Ugly stereotypes may be the reason so many bisexual people have found it difficult to come out, according to a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A group of 45 self-identified bisexual people told researchers that their friends' and family members' negative or overly-sexual misconceptions of bisexuality made it difficult to open up about their orientation. The group reported that these outside perceptions prompted many to come out as gay, or decided not to come out at all, though some eventually did come out as bisexual.

Sociologist and study co-author Emily Kazyak said some might find bisexual identity difficult to accept because many still believe people can only be gay or straight.

"Family members will say, 'Oh, it's just a phase,' or, 'You're confused.' That's why a lot of people came out as gay or lesbian," Kazyak said, according to ScienceDaily. "They would say things like, 'I think this will be easier for my family members to understand.' They thought coming out as bisexual would be too confusing to their family."

Here are a few examples of the pervasive stereotypes that some on Twitter said made the path coming out a little unclear: