Difference Between Bi-sexual and Pan sexual
Bi sexual vs Pan sexual
There is some overlap when defining bisexual and pansexual orientation; however, there are important differences between the two identities.
Bisexual people are attracted sexually and romantically to both males and females, and are capable of engaging in sensual relationships with either sex. Despite being able to form meaningful, lasting relationships with both sexes, bisexual individuals may, to a small or large degree, have a preference for one sex over the other.
Similarly, pansexual people may be sexually attracted to individuals who identify as male or female; however, they may also be attracted to those who identify as intersex, third-gender, androgynous, transsexual, or the many other sexual and gender identities. The latter distinction is what draws the line between pansexuality and bisexuality. People who self-identify as pansexual do so with purpose, to express that they are able to be attracted to various gender and sexual identities, whether they fall within the gender binary or not. Recognition of the existence of different genders and sexualities is a major aspect of pansexual identity. Pansexual people are bisexual, in-fact; however, bisexuality does not place the same emphasis on sexual and gender identity awareness, but more simply indicates attraction to the two (generally accepted) biological sexes.
The differences between the two sexual identities are undermined by the fact that some people who consider themselves pansexual identify themselves as bisexual out of convenience, as it’s a more widely known sexual identity. In addition, some people who consider themselves bisexual may be open to dating someone who falls outside the gender binary.
Self-perception, rather than objective sexuality, determines which sexual identity an individual chooses to embrace. Simply being attracted to both biological sexes does not mean one considers oneself bisexual. In fact, many people at one time or another will have some romantic or sexual experience or feelings toward each sex, though, most would not embrace the bisexual label. Similarly, being attracted to people who embrace varied identities does not mean that individual will identify as pansexual. There are few organizations which are geared solely for those who identify as pansexual, and many bisexual organizations include alternative identities such as: pansexual, omnisexual, multisexual, and other non-monosexualities, so representation and visibility likely also play a part in how people choose to self-identify.
There is some controversy over the two labels, as some in the bisexual community feel as though the pansexual label is a form of bisexual erasure and that the bisexual identity is already inclusive of those who have an attraction to those who fall anywhere along the gender continuum and outside of it. There is a feeling that pansexual people are simply avoiding the bisexual label due to the stigmas associated with it (that bisexual people are simply greedy and promiscuous, and spread disease among both the heterosexual and homosexual communities). Conversely, many in the pansexual community feel as though these beliefs are forms of prejudice and pansexual erasure.
Not only those who identify as biologically male or female identify as bisexual, the gender identities of people who use and feel comfortable with this label vary. The pansexual label; however, is more accommodating for those, regardless of their own gender identity, who sometimes do not fit neatly into the male or female genders, for example, when people who are engaged in a homosexual or heterosexual relationship and their partner transitions from male-to-female or female-to-male. Although, some choose to take on change their sexual identity according to the gender to which their partner has transitioned, an increasing number have chosen to self-label as pansexual, queer, or one of the other non-monosexual identities. The pansexual identity is much more accommodating to the coupling of individuals who embrace various sexual and gender identities.
Many people strongly identify as either bisexual or pansexual, and never use the labels interchangeably. Each community is represented by its own flag, set of colors, and general ideologies. The bisexual pride flag is striped with the colors royal blue, magenta, and lavender, representing same gender attraction, opposite gender attraction, and attraction to both genders, respectively. The pan-sexual flag is striped with the rose, blue, and gold, representing the female gender, male gender, and third-gender, respectively. The third-gender includes those who are intersex, genderqueer, transsexual, androgynous, and other who identify as being both genders. Each flag is representative of the overarching ideologies underlying the bisexual and pansexual identities, with bisexuality indicating the capacity to be sexually attracted to and engage romantic relationships with both sexes/genders, and pansexuality indicating the ability to have romantic attractions and relationships with people of various genders and sexualities.
