Vietnam: What is Bisexual? Is Bisexuality a disease?

Hello, Lawnet would like to answer as follows:

1. What is Bisexual? How to distinguish bisexuals from other sexual orientations in the LGBT community?

Bisexual is a term used to talk about one of the four typical sexual orientations of the LGBT community. Thus, bisexuals have diversity and complexity of sexual orientation.

Bisexuals are people with bisexual sexual orientation, meaning they are attracted, have feelings of love, and have sex with both genders, men and women.

In addition, bisexuals have four different sexual orientations, such as:

- Heterosexual: A person who is attracted to people of the opposite sex (normal tendency).

- Homosexual: A person who is attracted to other people of the same sex.

Pansexual: A person who is attracted to any gender.

- Asexual: A person who is not attracted to any gender.

Some forms of expression for Bisexual people:

- Can be expressed through body image, masculine, feminine, or neutral clothing style... representing the bisexual community.

- Use symbols, flags, or colors that represent bisexual people, such as flags with 3 colors pink, purple, and blue.

- Show interest in, support for, or participation in the LGBT community.

- Or share positive role models representing the bisexual community...

2. How to distinguish bisexuals from other sexual orientations in the LGBT community?

Bisexual is one of the abbreviations for the LGBT community. Thus, the remaining sexual orientations other than bisexual in the LGBT community include:

- Gay: Men who are emotionally and sexually attracted to men.

- Lesbian: Women who are emotionally and sexually attracted to women.

- Transgender: gender identity different from sex assigned at birth. This means that, thanks to gender reassignment surgery, they have genitals that match the gender they desire.

3. Is Bisexuality a disease?

On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WTO) officially removed homosexuality from the list of mental diseases. Since 1994, homosexuality is no longer considered a disease and is not listed in the DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also determined that "homosexuality is not a disease," but rather people who have sexual orientation towards the same sex. Homosexuality and transgenderism were removed by the WHO from the Mental and Behavioral Disorders chapter of the International List of Diseases (ICD) in 1990 and 2019, respectively.

On August 3, 2022, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 4132/BYT-PC requesting Heads of Units to direct medical examination and treatment facilities under its management authority, thoroughly monitor medical examination and treatment facilities nationwide as follows:

- Strengthen propaganda and dissemination so that doctors, medical staff, and people coming to medical examination and treatment facilities correctly understand about gay, bisexual, and transgender people;

- When organizing medical examination and treatment for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people, there must be equality and respect for gender, without discrimination or discrimination against these subjects;

- Do not consider homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderism a disease.

- Do not intervene or force treatment for these subjects; if any, it is only psychological support and is provided by people with an understanding of gender identity.

- Strengthen inspection and examination of medical examination and treatment facilities; practitioners in implementing and complying with the principles of medical examination and treatment practice in accordance with the provisions of law.

Thus, everyone has equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual orientation is innate; no one can choose it. Therefore, there should be no discrimination based on innate characteristics. Each person has their own personality, abilities, and contributions to society. Sexual orientation does not affect human values. Discrimination against homosexuals can cause serious consequences such as depression, suicide, etc.

Homosexuals deserve to be treated with equality and respect. Let's join hands to build a tolerant and inclusive society for everyone.

Best regards!

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Key word: Bisexual people | Bisexuality | Vietnam | sexual orientations | LGBT |

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