Shane Dawson and actresses Anna Paquin, Sara Ramirez and Evan Rachel Wood.

While bisexuality awareness continues to grow, it is vital to remain aware of the issues facing the bisexual community. Compared to other groups in the LGBTQ community, bisexual people face striking rates of poor health outcomes ranging from cancer and obesity to sexually-transmitted infections and mental health problems. Additionally, bisexual youth face a unique set of challenges that affect their ability to flourish in their families, schools and communities.

Follow HRC’s blog to learn more about Bisexual Awareness Week and check out hrc.org/bisexual for more information about the community and the issues they face.

What does it mean to be bisexual? How many people identify as bisexual? What concerns do bisexual people have? Check out these answers to some basic questions about bisexuality.