- Bisexual is being sexually attracted to both genders, male and female, while pansexual is being capable of having romantic feelings and attraction to males, females, and third gendered individuals.
- Bisexual identity more so establishes attraction to both genders, whereas pansexual identity more so recognizes the existence of other genders (third genders) and the capacity to be sexually attracted to individuals identifying as these various genders.
- The bisexual and pansexual communities have their own flags, colors, and ideologies.
- Pansexual identity is more accommodating for individuals who engage in relationships with people of varying genders and sexualities.
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Biphobic lies and nonsense.
“A bisexual is someone who can put their hand down someone else’s pants and be happy with whatever they find.” – many a true word is spoken in jest.
There are only two primary sexes but there are more than two genders. This seems to be the thing that many pansexual identified people fail to grasp.
Not only are many bisexual people attracted to transgender/sexual people quite a lot of trans people identify as bisexual themselves. Bisexual people are not a homogenous group who can all only be attracted to feminine bio women and masculine bio men.
Pansexual identified people often just come across as very misinformed about bisexuality – as in the article above – (well I don’t know if the writer identifies as pansexual or not but I’m damned sure they don’t identify as bisexual). Bisexuality doesn’t have anything to do with a rigid binary. definition or view of male and female sex and gender roles. Ironically the original meaning of bisexual is: “Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic.” And the word is still used in that sense by some scientists – for example marine biologists referring to fish who have the natural ability to literally change their reproductive sex.
Biphobia specifically means fear, dislike and hatred of bisexuality and bisexual people. Panphobia means fear of everything in general. Pansexual identified people won’t ever be subjected to “panphobia” specifically because of their sexual orientation. They can be subjected to biphobia and homophobia and even heterophobia though.
True. Many bisexual people feel pressured by both the “gay” & “straight” “communities” to identify as either straight or gay. That’s biphobic pressure to conform to the heteronormative binary system of straight vs. gay that far too many gay and lesbian identified people still basically support. Seriously, it’s not “panphobic” pressure of any kind. So, if you identify as pansexual and not bisexual then you should seriously ask yourself if you’re not just trying to avoid the stigma, lies and prejudice heaped on bisexuals.
You should also ask yourself am I fighting biphobia or am I actually supporting it somehow? Well you are supporting biphobia if you’re perpetuating lies like: “While pansexual individuals are attracted to men, women, transgender, transsexual and intersex individuals, bisexual individuals are only attracted to their same sex or the opposite sex.” – Seeshh. How dare you? No stars is my vote.
Geri got it 100%. THANK YOU, Geri.
Labels are a problem because most people cannot be labeled with accuracy.
I consider myself bisexual for simplicity’s sake, just so I don’t have to answer a dozen questions – I am attracted to men and women. I am also attracted to people who are intersex. I am open to transwomen (male to female) who have had surgery but I have no sexual attraction to transvestites/crossdressers (I say open only because I have never actually been with a trans person, but I would totally go for it if we clicked). But I’m not sexually attracted to female to male trans. (not that I have learned so far anyway…)
In other words, I am more open than what this article describes as bisexual, but not as open as what it describes as pansexual.
I find everyone beautiful, and personality is #1, not physical/birth sex. I personally believe there are three sexes (Male, Female and Intersex) but I believe people can and should identify as whatever makes them comfortable. I prefer men who dress more “masculine” and women who dress more feminine (ie. “lipstick lesbians”) and yet, I would totally date a male to female as long as she was feminine. I love tomboys, but I don’t tend to be attracted to those who would go so far as to identity as “butch”.
So, everyone has different preferences and they can get pretty specific.
It’s important to remember that people’s preferences do change – not because they are confused or don’t know who they are, but because as human beings, we are always growing, learning and having new experiences. I think until someone has been with every type of person, they will never know 100% what their preference is. They will just have a pretty good idea. For many, that’s enough. For others – it’s a wonderful journey of discovery.
