Adult Sexual Identity Studies Find International Fluidity

Most People Pick a Team, but Others Play the Gender Field

Sexual Fluidity. Once Upon a Time it “didn’t exist.” Instead, there was “Heterosexuality.” For most of us, this was the only “natural/moral” option presented. Of course, when only one thing is presented, there is no option. An option implies the existence of a choice between at least two actions or objects.

Eventually, most of us were introduced to the existence of something called “Homosexuality.” With Heterosexuality established by the Powers That Be as the default and only acceptable “choice” in Christendom. Homosexuality was introduced to most of us with a bad reputation before it even had a chance to do anything wrong. Although less taboo today, those with same-sex attractions still find their rights a matter of political debate.

And then we met “Bisexuality.” Sadly, although it embraces love and desire for both men and women, it did not bring the binary sexual identities together in a triad of common cause. Instead, the sexual fluidity of Bisexuality became a punch line. It was dismissed as a transitional “phase,” a refusal to “pick a team/side,” a red flag warning of an inevitably fickle lover, and not a “valid,” sexual identity. Again, Bisexuality now faces less hostility. In fact, with the alphabet of sexual identities continuing to expand, Bisexuality almost seems quaint by comparison.

Ready or not, we are now faced with something officially called Sexual Fluidity. Mentioned earlier, it was the focus of a study conducted in Sweden’s Stockholm County between 2010 and 2021. During that time, Willie Zhang, MD, PhD and his fellow researchers followed 35,000 people aged 18 and older who identified as Heterosexual, Homosexual, or Bisexual. By the time the study ended, nearly 16 percent of those people had violated the dominant assumption that sexual identity is Fixed. By doing so, they demonstrated Sexual Fluidity.

What is Sexual Fluidity? It is what happens when a person’s sexual identity changes over time. A binary or spectrum of sexuality is expressed, which demonstrates that human sexuality is not Fixed and unchanging for everyone. Sexual Fluidity acknowledges that whether due to environmental, hormonal, social acceptance, or personal experiences, some people find that throughout their life, their sexual desire fluctuates not only as regards frequency but also object.

A Straight person may fall in bed or love with someone of their same sex. A Gay man or Lesbian may find themselves unexpectedly drawn to a person of the opposite sex. A Bisexual may, indeed, “pick a team.”

According to Zhang, Bisexuals had the highest rate of Fluidity. Slightly more than 50 percent of those involved with the study found their sexual identity had experienced a change during the past 12 years. Of those, 33 percent of Bisexuals identified as Heterosexual by study’s end. Nine percent identified as exclusively Homosexual. In second place were those who identified as Homosexual with a 36 percent change. By 2021, 26 percent of participants viewed themselves as exclusively Heterosexual. Bisexuality inherited seven percent of the formerly Gay.

Straight people were more likely to remain content with a Heterosexual identity. A mere seven percent realized that they were attracted to members of the opposite sex. Fun Fact: half of those who completed the study and adopted Bisexuality as an appropriate sexual identity due to Sexual Fluidity had begun the study self-identifying as Heterosexual.

It may be tempting to respond to this information with a shrug and dismissive mutter of “Yeah, but Sweden, am I right,” but don’t. The same basic results were reported in study’s conducted within Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. This information puts the concept of a Fixed sexual identity on the defense.

Once the reality of Sexual Fluidity is acknowledged as not uncommon, those who experience it can feel safer and more comfortable being open about it. Medical professionals who are educated on the matter can provide more supportive and understanding care, and the legal system can hopefully craft laws that better reflect, respond, and protect the natural diversity of human sexuality.