Social media has blown up over a ‘ bisexual couch’ produced as part of a range of furniture from Ikea to celebrate Pride Month.
The Swedish firm released details of its Love Seats collection, which features 10 couches produced using the colours of the various flags used by different 2SLGBTQ+ identities.
All of the couches are designed and created by queer artists to celebrate identity and share stories of love.
One piece of the collection particularly stood out to people on social media.
The so-called ‘bisexual couch’ uses the colour of the bisexual pride flag with the words “nobody believes you” and “when you change or to and”.
In response to the collection, one person wrote: “Did they just turn bisexual trauma into a couch?”
Another said: “This is great because every couch gets a fun lighthearted theme and then the bisexual couch is a devastating emotional attack.”
The couch, which was designed by artist Charlotte Carbonne, is inspired by the story of Brian Lanigan.
Brian was subjected to homophobia and bullying when came out during his early years at high school.
But after transferring to an arts high schoo l, he was able to find a group of friends who were accepting of him.
He now writes and performs spoken word poetry, where he has been able to examine his identity.
Addressing the social media comments about the couch, Brian said: “Hey everyone, I’d love to explain the nobody believes you love seat!
“The line “when you change ‘or’ to ‘and’, nobody believes you” is from a poem I wrote in high school about bisexual erasure I experienced from an ex-partner and others.
“I’m a spoken word poet and the hands are meant to represent the audience reaction, especially those of other bisexual folks who would approach me after performances and share their story with me.”
Scots are currently unable to get their hands on the couches in the Love Seat collection and is is unlikely that they will be mass produced in the future.