And no, I’m not implying people should sleep around… haha… I am merely stating that all this labeling is pretty much pointless and unnecessary.
Love is Love,
-M.
I think until someone has been with every type of person, they will never know 100% what their preference is.
I was with you until this. This is the most erasing thing I’ve ever read. So what? People who never have sex don’t know what sexuality they are? People who never experience a relationship with a trans woman or man are not bi or pan? Lesbians, gays, and straight people are just kidding themselves until otherwise proven? Sexuality is a thing. I know there is some idea that sexuality is fluid for everybody but it’s not. Likewise this notion that most people will be attracted to more than one gender in their lifetime is utter nonsense. I am queer but I recognize that the queer community is very small in regards to the world population. Part of that is non straight phobics running things which makes people less likely to come out of the closet but even if we say doubled or tripled the amount of queers on the planet that still would be a small fraction of the population. I think you are reaching here.
Honestly Geri? There is a lot I disagree with in your comment. One, there are not two primary sexes. Many people are born intersex, and its actually quite common. Claiming otherwise is unnecessary erasure. I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it, but it is offensive to any non-binary identifying intersexed peoples.
Two, please stop accusing pansexual people of being ignorant. Attacking a different sexuality does not make yours seem better, it just makes your bias clear. Pansexual people are not ‘bisexual people in denial/ trying to escape stigma/ confused.’ It’s attitudes like that that really break up the community.
Three, don’t assume pansexula people don’t face erasure and discrimination. They do. You claim that they can only be “subjected to biphobia and homophobia and…heterophobia”. That is simply not true. Many people do not know what pansexual is or assume it is some truly awful things. They do face pressure due to their identity, and pansexual related phobias are alive and well. It’s simply ridiculous to say otherwise.
Four, put away the old ‘if you aren’t me, your oppressing me’ argument. By not identifying as bi, pan people are not hurting you. The gay/lesbian community said the same thing about bisexuals decades ago, and it was no more true then than this is now.
There is a difference between being pan and being bi. Yes, part of it has to do with the gender binary. No, I’m not defining your identity, but you certainly tried to do so with pansexual peoples’ identities. Respect is a two way street, and from your tone and clear bias, I find it hard to lend you any. Beating other people down does not raise you up. I respect your identity as a bi person, but I cannot stand for someone else’s erasure.
In closing, you have done everything you accused pan people of doing to you, to them. You have displayed significant ignorance and intolerance. Get off your high horse.
@ Lee I said: “There are only two primary sexes but there are more than two genders. This seems to be the thing that many pansexual identified people fail to grasp.”
I’m not trying to erase anyone. I fully acknowledge the existence of intersex and transgender people. I fully acknowledge that there are more than two genders. And I do not believe that all human beings should be legally required to identify as either male or female. Because not all human beings can reasonably be classified as either one or the other.
However, I cannot acknowledge that intersex people are a primary sex.
If you can show me examples of living human beings whose biology means they can individually sexually reproduce both as the male partner or the female partner – as some other species can e.g. many kinds of snail, slug and fish – then I will happily acknowledge that there are presently more than two primary sexes in the human species.
To the best of my knowledge true hermaphroditism in humans does not presently appear to exist i.e. as yet no case of a human being with fully functional ovarian and testicular tissue has been documented.
So any anyone who cannot reproduce are not a primary sex? what about infertile people? Just because you cannot creat a baby it makes you not a prymary sex? I will have to make my aunt aware of that Geri, and by the way just because you say you do not want to ‘erase’ anyone doesn’t mean that you are not. I happen to believe that most times when someone says that they are not going to do anything offensive thay end up doing that percise thing. Which is exactly what you did.
this is bullshit. I get the points and they are important points, but to tell me, and others, what we can call ourselves and that we’re wrong and you are right, where do you get off, how dare you? You don’t know what my desire is about just because you hear me call myself bisexual. You really really don’t. You have your ideas and I am glad to hear them and discuss them. But don’t judge me until/unless you know me. You don’t. Language is imperfect at best. So is gender … and desires ….
hear, hear, lee. can’t be subjected to panphobia, geri? i’m pan and i’m feeling the panphobic bs flying outta you.
plus, implying that a heterosexual man, for example, can’t be attracted to transwomen (because they aren’t real women, according to whoever wrote the article) is extremely transphobic. transwomen are women, transmen are men— simple. get over it.
