Sex has always been a commodity. However, self-made MySpace phenomenon Tila Tequila takes this commoditization to a greater, punch-drunk level. Her television show’s basic concept follows the formula of most reality dating shows, where a number of previously anonymous people compete for the love (or something like that) of a famous individual. However, Tila adds a new twist to this wild, hormonally saturated program: she happens to be (gasp!) bisexual.

In the series premiere, two groups of twenty-something females and males arrive at the Tequila mansion, unaware that the Internet’s diminutive digital darling has a surprising secret: both genders are there to compete for her heart, which she claims longs for a person who will complete her. In a display of decadence, Tila spends the rest of the season throwing the delicate issue of sexuality into the reality show trash bin, left to rot among discarded episodes of MTV’s The Hills and VH1’s Rock of Love.

As soon as the new cast members settle into the lavish mansion complete with a champagne-filled Jacuzzi, and a 22-person bed with a pole designated for exotic performance, the rampaging quest for Tila’s yearning heart ensues. Straight men and gay women grovel before Tila in scanty outfits and wrestle in chocolate in the name of love of Tila, all while fighting, backstabbing, and generally drawing attention to themselves in ways that simultaneously amuse the audience and annoy Tila, which in turn engages the audience even further. After the completion of one season, many speculated that Tila had given up on her search; however, the second season’s April 2008 premiere proved otherwise.

Gratuitous sexuality is fine and dandy-we all enjoy it on some level, and despite its dissenters, it will continue to rival death and taxes in eternal durability. Tila’s misstep is in her presentation of bisexuality as a rampant, drunken social experiment perpetrated for the sake of entertainment value. Sex and sexuality are related, but also distinctly separate. Sexuality encompasses a greater spectrum of feeling, from love and romantic attachment, while sex merely defines the physical desire. Bisexuality, a topic still misunderstood, cannot be so eagerly fused with sex without generating the same negative reactions against bisexuals. Both love and desire must be present in order to create an accurate image of the feelings of attraction toward both genders. In a move defining Tila’s misrepresentation, the last season concluded with her choosing the man over the woman, a girl who many thought was a better choice. This sent the message to many that while experimentation was fun, the decision ultimately came down to a heterosexual relationship.

Tila’s feeble claims of promoting tolerance are greatly overshadowed by images of barely clad lesbians clawing at and over each other to get that one shot of love (read: fifteen minutes of fame). The men’s enjoyment upon watching this spectacle does no good either. If our culture is to charge a celebrity with presenting bisexuality appropriately, it shouldn’t be in the hands of Tila Tequila. The sexual energy of the show is apparent, and throwing bisexuality into the mix creates a recipe for stereotypes of bisexuality, and their dismissal as drunken, experimenting young adults who will eventually discover their “real” sexuality. The time has come to separate the subjects of sex and sexuality, and say goodbye to negative portrayals that harm the GLBT community. To paraphrase Tila’s final message to those eliminated, this show’s shot at love has ended.