In the last decade, we have witnessed a gradual and notable increase in identification with bisexuality and other plurisexual identities, indicating an evolution in the conception of sexual and gender identity in Western societies. In Southern Europe, characterized by a unique historical, political and socio-cultural legacy, it is important to recognize that the challenges faced by the bisexual population have been insufficiently explored. Specifically, in the context of intimate relationships, we have observed that while they can mitigate the negative impact of bisexuality and act as a safe space, they can also amplify its effects. In this talk, we will present a qualitative study from an ongoing doctoral project conducted in Portugal based on the critical psychology of sexualities. We will start by presenting the study and after we will explore how bisexual people negotiate their sexual identities in intimate relationships and how binegativity manifests itself in Portugal in the context of intimacy. We will discuss the main results which highlight the presence of a regime of in/visibility concerning bisexuality and the complexity of bisexual people's everyday intimate relationships which compromise their status as bisexual citizens.

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binegativity,coming out in intimate relationships,bisexual population,gender differences,Portugal