Sorry mx punk – but I have yet to come across a pansexual identified person who doesn’t grossly misrepresent bisexuality when they discuss the “differences” between bisexuality and pansexuality. I am heartily sick of being told that as a bisexual identified person I cannot be attracted to transgender people, genderqueer people etc. I can only be attracted to cisgender men and women – Says Who?
@ geri: “I am heartily sick of being told that as a bisexual identified person I cannot be attracted to transgender people, genderqueer people etc.”
you’re the only person who has the right to define your sexuality, geri. i’m with you 100% on this. this isn’t about pansexuals vs bisexuals and this isn’t about defining other people’s sexuality for them (contrary to what the op may believe).
further more, anyone who thinks that bisexual people can’t experience attraction to trans people is transphobic/cissexist as well as biphobic. binary trans people experience binary gender, so even bisexuals who’re only attracted to men and women can still be attracted to trans people. i’m sure you already know all this, but why not tell other people about it instead of just pointing at pansexuals and calling shenanigans?
“…says who?”
says ignorant people. go ahead and educate them– but please don’t trash talk other sexualities while explaining yours. if you want to do something about ignorance, point ignorant people toward helpful articles and books. try sharing your experiences with them, if you feel it’s appropriate.
fighting biphobia with panphobia is counterproductive to your own cause.
i mention bisexuality in this article: http://rainbowgenderpunk.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/stuff-pansexuals-need-to-know/. feel free to check it out and let me know if you feel misrepresented by it. i’m sick of the ignorance, too.
thanks for the conversation. i humbly await your reply (now i’m just being silly).
Okay both of you just shut up please your both ignorant ok and yew stop bombing my kind pansexuality is fun and a “intereasting” experience and you. Shut upppppppppp with ya bullshiz smartass prepy shit bitch talk stoping off vocabulary that yew found on the Internet ok. Yur both annoying as fuck go get a life ok.
Love. Blakyboo
Erm, I’m not sure this article is quite correct. First of all, is it really necessary for us to attack one sexual orientation in order to make another acceptable? That goes for both the anti-bisexual statements in the article and the anti-pansexual statements in one of the comments.
In any case, the article seems to take a very narrow view of both bisexuality and pansexuality. No doubt there are pansexuals who fall in love with the person, not the body, but this can be true of individuals of any sexual orientation.
There are also pansexuals who are simply attracted to individuals of more than just the two sexes we recognize as a society. I do not mean they are attracted to people *despite* the fact that they do not belong to the gender binary. I mean they are attracted to people who don’t belong to the gender binary. Period. No love required (though obviously there’s no reason love can’t be a part of the equation). There’s a blog post that I read recently that I think does a better job of explaining the problem with viewing pansexuality as “the gender-blind orientation” than I ever could here: http://pop-shot.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-does-it-mean-to-be-pansexual.html?zx=366d8a9c4ff65406
While there may certainly be pansexual individuals who “do not care for genders but only cares for personality” there are plenty of pansexual individuals who are simply attracted to members of more than two sexes, that is, physically attracted, even without taking personality into consideration. I think it does both pansexuals who don’t fit into your specific definition, and anyone who doesn’t fit into the gender binary a disservice to discount the possibility that someone could be sexually attracted to a person outside the gender binary without it being solely about their personality, as though there’s no way someone could find their body sexually attractive in and of itself.
