Comedian Michael Henry celebrates bisexual awareness week this week with a new video, aptly-titled “bisexual.” In it, Henry stages a mock conversation with a friend addressing criticism he received over a previous video that referenced bisexuality.
In the previous video, a character tells Henry that the term bisexual is inaccurate since it implies only two genders exist. The new video points out that Henry never said only two genders exist; in fact he said the opposite. The comedian didn’t stop there, though, going to far as to explain the true definition of bisexuality.
Related: WATCH: Michael Henry wants to wink his way to love…or at least carnal lust
“Some people might misunderstand and assume the term bisexual is limiting because it starts with the word ‘bi’ as in ‘bilingual,’ ‘bicycle,’ ‘binoculars;’ all of those words refer to two of something,” Henry says.
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“But the word ‘bisexual‘ has evolved past being attracted to two genders or sexes,” his friend rebuts.
“I know that,” Henry assures. “Being bisexual is much more broad and fluid than the term I’d suggest, and the definition of ‘bisexual’ varies from person to person.”
He has a point. Henry also adds a preemptive disclaimer, pointing out that terminology for the queer community changes over time, and he should not get dragged for defining bisexuality in a certain way at this point in time in the future. Oh, and he wants everyone to know he has a great *ss.
Have a look and judge for yourself. The definition, not the *ss.
Ok, the *ss too.
Kangol2
Michael Henry’s “friend” is the gorgeous Sachin Bhatt. More videos of him, please.
dhmonarch89
I think a lot of gay guys negative feelings about bisexual guys is that, they never seem to be in relationships with men (I’ve never known one gay guy who’s dated- more than a couple weeks, a bi guy)… they seem to have relationships with women and fool around on the side with us. They get to fit in with society as a seemingly str8 guy with a wife or girlfriend (not pronouncing the bisexuality a majority of the time), then slip off and use gay guys for sex when they get pent up.
Donston
We must run in completely different types of circles. I’m inherently pan, and I’ve been married to a guy for four years. I know three same-sex couples that have been together for years where at least one of the parties is not anywhere near inherently homo. Then again, almost none of us have much a problem being viewed as “gay”.
I do understand the frustration of someone placing hetero-normalcy above you or feeling used primarily for sex and/or as an occasional free therapist. And we do need to talk more about that stuff. But even though it’s not that widely discussed, there are plenty of guys who use women (or trans people) for sex/partying but don’t really take them that seriously and prefer persistent same-sex affections, romantic/emotional investment, relationships. The media doesn’t highlight those guys. They don’t get the same attention as guys who are with women but hook up with dudes.
But all of this stuff is attached to confronting identity politics, homophobia, internalized homophobia, hetero pressures, gay shame, trauma, mental health, paraphiliacs, fluidity, the orientation spectrum. All of this stuff is connected to each other. It’s all deeply connected, which is why I frequently bring them up.
Donston
His video is interesting in the sense that it touches on some topics that almost never get explored with any depth. He comes to the conclusion that “bisexual” can mean anything the person who identities as “bi” says it means. The biggest alteration to the word “bisexual” over the past decade seems to be “it can mean anything you want it to”. However, if there’s no rules at all for what is “bi” it makes it something virtually impossible to grasp. The “bi” evolution has assisted words like man, woman, trans, non-binary, gay, straight, fluid, queer, etc. to also mean whatever the individual wants them to mean. And these are words that initially started off with rather assured definitions. I’m not saying this is all inherently bad. But I’m trying to figure out how the “LGBTQ community” can continue to place so much stock in identity and continue to sell identity politics so hardcore if we’ve all come to the conclusion that these words can be adapted into whatever.
It makes identity politics feel more about a fight with sociology and ego. And it also sometimes seems like a way to avoid more complicated, uncomfortable work. Too many people attach to identities or attach to sociological performance while not at all confronting issues of confusion, internalized homophobia, hetero pressures, hetero privilege, homo shaming, non homo superiority, trauma, mental health, paraphiliacs, masculinity, femininity, the different types of fluidity, how vast the gender, romantic, sexual, emotional, relationship spectrum is. Are we assisting one another or merely using identity or performance to cloak other issues? At this point it feels like both are being done, sometimes without conscious intent.
Once again, I’m not against the “all these words can mean anything” train. Nor am I entirely anti identity. But if this is what “our community” will be selling then people need to be ready for deeper, more complicated conversation as try to understand how to better deal with the identity discourse without shaming or judging each other or trying to force things on people.
Liquid Silver
Isn’t he supposed to be a…comedian? Because this isn’t that funny, but it sure is preachy.
Donston
The worst is that he’s just re-iterating cliches because of the past criticism he’s received. There’s nothing wrong with getting more serious. But there’s a complete lack of sincerity.
Doug
Thank you. I have a hard time finding his videos funny.
I like the ones where he gives people manicures, though.
Liquid Silver
It’s the lack of funny that made me unsubscribe. But you’re right, there’s no ring of sincerity here, either. It’s a set of easily-conquered strawmen with no particular weight.
To be really blunt, the super-woke aren’t funny. Rude, yes. Funny, no.
dhmonarch89
He’s gotten VERY preachy this past year, his older stuff is much more funny.
Joshooeerr
Nobody is remotely shocked that Michael Henry is single. Some of us are shocked that he’s regarded as funny.
JessPH
His videos are not funny anymore. They used to be but now they’re just preachy.
justgeo
AND NO ONE NO ONE could ever be attracted to Michael maybe good ass but mushy POS!