Pansexual, panromantic and biromantic are three terms that not everyone may be aware of. Pansexual people are people who are attracted to others regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. Panromantic people are people who are romantically (not necessarily sexually) attracted to others regardless of their gender identity or biological sex and bromantic people are romantically attracted to multiple genders.
To help understand and support pansexual, panromantic or biromantic folk, here are just a few things you might want to know.
THE WORD 'PAN' COMES FROM A MYTHOLOGICAL GREEK GOD
Prefix. Pan-, a prefix from the Greek πᾶν, pan, meaning "all", "of everything", or "involving all members" of a group.
In Greek religion and mythology, Pan (/pæn/; Ancient Greek: Πάν, romanised: Pán) is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, rustic music and impromptus, and companion of the nymphs. He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same manner as a faun or satyr.
The god Pan is famous for his sexual prowess and is often depicted with a phallus. Diogenes of Sinope, speaking in jest, related a myth of Pan learning masturbation from his father, Hermes, and teaching the habit to shepherds.
SIGMUND FREUD INVENTED THE WORD PANSEXUAL
Originally, Sigmund Freud invented the word "pansexual", regarding the hypothesis "that regards all desire and interest as derived from [the] sex instinct".
Pansexuality is often described as ‘attraction to people regardless of gender (including those who may not identify as boys or girls or as men or women, or to those who are intersex, genderfluid, etc.). Pansexuality can also be described as "gender blind".
BEING PANSEXUAL IS DIFFERENT TO BI-SEXUAL
Bisexuality and pansexuality are both terms that people may use to describe sexual orientation. Generally, bisexuality refers to an attraction to more than one gender. People may define pansexuality as attraction regardless of gender.
Bisexuality can mean different things, and not everyone will agree on a single definition. Generally, if someone identifies as bisexual, they feel an attraction to more than one gender. Some people define their gender according to their biological sex. However, other people see themselves as agender or gender-fluid.
PANSEXUAL PEOPLE FEEL ATTRACTION TO MANY TYPES OF PEOPLE
Typically, people who identify as pansexual can feel an attraction to anyone, including individuals who do not identify as a specific gender.
For example, people with a pansexual orientation may feel an attraction to someone who is agender. They might equally find a female, male, or gender-fluid person attractive.
It is important to note that identifying as pansexual does not mean feeling attracted to everyone, just as a heterosexual male does not feel an attraction to every female, and vice versa.
PANSEXUALITY AND BEING PANROMANTIC ARE CLOSELY LINKED
Pansexuality is the sexual attraction to people regardless of gender while being panromantic is having the ability to feel romantic attraction regardless of gender. Finally, being biromantic is having the ability to be romantically attracted to two or more genders.
Pansexuality and being panromantic are closely linked, but someone can be one without being the other. If someone is pansexual, they can feel sexual attraction to all genders. Many people who are pansexual are also panromantic, so they just call themselves pansexual or “pan.” However, some people may not experience romantic attraction to all genders to which they are sexually attracted. These people may be pansexual and homoromantic, for example - only able to feel romantic attraction to people of their own gender.
On the other hand, a panromantic person may only feel sexual attraction towards certain genders or people. For example, they might be panromantic and demisexual, so they can feel a romantic attraction to anyone but only feel sexual attraction towards people they are very close to.
PANROMANTIC VS. BIROMANTIC
The difference between biromantic and panromantic is subtle, but also important. People who are biromantic are romantically attracted to multiple genders, but not necessarily all genders. They may not feel romantic attraction to men, for example. Meanwhile, people who are panromantic can feel this romantic attraction for people of any gender identity.
THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMOUS PANSEXUAL PEOPLE!
Recently, the fabulous Janelle Monáe came out as pansexual, saying, ‘I’m open to learning more about who I am’. Other notable pansexual people include Miley Cyrus, Angel Haze, Laci Green and of course, the not quite and totally awsome superhero Deadpool.
PANSEXUAL AWARENESS DAY
24 May is Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day. Pan visibility day is an opportunity to bring to light the stories and experiences of Pansexual people in society and look at how we can work to improve inclusivity for pansexual people.
Come Pansexual Visibility Day post your pansexual selfies or your pansexual solidarity selfies on social media using the hashtag #pansexual #panromantic #fusemagazine
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