As for your statements on bisexuals and bisexuality… First off, bisexuality does *not* suggest the existence of only two sexes, just as monosexuality (heterosexuality or homosexuality) does not suggest the existence of only one sex. It only suggests that the person is attracted to two sexes (and there’s no reason those two sexes have to be the ones that make up the societally accepted binary, just as there’s no reason, I would imagine, that a the sex a heterosexual individual is attracted to has to be one of those that make up the binary).
And there’s no reason a bisexual individual (and while there may be pressure for both bisexual and pansexual individuals to “pick a side” and conform to monosexuality, I’m thinking most individuals who identify as bisexual, you know, identify as bisexual. Not hetero or homosexual.) couldn’t fall in love with (or even be just sexually attracted to, really) an individual outside of the sexes that person is normally attracted to.
I am attracted to both men and women (cisgender not required, though it often happens that way, just as I lean towards men), and I identify as bisexual. That being said, it wouldn’t be at all out of the realm of possibilities for me to find myself in love with or sexually attracted to an individual who doesn’t identify with either sex or either gender, or with both sexes or both genders. My identification as a bisexual is not rigid, it is just how my attractions have tended to go thus far.
good points, sha. i think it’s important to discuss attraction to non-binary bodies as a potential pansexual experience; too many people erase such attraction when discussing pansexuality.
i don’t think the author cares, unfortunately. i’m stoked about the link you posted, though. it’s very brain-poking!
if you’re interested, i wrote an article about pansexuality and i’d love your opinion; criticism cherished. http://rainbowgenderpunk.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/stuff-pansexuals-need-to-know/
Trans isnt a gender its just how people explain they were once this sex and now there another. its stupid how Bi people cant like a trans person when Pan people can. if someones a guy but was born a girl. I see them as a guy and if I so happen to like them, then it doesnt matter. I’m a fucking bisexual and I think chicks and dudes are hot, no matter whats in there pants or what they feel they are.
All baloney.
There are only two sexes in existence….male and female.
I don’t care what your internal plumbing says you are….your chromosomes make up what you are. XX=gal XY=guy….doesn’t matter even if you have that plumbing changed. Pardon the crudity.
Pansexism is a made up word wrapped in pretentiousness.
@NunyaBidness – Your ignorance is showing. Care to explain the gender or sex of XXY chromosomed people? Yes, the exist. It’s called Klinefelter’s syndrome. People with this condition are but one of the vast array of options on the human continuum. We are not a binary species, regardless of what your kindergarten teacher said oh so many years ago.
To the rest – I once identified as bisexual because I was unaware of transgenderism and those that fall within that umbrella description. I’ve since learned much about a once hidden world and loved one that is transgendered. I’ve come to understand that genitals don’t matter to me. I therefore have begun identifying as pansexual. How others choose to label themselves is their business and I won’t presume to educate them on what’s right or wrong. That sort of condescending attitude is only further dividing an already under-served and oppressed population; the B in LGBT. Like it or not, I’ve yet to see non-heterosexual organizations use the capital P.
In the end, we all, both Bs and Ps are generally ignored by the groups that purport to serve us, because we easily blend in with the Ls/Gs and heterosexuals. We have to out ourselves to be recognized as B or P otherwise assumptions are made. Sometimes, it’s just not worth it to out ourselves to the ignorant.
The difference between B & P? I believe there is less that the OP thinks.
I came across this article trying to find a way to explain my sexuality to people who are are confused by it (I am pansexual AND gender fluid) and was severely disturbed by the articles ignorance but also the hatred, ignorance, and bias in the comments. It’s truly sad that a community that is working so hard to earn respect for it’s individuality is scorning the very people it is trying to protect and advocate for! Di seams to be the only person I’ve read who thinks similarly. I had no idea there was so much hatred for my sexuality in the people I thought was my community until I read some of these comments. There has always been a lot of confusion and ignorance from the outside but I was completely unaware of this hatred brewing. I’ve been accused of being a slut or one that “fucks anything that walks” because of some faulty misinformation on pansexuality, but never have I veen accused of being biphobic or a self-hating bisexual simply because I identify as pans. Pans makes sense for ME more than bi simply because I really don’t look at gender at all (I guess you call that gender-blindness) but someone can feel the same and identify as bi and I wouldn’t be angry or offended. I embrace my sexuality and the name I’ve given it, just as any other human. It makes me sad that peopke would gang up on any sexuality when we are still working on gaining equality from the “heterosexual” world. I really beg you all to look at yourselves and how you are treating members of your own community before you continue this “who is better” argument. It’s called EQUALity for a reason.
