May 24th: Pansexual Visibility Day

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﹝     𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀     ﹞

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                          ⁰ : Table of Contents

                          ¹ : Disclaimer

                          ² : History of the Day

                          ³ : What is it?

                          ⁴ : The Differences

                          ⁵ : Symbolism

                          ⁶ : Pansexual Celebrities

                          ⁷ : Myths About Pansexuality

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Sources of information have been credited,

to the best of my abilities. Some information

is directly quoted from its sources.

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The following content contains material

that may be triggering or sensitive

subjects for some readers.

If you are unable and/or uncomfortable

reading about discussions of Pan-phobia,

Bi-phobia, etc., reader discretion is advised.

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If you begin reading this blog and start to

feel yourself getting overwhelmed, PLEASE

stop reading. You can always come back

and continue reading at a later date.

Again, PLEASE prioritize your mental and

emotional health and well-being.

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:heartbeat: Resources :heartbeat:

:small_blue_diamond: PTSD Attack : click here

:small_blue_diamond: Anxiety Attack : click here

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Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness

and Visibility Day is celebrated on May 24,

and is is a day to celebrate the Pansexual

and Panromantic community, as well as

educate others on the community. [1]

The holiday is celebrated ever year

all over the world, beginning in 2015. [2]

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What is, “Pan–”?

”Pan-” is a prefix from the Greek πᾶν,

pan, meaning "all", "of everything", or

"involving all " of a group. [3]

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What is “Pansexual”?

”Pansexual,” is defined as, “of, relating

to, or characterized by sexual or romantic

attraction that is not limited to people of

a particular gender identity or sexuality.” [4]

LGBT+ Amino Wiki on Pansexual.

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:round_pushpin: “Pansexual people are attracted

to all kinds of people, regardless of their

gender, sex or presentation.”

— Farhana Khan [4]

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What is “Panromantic”?

”Panromantic,” or “Pan-Romantic,” is

defined as, “a romantic attraction to

people regardless of their gender.” [5]

LGBT+ Amino Wiki on Panromantic.

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:black_small_square: Panromantic people can be romantically

attracted to people of every gender identity.

:black_small_square: (And) people of any gender identity

may identify as Panromantic.

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:round_pushpin: Some use the “Pansexual” and

“Panromantic” interchangeably, but there

are important distinctions between the two.

:round_pushpin: Some people refer to themselves as

Pansexual with the implication that they

are also Panromantic. However, this is

not always the case. Romantic and Sexual

attraction are not necessarily correlated;

it is not necessary for someone to be

Pansexual for them to be Panromantic. [5]

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Pansexual V.S. Panromantic

An individual who identified as “Panromantic,”

or “Pan-Romantic,” is someone who is,

quote, “romantically attracted to people

of all genders (same sex, different sex,

trans, etc),” as explained by Xanet Pailet,

a sex and intimacy educator and coach.

“Panromantics have a large palette of

romantic interests and can fluidly move

among binary and non-binary romantic

partners,” Pailet added.

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So how do Pan-Romantics differ from

Pansexuals? Well, it’s fairly simple, actually.

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”Pansexual people are more interested in

the sexual connection but not necessarily

an emotional connection,” Pailet explained. [6]

”Sexual attraction refers to sexual desire

toward a person, whereas romantic

attraction refers to desire for intimate and

emotional relationships,” added Justin

Drwencke, executive director of the

Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender

Diversity. “Therefore, a Panromantic

person has the capacity to experience

desire for intimacy and emotional

relationships irrespective of gender

identity,” added Drwencke. [7]

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It's crucial to keep in mind that being

Panromantic does not imply that a person

experiences desire in the same way

toward persons of all genders, nor does

it imply that a person feels sexual

attraction regardless of gender.

It's for this reason, and many others,

that it’s important to make a distinction

between Panromantic and Pansexual.

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Pansexual V.S. Bisexual

Bisexuality is generally understood to

relate to feelings of attraction to several

genders, whereas Pansexuality is defined

as attraction to all genders.

Although there are some similarities

between the two, they are distinct.

Someone who identifies as Bisexual, for

example, may be attracted to people who

are Gender-Fluid, Male, or Non-Binary,

but not to women. [8]

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A Pansexual person can be attracted to

people of any gender with the same level

of interest. They may, however, have a

variety of reactions to it.

Various genders may experience different

types of attraction in both cases.

Someone could have a romantic interest

to one gender, and yet a sexual attraction

to the other, to name an example. [8]

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”While both [Pansexual and Bisexual]

describe sexual orientations, Bisexuality is

rooted in a binary system of gender

identities,” Tanya M. Bass, PhD, sexologist,

explained. “On the other hand, Pansexuality

encomes attraction (either sexual,

romantic, physical, and or spiritual) towards

of all gender identities and

expressions and is not rooted in the binary.” [9]

”Binary systems refer to gender identities

like male and female, or man and woman,”

Bass further noted, “so someone who

identifies as Bisexual [may be] attracted

to people of their own gender and another

gender. However, because there are

many valid gender identities beyond male

and female, Pansexuality [may refer] to

attraction to all genders, including gender

identities not included in the binary.”

