New documentary reveals the hidden lives of bisexual men in rural Finland

A new documentary by Finnish broadcaster Yle explores the rarely discussed lives of bisexual men in rural Finland, focusing on potato farmer Petri Väisänen from Savonia, who lived half his life concealing his sexuality.

Väisänen, now 50, realised at 17 that he was attracted to both men and women but felt overwhelming anxiety in his small village, unable to confide in anyone. “Finnish society is heteronormative, and I had to live by that,” he said. After moving away for studies, he experienced his first relationship with a man before later meeting the mother of his six children. For 20 years of marriage, he remained faithful to his wife while suppressing his attraction to men.

The turning point came at the end of his marriage when Väisänen refused to hide any longer. He and his current partner, Anu Kaunisaho, now live openly in Maaninka, Savonia, in a relationship built on radical honesty. Väisänen is free to see other men, with Kaunisaho’s full acceptance. “We decided to put everything on the table—take it or leave it,” she said. “We hope our story encourages others to live authentically.”

Their relationship is the centrepiece of director Markku Heikkinen’s documentary Northern Passion, which explores the invisibility of bisexual men in Finland. Heikkinen interviewed 80 bisexual men online for the film, many of whom described living in secrecy well into adulthood. “I wondered how, in the 2020s, ordinary men still feel forced to hide their sexuality,” he said.

Research by Seta, a Finnish LGBTQ+ rights organisation, confirms that bisexual men remain one of the least visible sexual minorities. They often face scepticism even within queer communities, where they may be dismissed as gay men in denial. Many fear rejection from partners or stigma if they disclose same-sex attractions.

Cultural anthropologist Jenny Kangasvuo, who has studied bisexuality in Finland for nearly 30 years, notes that societal attitudes have changed little over decades. While young women’s bisexuality is sometimes framed as experimental or performative, men’s bisexuality is often stereotyped as a cover for homosexuality. “The assumption is that bisexual men are just trying to appear straight,” she said.

For Väisänen, the years of concealment led to depression during his divorce. Now, he and Kaunisaho say they no longer care about others’ opinions. “As adults, we take responsibility for our own choices,” they stated.