The X-Men Franchise has taken a lot of heat for its portrayal of gay and lesbian characters. Over the past few decades the number of textually lesbian and gay X-Men has grown and with each addition created waves of controversy. Homosexual representation in the X-Men has been called pandering, out of touch, or off base. There are several critical reads that have long since suggested alternate takes on characters like Kitty Pryde, Illyana Rasputin, and Rachel Summers that cast their interactions as subtextually romantic. Several uses of the Mutant Metaphor have been an allegory for the gay experience. Somewhere between that text and the subtext, all bisexual representation has been silenced. The franchise as a whole does not approach bisexual representation with respect, despite having an incredible number of characters for whom the claim can be made and the majority of textual bisexual representation in Marvel comics.
Daken, Mystique, Psylocke, Richter, and Shatterstar. That is the current list of textual bisexual mutants unless you want to count David Allyene (depowered) or Stacy X (depowered, shown possibly repowered, no appearances since 2012). Davids bisexuality was not explored in an X-Book, nor has he appeared in the franchise since 2012. Stacy X is
regrettable. Of the remainder, Daken and Mystique are frequently cast as villainous while Psylocke, Richter, and Shatterstar are generally cast in heroic roles. All five, however, have at one time or another taken a heel and face turn, batting for both teams really. This is good for bisexual representation because bisexuality is rarely depicted in any medium including the comics these characters come from.
How rare, one might ask? Psylocke, Betsy Braddock, introduced in 1976 has over 750 appearances to her name. However, the reveal of her bisexuality took place in 2013 and has not come up since. Even with her popularity, she has appeared in no more than 125 comics since coming out as textually bisexual. Since the X-Force storyline involving her romantic entanglement with a part of Fantomex, named Cluster, that was female has resolved it also hasnt come up again in any storylines. In fact, her relationship to Angel has been paramount in her stories. This is how bisexual voices are silenced, certainly, Psylocke hasnt had anything to say on the topic.
This is the main issue with bisexual representation and a challenge for the perception of bisexuals everywhere. It is unreasonable and biphobic that the audience is asked to accept, without textual evidence, that one same-sex relationship means the character is bisexual. Its arguable that is even a case for a bisexual identity in the first place as Psylocke was engaged in a heterosexual relationship with Fantomex previous to it becoming a polyamorous bisexual relationship with male Fantomex and female Cluster. Everything else is subtext. Betsy could be pansexual or any other number of niche sexualities. It seems to be the intent of the franchise that it simply be taken as read. So while she is touted as bisexual we see no evidence of it, which is par for the bisexual course, seen but not heard.
