In an interview with Esquire magazine back in 2011, True Blood star Evan Rachel Wood came out publicly as bisexual and since then has used her position of fame to blow up the negative and harmful discriminatory attitudes facing the bi-community.
Last week, Wood took to Twitter in an active, honest and open conversation, which addressed the battles she’s faced with biphobia and depression.
Her educational, respectful, and enlightening tweets became very personal when she started discussing her own feelings about her place as a bisexual person in the LGBT community.
Inspired by her frank discussion of the topic, Nylon magazine reached out to the star to discuss the topic of bisexuality, bishame and biphobia, in a context that would allow more than 140 character answers.
Explaining that she’d spent years attempting to fit into a box that didn’t fit her, she found accepting her true self has been the key to happiness:
I realized I was happier when I just accepted myself. I stopped feeling like I had to prove my “queerness.” I knew who I was and that was enough. Also just noting that some people view the word queer as offensive. Some embrace it and identify with it. I always liked the word when it wasn’t being used in a derogatory way. So to be clear, I am using it in a non-derogatory sense.
Throughout the interview, Wood gives her interpretations of bisexuality, experimentation and pansexuality, saying that curiosity and forming long term relationships with multiple partners is not the same thing as identifying as bisexual.
Because for some, it is a gateway. Some people go through more of a transition, for whatever reason they feel. But just because you once identified as bisexual and now you identify as gay, doesn’t mean every bisexual is just “afraid to come all the way out.” Your experience is your experience. Period. I have a feminine side and a masculine side. I think I finally found a good marriage between the two. They have made peace with each other. When I am with a man, I am not straight. When I am with a woman, I am not gay. I am always bi. I am always me. I can’t “pick a side” or “shut one down.”
One is not better than the other. They are just different. The only choice I make is the choice to be happy by letting go and just being myself.”
When asked how we can all work to be better allies, Evan shared:
Try not to judge someone before you really know their story. Be good to people who are good to you. And don’t let bad experiences with certain people taint your perception of an entire group of people. That’s how extreme points of view take over and bigotry is born.”
Definitely take the time to check out the whole interview right here. Once again, Evan Rachel Wood has really knocked some effective education out of the park.
