The perks of being bi+: Positive sexual orientation-related experiences among bisexual, pansexual, and queer male youth.

Previous research on sexual minority health has largely focused on negative experiences related to one's sexual orientation with limited attention to the ways in which being a sexual minority can contribute to positive experiences. This is especially true of bisexual, pansexual, and queer (bi+) male youth, whose experiences have not been represented in the literature. To address these gaps, the goal of the current study was to characterize positive experiences related to one's sexual orientation in a sample of 46 bi+ male youth (ages 14-17) who were interviewed as part of a larger study. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Almost all of the participants described at least one positive experience related to their bi+ identity. The positive experiences fell into six categories: (1) experiences with LGBTQ+ people in general; (2) experiences with other bi+ people; (3) experiences in LGBTQ+ environments; (4) experiences disclosing bi+ identities; (5) romantic and sexual experiences; and (6) experiences with allies. Participants described eight reasons for these experiences being positive: (1) feeling a sense of belonging in a community; (2) the normalization, acceptance, and visibility of one's identity or community; (3) providing or receiving support; (4) discussing shared experiences; (5) the promotion of authenticity; (6) celebrating one's identity or community; (7) experiencing personal growth; and (8) not feeling limited by gender when it came to romantic and sexual experiences. In sum, bi+ male youth report a range of positive experiences related to their sexual orientation, which may have important implications for promoting resilience and wellbeing.