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”Gender being the common factor is

often why many individuals do not ascribe

to Bisexuality,” Bass continued, adding,

“because it is often not ‘gender’ that

determines the attraction for some.”

”The difference in Bisexuality and

Pansexuality can also be based on how

the person themselves identifies, rather

than just attraction towards others…

If someone identifies as a gender identity

not within the binary system, then that

could also be a reason why they would

identify as Pansexual rather than Bisexual.” [9]

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( :pushpin: NOTE: “”Pansexuality,” is the sexual

attraction to people regardless of gender,

while being “Panromantic,” or “Pan-romantic,”

is having the ability to feel romantic

attraction regardless of gender. Finally,

being “Bi-Romantic,” or “Biromantic,”

is having the ability to be romantically

attracted to two or more genders.”) [6]

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Recommended Blogs

Other LGBT+ Amino s have also

spoke on this subject before.

Check out their blogs — linked, below.

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”Pan V.S. Bi: A Coffee Metaphor,”

by :circus_tent: :spades: ¡BUTTONS! :spades: :circus_tent:

:star: : “Bi vs. Pan: The Difference,”

by 𝙰𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚜 𓂃

:star: : “Bi vs Pan vs Poly,”

by :cherry_blossom: Poppy :cherry_blossom: ⠀

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”Why M-Spec Labels Aren’t Bi-Phobic,”

by Four Cheers For Mr Brightside

( :pushpin: DEFINITION: “M-Spec.” )

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”Eli 🏳‍ :rainbow:

”alostunicorn

”Bisexual vs Polysexual vs Pansexual,”

by Eli the Bi

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Some Pansexual and/or Panromantic

celebrities include the following…

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Miley Cyrus: American actor & singer

Demi Lovato: American; actor & singer

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JoJo Siwa: American; danger, singer,

actress and YouTuber

(“Technically I would say that I am

Pansexual, because that’s how I have

always been my whole life is just like,

my human is my human."⠀— Jojo Siwa)

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Bella Thorne: American; actor & singer

Brendon Urie: American; actor, musician

& lead singer of, “Panic! At the Disco.”

Yungblud: British: actor & singer

Laci Green: American; YouTuber

Mary González: American; Texas

legislator; the first openly Pansexual

elected official in U.S. history

Layla Moran: British; member of House

of Commons of the United Kingdom

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Declan McKenna: British; singer, LGBT+

rights advocate and political activist

(“I might call [myself] Pansexual, depending

on who I’m talking to.”⠀— Declan McKenna)

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Clara Henry: Swedish; blogger, comedian,

television presenter and author

Dalton Harris: Jamaican; singer

Emily Hampshire: Canadian; actor & singer

Christine and the Queens: French;

singer & pianist

Bob the Drag Queen: American

Courtney Act: Australian; Drag Performer

Madison Bailey: American; actress

Nayland Blake: American; artist

Boyfriend: American; rapper, producer

& performance artist

Brooke Candy: American; rapper

Gretta Christine: American; blogger,

speaker and author

Cara Delevingne: British;

model, singer & actor

Asia Kate Dillion: American; actor

Kimberly Hart-Simpson: Welsh; actor

and business-woman

Sophie B. Hawkins: American; singer

Angel Haze: American; rapper

Tess Holiday: American; model & blogger

Jazz Jennings: American; reality TV

personality and LGBT+ rights activist

Joe Lycett: British; comedian… 10]

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( :star: FUN FACT: Some popular

movie characters, like Lando Calrissian

and Deadpool, are Pansexual, too.) [13]

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”Pansexuality isn’t real.”

Unfortunately, a number of people

mistakenly believe that Bisexuals and

Pansexuals (and/or Panromantics) ought

to “pick a side,” or are just indecisive,

which is nearly never the case.

While some Pansexuals and/or Panromantics

(and Bisexuals) may subsequently

identify as a different sexual orientation,

the majority identify as pansexual for

throughout the rest of their life.

Pan people frequently claim that their

sexual orientation indicates a way of

thinking about sexuality that is different

from traditional concepts, and as a result,

they are frequently dismissed and

marginalized.

However, Pan individuals’ sexual/romantic

orientation is an important aspect of their

identity, and it’s important be respectful.

It is not your place to tell someone else

how or what they ought to identify as.

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”Pansexuals/Panromantics are the only ones who are attracted to non-binary people.”

( :pushpin: NOTE: Non-binary individuals are

people who identify outside the two

traditional choices of male or female.

They might experience themselves as all

genders, no gender, third gender, or any

of a myriad of other choices. Not all

Transgender people are Non-Binary; many

Trans people find that a designation of

“man” or “woman” works just fine for them.)

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Bisexuals and Pansexuals/romantics can

both be attracted to people of any gender.

