Pansexuality

Pansexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual individuals are attracted to people, not genders. This means they may be attracted to men, women, transgender people, genderqueer individuals, and anyone else, without considering their gender identity to be a defining factor in the attraction. The term emphasizes attraction to the person rather than a specific gender label. It falls under the broader umbrella of multisexuality and differs from bisexuality, although there is some overlap in experiences.

Pansexuality meaning with examples

• Growing up, Alex never understood gendered attraction. They found themself falling in love with personalities and connections, regardless of the person's presentation. Discovering the word 'pansexual' finally gave them a label that accurately reflected their attractions, liberating them from the pressure to conform to traditional definitions of orientation and gender. This gave them a greater sense of self-acceptance.
• Maria always loved the idea that love could be found in any form. She found herself attracted to the kindness, intelligence, and creativity within a person, rather than their sex or gender. After a long time, she came across the term pansexual online, and it resonated with her feelings. From this point on, she finally felt comfortable using the word to describe herself as a person who's open to loving anyone.
• When discussing their identity, Finn explains, "I'm pansexual because I don't see gender as a barrier to attraction. It's more about connecting with someone on a deep level." They frequently tell people to focus on the person, and not their specific body characteristics. For Finn, the individual's essence transcends any predefined categorizations, showing how they choose to love someone from their core.
• The documentary explored the lives of several pansexual individuals. One person described their attraction as being rooted in a love for character, the depth of their relationship, and a shared vision of the future. Others expressed that they have an attraction that has nothing to do with any specific physical attributes or labels. The film helped to educate viewers on the concept of Pansexuality and challenged societal norms around sexuality and identity.
• Choosing 'pansexual' felt right for Jamie. He’s attracted to qualities like wit, empathy, and shared interests. His experience includes attractions to cisgender and transgender individuals, and people of various other gender identities, which helped him land on this word. He believes labels are useful, and he uses his term to explain how his attractions work and give others a frame of reference.