What is pansexuality?

Labels aren't always useful, but they can also help us to understand and celebrate the many ways people identify (from gay or bi to demi-sexual). Instead of just generalising, let’s make the effort to actually understand these different labels and what they mean. In this article The Mix looks at pansexuality and what it means to be pansexual.

What does pansexual mean?

Pansexuality is the sexual, romantic or emotional attraction to anyone regardless of their sex or gender identity. It’s two words put together, pan sexual. Pan means ‘all’ in Greek. Substitute ‘pan’ for ‘all’, and you’ve got ‘allsexual’, which pretty much sums up what pansexual means. It’s sometimes misspelled as pan sexuality or pan sexual, but technically it’s all one word, no spaces. So, now if one of your mates asks ‘hey, whats pansexual mean’ you’ve got the right info to educate them!

You can define pansexual relationships as those between people who identify outside of the classic gender binary: masculine and feminine. Essentially, those who identify as pansexual could be up for netflix and chilling with a male, female, transgender, intersex, agender, genderqueer, or any other gender identity or sex.

What’s the difference between pansexuality and bisexuality?

While there’s no denying that there are some similarities, they are definitely not the same thing. So whats pansexuality got that bisexuality doesn’t have? Let The Mix try to break it down clearly for you. 

‘Bi’ in Latin means ‘two’. Bisexual people are typically attracted to those who identify as male and those who identify as female, which suggests some level of recognition of the gender binary; being pansexual means you’re attracted to people of all genders and sexes too, or people who don’t identify as anything. The key difference between bisexuality and pansexuality is that bisexuality typically takes binary gender constructs into account.

For example, a bisexual cis woman might be attracted to a cis man or woman, whereas a pansexual would show attraction to all genders. That’s why some people use the term ’gender blind’ to explain an attraction to all genders/pansexuality.

Read more about bisexual myths and biphobia.

Wait, you used the term ‘cis’, what’s that?

We all have a gender identity. If you have the same gender identity as your birth sex, then you’re cis. However if your sex at birth doesn’t match your gender identity, you’re trans.

To find out more about being trans and the importance of language and pronouns, read our article about the challenges facing young transgender people.

What about omnisexuality?

So we’ve answered your calls to define pansexual, but sexuality doesn’t end there. Omnisexuality is another sexuality (try saying that ten times fast) that is similar to being pan. They’re both all about being into the whole world of gender and sex, but the key difference is that omnisexual people recognise whatever someone identifies as, whereas pansexuals don’t.

How do I know if I’m pansexual?

If you’re down for hooking up with anyone, regardless of their gender, then pansexuality could be for you. It can be a liberating way of giving a name to something diverse and ever-changing. Especially if you find other definitions restrictive.

Read on of our volunteer’s stories about their experience as a pansexual muslim.

Pansexuality stereotypes

It can be hard to find the right person regardless of your sexual orientation. Just because someone identifies as pansexual and is open to a wide range of sexual or romantic possibilities it doesn’t mean they have to act on them all at once.

Remember, sexual orientation is fluid. Sure, you can try to define pansexuality but the reality is every pan person will experience it differently. You don’t have to choose a label, but if you do, you can change that label whenever you want.

Check out the rest of our gender and sexuality articles here.

If you need to talk stuff through with someone, Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline offers a range of help services for the LGBTQIA+ community, including message boards and a helpline at 0300 330 0630.