so you’ve had your chromosomes checked, have you? yeah, me neither. and seeing how people tend to not be attracted to fucking chromosomes, what point did you think you were making?
If we agree that there are two primary sexes, then I think the bisexual vs pansexual debate is a matter of squares and rectangles. In this case, all pansexuals are bisexual, but not all bisexuals are pansexual.
can we not erase intersex people? also, insisting on classifying people according to their “sex” is pretty offensive to a shit-ton of trans* folks. like, you’re just going to insist that nonbinary people are ~really~ “one or the other?” how about we don’t go there.
If you define a word based on an offensive stereotype about another word, then your definition is questionable at best. The etymological fallacy that “bi means two so it erases the transgendered” holds no water and is the product of people who do not label as bisexual trying to redefine it in a negative way.
And it does hurt us, because it divides the non-monosexual community, and we require community support to thrive.
It’s not bisexuals trying to redefine pansexuals, you’ll notice, it’s people who *don’t identify as bi* who are trying to make the bi community look like a bunch of trans*phobic bigots. Imagine what would happen if a small segment of the Lesbian community tried to redefine lesbian to mean “hates MTFs” and pushed to have Lesbian removed as a viable umbrella term in favor of whatever they selected as a more “accurate” definition based on a faulty premise — then you’d find out what pushback really means.
This article attempts to drive a wedge into the heart of the non-monosexual community. Please stop. You’re hurting yourselves just as much as you’re hurting the rest of us — because you are part of us.
^^^ i pretty much agree with you. my only nitpick is that i don’t think pansexuals are the only people erasing and demeaning people of other sexualities. check out some of the bi people in this thread for receipts; the rift goes deep.
either way, i’m sick of this argument. the person who wrote this article doesn’t have a fucking clue and they’re playing on the tension in the multisexual community.
the difference between pansexuality and bisexuality is actually pretty simple: pan people id as pan and bi people id as bi. there’s a lot of overlap between these 2 sexual orientations, but they’re both totally valid.
Taken in the round, I feel this article really does need to be deleted and started again from scratch. The language is poor, it is factually incorrect – not just once but over and over and over – and it lacks any understanding of bi discourse over the last forty years.
The best answer I’ve yet found to the original question is “it’s the same as the difference between ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay woman’”.
I am 58 years old, and have been bisexual and gender variant all my life, and attracted to all genders since I found out they existed. I am a bi and trans rights activist, and have been for quite a while. I first heard the word “pansexual” about 6 years ago, along with fluid, but didn’t think much about it, just thought of it as another word under the bisexual umbrella (they have come and gone over the years, like “ambisexual,” quite popular at one time, but who uses it anymore?). Imagine how hurt and shocked I was, then, to be watching a YouTube video in which a young woman told me with absolute certainty that, since I was bisexual, I only was attracted to men and women, and I hated trans people. I felt like she just punched me in the stomach – such hatred coming from my own community!!! I wondered who was teaching her these lies. But then it only got worse; a whole pan community developed, who bullied everyone who said we were bisexual, have never listened when we insisted on our own lived experience, and is certain that they know the truth about us. If I say I am attracted to transpeople, and I am bisexual, then I am the expert in myself. The best actual explanation of the difference between bisexual and pansexual is here:
http://radicalbi.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/some-differences-and-similarities-
between-bisexuality-and-pansexuality/
*applause*
Quite contrary to what the article is saying I have reached the conclusion that bisexual people are more likely to have relationships with transgender people than pansexual people are.
