Structural Stigma and Bisexual + People: Effects of the Rejection of the Zan Bill in Italy on Minority Stress and Mental Health

Abstract

Abstract Bisexual + people experience severe forms of structural stigma that are associated to negative mental health outcomes. In order to eradicate hate crimes against LGBTQIAPK + people, on the 4th of November 2020, the Italian deputy Alessandro Zan proposed a Bill entitled “Measures to prevent and combat discrimination and violence on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability” (also known as “Zan Bill”). On October 27, 2021, the Italian Senate silenced the Bill. This study aimed to explore whether a worsening in mental health before and after the Zan Bill’s rejection occurred among bisexual + people. Data from 299 Italian bisexual + people after the Zan Bill’s rejection were compared with data on the same measures from 381 Italian bisexual + people before the Zan Bill’s rejection. We observed a worsening in the levels of discrimination, anticipated and internalized binegativity, resilience, anxiety, and depression after the rejection of the Zan Bill. Outness remained unchanged in the two groups. Results suggested that the rejection of the Zan Bill has had a strong effect on the well-being of Italian bisexual + people.