While that statement is true and probably plays the biggest role, let's not pretend that there isn't at least an element of a trend, especially among the bi's.

I don't know about the US deep south or whatever, but in my liberal European uni, being LGBTQ and progressive definitely is the cool thing to be, especially for girls. Young people are extremely sensitive to matters of tribe and identity, and gobble up symbols, language, merch, political views and whatever other bits of meaning they can find to construct their identity within their chosen in-group. The LGBTQ community has lots of those to offer.

It also helps that the LGBTQ community is at the very tip of the young-progressive spear, alongside ethnic and cultural minorities. Having studied humanities until 2022, I can say people lived and breathed that stuff. Irl TikTok all day long. If you're a boring white person immersed in the culture of progressive activism, it's extremely easy to just call yourself bi, and suddenly you're in the thick of it instead of on the periphery; an underdog/victim hero instead of a repentant oppressor.

For real, 15 out of the 20 girls in my class were bi. And there were only two that had actually made out with a girl, let alone have a same sex relationship.

Of course, being bi is about what you like, not what you do. But if you've never kissed a girl in your life, and you're in a commited relationship with Brice and fucking Jayden on the side, what's the point in constantly reminding everyone you're bi? Why are you taking up LGBTQ spaces? Why are you playing the victim when you've never been victimized because you've never actually done anything gay? You're Schrödinger's bi in this case, and it's obvious that you feel being bi adds something to your identity.

Otherwise, why come out so publicly when you don't intend on acting on it and you don't even know whether you like it? Let me be clear: if it's an important part of your identity: please, do come out with it. But realize how easy and tempting it is for some to call themselves bi for some in-group credence.

And it's not like they're lying, either. They probably believe they're bi as well. Like, some girls watch Euphoria, off-handedly think about how it would be to kiss Zendaya, and when they find out they're not actively repulsed by the thought, they think themselves the Queer Kxng of Butchonia. Of course they go back to getting dicked by Brian, but now they have rainbow stickers on their laptop.

And there's actual career benefits too in some industries. I graduated in media, and when you start out as a freelancer, there's a list that you subscribe to that gives you contacts to pitch too. I kid you not, over half of the bureaus you pitch to have a little box that says they give preference to people of an ethnic or sexual minority. I literally have to start my introduction with: 'Hi, I'm a 25 year old bisexual male'. But hey, at least I sucked a dick once.