We are certainly not less likely to do so.
A person who is attracted to the male and the female may actively seek a relationship with someone who is m2f or f2m, or in between / genderqueer.
A person who is truly gender blind wouldn’t at any time actively seek a relationship with any specific gender surely?
The vast majority of the population are cisgender and you will not meet new people who are transgender everyday just by chance. So if you are truly gender blind you are much more likely to find yourself in a relationship with a cisgender person.
No?
“genderblindness” is not the only definition of pansexuality. i’m pan and i’m not genderblind! further more, i think genderblindness is actually pretty problematic. these articles express my opinions on this shit: http://rainbowgenderpunk.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/fuck-no-pan-problems/ and http://rainbowgenderpunk.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/on-genderblind/.
there’s a lot of problematic shit going on in the pan community. like, a lot. i’m a pansexual, nonbinary trans* person and i’m often disturbed by some of the shit pansexual people write about on the internet. “genderblindness?” “i’m pansexual cuz i’m attracted to men, women, and trans* people?” come one.
anyway, we’re working on it, so feel free to offer constructive criticism (without getting all panphobic). cuz there’s some bullshit out there.
We were told in email that this wildly inaccurate and prejudiced article would be at least edited, if not deleted. We’re waiting.
Wow, this is very disturbing to read and I wonder who wrote this. Pretty much none of what is said about bisexuality is correct and, furthermore, there is no need to try and distinguish between bisexual and pansexual identified people. They are basically different terms to describe common human experience. Bisexuals have grown with the understanding around sex and gender and do not adhere to rigid definitions of a gender binary. Far from it. Become informed before you pass along such horribly divisive and incorrect information.
since i seem to be on a comment-spree, i’d like to point out that pansexuality doesn’t fall under the bisexual umbrella any more than bisexuality falls under the pansexual umbrella. bisexuality and pansexuality fall under the multisexual umbrella. so no more of this “pansexuality is a type of bisexuality”/”bisexuality is a type of pansexuality” bullshit.
There’s no way to define bisexuality and pansexuality that will please everyone. Some will be mad because you distinguish between the two, some think there are only two genders and the pansexual label is pointless, some bisexual people think pansexual people are just self-hating bisexuals. Some people believe there’s no such thing as bisexual, that you’re really gay or straight.
There is NO way to define the differences without royally pissing some segment off.
ok enough bs. It doesnt matter what you decide to call anything others will interpret it to mean something that they feel is correct…and quite honestly people should care less. Its not like it effects the world just the individual. Its sad to see that were in a world where everyone cares what someone else thinks. others do not define you, you define yourself. Call me stupid but do i get upset? no because what you think is irrelevant to me and I for one am sick of people putting labels on anything or anyone. Circumstances are different to every situation, its not something that can be classified. Or understood it just happens and you take a course of action whatever it may be.who are we to judge and define? were all nobody in the grand scheme of things. so that being said later people.
I don’t agree with this article. I think it’s quite hurting for both bisexual or pansexual.
For me the difference beetween the two is nothing a “it’s this or that”, it’s how people feel it.
Bisexual is sexual attraction for both gender (whatever they are, what ever they needed to be, and probably the other transgender stuff too). I’m not talking about label but how probably people feel. Then of course, it depends to each people.. Any difference will be more like this :
“I’m bisexual, I can have sex with who I want”.
“I’m pansexual, I don’t care about the gender”.
Sorry, I’m not native english, but this is how I always felt this. Maybe I’m wrong, but this how it was always explained to me.
(I don’t want to be rude or what with bisexual or saying they care only about the gender, this is just how I find the more easy to explain my mind.)
The article appears to have been considerably edited and revised since I first commented on it.