Although some have criticized Bisexuality

for not being inclusive of non-binary

persons, some Bisexuals have defended

their orientation, claiming that "bi,” in this

situation, means "both same and different,"

and so their orientation encomes

attraction to Non-Binary persons.

Their orientation was given to them during

a time when people were less aware of

and accepting of Transgender experiences,

and it may reflect outmoded ideas.

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Similarly, keep in mind that the term “Pan,”

was also defined during a time period

when people were less aware of and

ive of Transgender experiences,

and it may represent outmoded gender

stereotypes, but that doesn't mean

a Pansexual and/or Panromantic individual’s

personal beliefs and attraction patterns

haven't evolved based on the times.

Around 25% of Transgender people

(including Non-Binary people) identify as

Bisexual, themselves, and therefore we

can see that much of the Trans community

agrees that Bisexuality is inclusive.

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”Pansexual/Panromantic people can’t be happy in a monogamous relationship.”

This is another fallacy that Pansexuality

and Bisexuality have in common.

Many people mistakenly believe that

Bisexuals and Pansexuals can't be happy

in Monogamous relationships because

their attraction means that they need

sexual experiences with people of

a variety of genders.

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However, this is simply not the case.

Both Bisexuals and Pansexuals can be

either Monogamous or Polyamorous.

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Although some Bisexual and Pansexual

people prefer to be Polyamorous, many

others are content in Monogamous

relationships.

While Bisexual and Pansexual people

can be attracted to a wide range of

persons, this does not imply that they

must be sexually active with all of them

at all times.

If your Monogamous partner is Pansexual

and/or Panromantic (or Bisexual), they

have no higher likelihood of cheating.

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( :pushpin: “Monogamous,” is defined as,

“having a relationship with with only one

partner at a time.” : “Polyamorous,” is

defined as, “characterized by or involved

in the practice of engaging in multiple

romantic (and typically sexual) relationships,

(typically as meaning with the consent

of all the people involved.))

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”Pansexual/Panromantic people are attracted to anyone and everyone.”

While the prefix “Pan” means “all,” it’s

a common myth that Pansexual and/or

Panromantic are attracted to anyone and

everyone that they encounter.

In reality, Pansexual and/or Panromantic

people find that someone’s gender

identity is not important in their attraction

or lack thereof — that’s all.

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But that doesn’t mean that Pan individuals

are attracted to everyone and anyone.

Pansexual and/or Panromantic people

can still have types and tendencies to their

attraction, the same as anyone else. [11]

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”The Term ‘Pansexual’ is New.”

The word “Pansexual,” isn’t new: It’s been

in use since at LEAST the early 1900/,

according to the Oxford Dictionary.

The idea of Pansexuality made its first

known appearance in 1914, Oxford states,

in 1914 as the word “Pan-Sexualism” in

the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. [12]

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A doctor named J. Victor Haberman

criticized Sigmund Freud’s method

of psychoanalysis, and unpacked one

part of his theory, which was that “the

Pan-Sexualism of mental life which makes

every trend revert finally to the sexual.”

In other words: Freud theorized that

sex was a motivator of all things, hence

“Pan-Sexualism.”

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At the time, it was a psychoanalytic

term used completely differently from

how we use it today.

But although the word, “Pansexual,” may

not have been used to describe sexual

orientation at that time, there were reports

of people in the 1920s and 1930s who

loved across “labels and boundaries” in

Harlem and Chicago’s South Side. [13]

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In fact, it wasn’t until the 1940s that

the sex researcher Alfred Kinsey laid out

how sexuality operated on a continuum

with his scale that measured the degrees

of heterosexuality and homosexuality.

His work helped pave the way for

labels that described sexual orientation

and the possibility for labels beyond only

"heterosexual" and "homosexual." [13]

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The term, “Pansexual,” wouldn’t REALLY

take off until the 1980s — but the term,

while adopting a meaning different than

its first one, still hadn’t come to the meaning

it has, today.

Rather, it became a way of saying,

”I’m down with lots of different kinds

of sexual activities.”

In fact, according to some researchers,

it’s also possible that the word became

popular thanks to BDSM and kink

communities. After World War II, BDSM

groups formed in big cities as queer

people returned from service, and the

was then used in those communities to

’connect different sexual orientations. [13]

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Finally, in the 1990s, began a time for

sexually fluid and non-monosexual

people — those who are attracted to

more than one gender — to sit down and

contemplate their labels.

The current meaning of, “Pansexual,”

grew out of this spirit of activism and the

desire to reclaim identity in one’s own

as greater awareness of trans, nonbinary,

and genderqueer identities spread.

From there, the definition of, “Pansexual,”

evolved to mean, “a person is attracted

to people of all genders for reasons

independent of their gender,” or as a way

of saying ”I’m attracted to people of all

genders for reasons about their genders.” [13]

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( :star: FUN FACT: In 2018, “Pansexual,”

became one of the most widely searched

in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

after Janelle Monáe told Rolling Stone

that she, “read about Pansexuality and

was like, 'Oh, these are things that I identify

with too.'”) [13]

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( 🏷: #leaderreview

#featurereview )