Queer-and trans-spectrum students continue to struggle with hostile campus climates. As a result, queerand trans-spectrum students may engage in on-campus activism to push their institutions to address cisheterosexism on campus. Bisexual students experience invisibility, marginalization, and exclusion in both heterosexual and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) spaces. Though not surprising that bisexual students experience hostility within predominantly heterosexual spaces, their challenges within LGBTQ campus spaces are especially concerning considering these spaces should be inclusive and supportive of their bisexual identity. The purpose of this study is to examine bisexual college students' experiences engaging in identity-based activism within LGBTQ campus spaces. Based on interviews with bisexual college students who participated in LGBTQ activism on campus, I considered two questions. First, what were the costs of engaging in LGBTQ activism as bisexual students within LGBTQ campus spaces? Second, considering these costs, what sustained them in continuing their activist work within LGBTQ campus spaces? The findings of this study revealed that most participants experienced at least one of the three components symptomatic of activist burnout as a result of their engagement in LGBTQ campus spaces. Participants shared their challenges engaging in these spaces stemmed from two main causes: (a) identifying as bisexual and experiencing biphobia within LGBTQ campus spaces and (b) being overcommitted to their activist work within LGBTQ campus spaces.

Studies on queer/trans-spectrum students’ campus experiences show that colleges and universities continue to be hostile and unwelcoming for them despite the implementation of programs and initiatives to improve campus climate. Bisexual students, however, face a unique type of marginalization within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, with research on their experiences in higher education suggesting they are not safe from marginalization even in what should be safe LGBTQ campus spaces. This study examines the experiences of 9 bisexual students engaged in LGBTQ campus spaces to address the following research questions: First, to what degree did bisexual students experience bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces? Second, how, if at all, did bisexual-specific stress impact their participation in these LGBTQ campus spaces? The findings of this study revealed that all participants experienced bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces, and as a result of bisexual-specific stress and lack of support in addressing these issues, participants shared negative impacts on their participation within LGBTQ campus spaces. Understanding the challenges bisexual students experience within LGBTQ campus spaces can help student affairs professionals and others working with queer/trans-spectrum students work toward creating more bisexual-inclusive LGBTQ campus spaces.