I have nothing against people identifying as pansexual unless they do so by misidentifying what bisexuality is.
I agree completely. Personally, I identify as pansexual, but I like to think of it as a more specific form of bisexuality. Not all bisexuals experience attraction to people outside of the gender binary- but many do. So I like to say that I’m bisexual, but “more specifically,” pansexual, to let others know that I do in fact identify with that particular aspect of bisexuality.
It really saddens me that this idea of bisexuality as binary still exists. I like the definition of attraction to “two or more” sexes or genders personally.
Remember, we define labels. Labels do not define us. Don’t let someone else’s definition of sexuality limit your label use. If you want to use a label, use it. And then tell people what it means to you.
Yawn. Seems like lots of navel-gazing and self-obsession. The point of falling in love is to get over yourself, your “identity” etc. and live for and through another person. Male, female, bi, pan whatever. It’s all good and all irrelevant. Love allows us to transcend ourselves and not worry about how we might ideally “identify”. It’s a question of focus, direction. If one is focused inward, on ones self, feeling, identity etc. that is the opposite of being in love, or even ready for love. If ones focus is outward, caring about how others feel more than ourselves, then love is possible.
But it ain’t easy. I’m no expert, but keeping (or trying to) that outward focus is my work every day. Wish me luck.
http://girl-panic.tumblr.com/post/27659014520/what-is-bisexuality
This might help you.
What I think is that this article is a bunch of hogwash. The person puts labels and is obviously speaking from a pansexual point of view and honestly? I’ve been bisexual all of my life. I don’t care about gender whether you are a hermaphrodite, transexual, transvestite, male or female. I don’t see gender. However the writer of this article is severely misinformed as most pansexuals seem to be about the whole bisexual sexuality. I have asked some pansexuals what that word meant to them and they more or less told me “we like both sexes, we’re just not confused like bisexuals.” Which leads me to believe that the same bit of prejudice that they say bisexuals have against them is present within themselves. It’s sorta like the Black prejudice of whites and the white prejudice of blacks. It’s on both sides. However I do not see a difference in the two. Science removed from the equation a bisexual can like any gender sex or type of person EQUALLY and just because they settle down with a man or woman or other does not mean that they prefer that gender over another. And yes lots of Bisexuals end up in steady long lasting relationships even in this day and age. So please do not post anything on EITHER preference PANSEXUAL or BISEXUAL without first being properly educated. I cannot state FACT because I am not a PANSEXUAL I am BISEXUAL therefore I would expect the same from the other. That is unless they are the same exact thing which I believe they are. Nothing to do with any binaries no nothing. its simply how you feel and what you identify with. However LABELS are a PROBLEM that existed since highschool.
I have never heard of any pansexual that wasn’t a teenage girl trying to sound cool, which makes me doubt about the validity of that “label”.
First of all, sexual attraction works on the basis of physical sex, not of gender identity. Gender identity is in the mind and thus invisible, so it plays no role in primary attraction. If I see a hot guy in a magazine, I’m going to be attracted to him because I like the male body. What do I care if he identifies as female, androgyne, genderqueer or third sex? I can’t see that, I can only see his physical body.
If sexual attraction didn’t work that way, we wouldn’t be able to be attracted to people that we don’t know personally. Pornography, for example, wouldn’t exist, because you can’t know the true gender identity of the actors just by looking at them.
Having said that, the physical body of any person has either a male sex, a female sex, or a mixture of both, so there’s no way to be outside the binary. There’s no such thing in nature as a third-sex body.
Thus the bisexual label is enough to cover all options: they like people with male bodies, female bodies, (and in some cases) inter-sex bodies.
By the way, straight men have been having sex with trans-women for ages now. There’s a significant amount of trans pornography and prostitution aimed at men to prove that the desire exists. But they aren’t called “pansexuals”, they’re called “pervs”. Could someone explain to me then, why is it that ONLY young girls use this label and are recognized as such?