A collection of new studies published in a special issue of the Journal of Bisexuality examines the unique challenges and experiences of those who have sexual attractions or engage in sexual behavior with both men and women. People who identify as bi experience biphobia from both straight and gay people, forcing them to reconsider the language by which they identify and how they form their social communities. Here are a few examples of the findings from the research:

• Women who identified as bi or lesbian reported the best health when their sexual identity matched their recent sexual history.
• The health of women who used the ambiguous label of “queer” was not impacted by their sexual behavior in the same way.
• The sexual behavior of bi women fits no stereotypical mold — in one study they were almost evenly divided among those who have only male sexual partners, only female sexual partners, some of both, or none at all.
• Bisexual men struggle to find community and people whom they can discuss their identity with, negatively impacting their mental health.
• Bisexual men see women sexual partners as “safer,” choosing to use condoms with men to prevent HIV/STI transmission but with women for pregnancy prevention purposes.

Studying the sexual behavior of individuals in the LGBT community is important for health advocacy purposes. If stereotypes are being used to guide funding for LGBT health outreach efforts instead of actual data, that could be incredibly wasteful or ineffective. For example, as researcher Brian Dodge points out, sexual health programs that target gay and bi men focus only on their experiences with male partners, which deprives bi men of important guidance they should have about their full range of behaviors.

Furthermore, these studies illuminate in new and profound ways the impact of biphobia. Earlier this year, Britain’s Open University published a meta-analysis of the research on mental health in the bisexual community and the need to identify it specifically:

Separate biphobia out from homophobia, recognising that there are specific issues facing bisexual people such as lack of acknowledgement of their existence, stereotypes of greediness or promiscuity, and pressure to be either gay or straight… Recognise the role that biphobia and bisexual invisibility play in creating negative outcomes for bisexual people.

But perhaps the most important takeaway is a reminder that labels can help communicate the nature of individuals’ identities, but they can be just as destructive when they create expectations to be fulfilled.

Russian gay rights activists held two unsanctioned protests in Moscow on Sunday demanding the right to hold a pride parade, but they faced a violent reaction from members of the Russian Orthodox Church, who threw punches and trampled on rainbow flags. Police said 40 people were arrested, including almost all of the 30 gay rights activists and only a few of the 50 Orthodox counter-protesters. Those speaking out for equality responded to how they were treated by police:

NIKOLAI ALEXEYEV: I am arrested at Moscow Pride City Hall protest just for opening my mouth to talk to a crowd of journalists. I have no words.

IGOR YASIN: All of our rights are being trampled on here in Russia. Your rights aren’t safe and you’re not physically safe.

GALINA KAPTUR: It’s as if they thought that if all left-handed people held a parade, then afterward everyone would become left-handed. This is wrong.

According to Alexeyev’s twitter feed, he and other activists were charged only with holding an unsanctioned public event. Alexeyev, founder of Moscow Pride, was recently the first person arrested under St. Petersburg’s new law against any form of LGBT “propaganda” — his sign simply read “homosexuality is not a perversion.” It’s unclear how those few who were arrested from the Orthodox Church were charged, if at all. Watch this incredible video of the petty violence that took place in front of reporters at the protests:

Thousands of protesters gathered this weekend outside of the North Carolina church where Pastor Charles Worley preaches. Worley came under fire last week after saying the U.S. should build an electrified fence to create a concentration camp for all gay people and “in a few years they’ll die out.”

In the past, Worley has also spoken fondly of the days when gay people would be “hung, bless God, from a white oak tree.”

Protesters and counter-protesters from around the country showed up outside of Worley’s church, Providence Road Baptist Church, to either fight or support Worley’s message.

Check out the crowd:

Fox Charlotte has more coverage from the ground in North Carolina.

Churches are not permitted to advocate for political outcomes, and since Worley’s hateful comments were directly aimed at President Obama and Congress, a formal request has been made to the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of his church.

Some activists are taking a less legal route: There were reports of an attempted arson at the church this weekend.