What Is Pansexuality?

Pansexuality is a sexual orientation where someone is attracted to people of all gender identities 

What does it mean to be pansexual?

Let’s clear something up straight away, pansexuality is a sexual orientation, not a gender identity. It means that a person can be attracted to other people, regardless of their gender. Pansexuality means being emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to another person of any gender. Anyone can be pansexual; it doesn’t matter what their individual gender identity is either. So, a cis-gender man who is pansexual may be attracted to women, transgender men, non-binary individuals, men, and people of all different gender identities. 

What is the difference between pansexuality and bisexuality?

Some people think there’s a difference between pansexuality and bisexuality. And others think they are similar. Some bisexual people are only attracted to men and women. Whereas pansexual people are attracted to people of any gender identity. So, while someone who is pansexual can be attracted to a man or a woman, they can also be attracted to a non-binary person, or someone of any other gender identity.

Do pansexual people just fancy everyone then?

There is a common myth that because pansexual people are attracted to all genders, they’re greedy and attracted to everyone. This isn’t true!  You wouldn’t say someone is being greedy for liking people with different types of hair colour or skin colour, would you? No! It’s the same thing with pansexual people, there are just more variables because their attraction isn’t limited by gender.

At the same time, pansexual people aren’t just attracted to everyone. Again, it’s a question of personal preference; not all heterosexual women fancy all heterosexual men. Pansexual people can also be more attracted to one gender identity over another and still be pan, like how you can fancy people with both blue and brown eyes, but mainly date people with blue eyes. 

Am I going through a phase? Is this normal?

People often think that pansexual people are just experimenting and haven’t decided what their sexuality is. This isn’t true! Pansexuality is a valid sexuality; it doesn’t mean you’re indecisive or greedy or just going through a phase. 

Whatever your sexuality or sexual identity is, it’s normal. Sexuality is a spectrum and you can be anywhere on that spectrum. At the end of the day, your sexuality is for you, no one else, so it’s all okay as long as it makes you happy!

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Image Credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection