So I’ve identified as pansexual for a long time because I am attracted to all genders. I am therefore slightly confused at those who call themselves bisexual but attracted to all genders. I always thought, bisexual was attraction to two or more genders. A bisexual could be attracted to all genders except one and still be bisexual. I thought then when someone crossed over into being attracted to all genders, they were considered pansexual.
Anyone care to explain or voice their own confusion? Cx I would like to get my definitions straight (lmao pun) to better understand everyone and not say anything offensive.
It’s possible to be both bisexual and pansexual. Many people prefer the bisexual identity since it’s been around longer and is more recognized. Also, many of us want to emphasis that bisexuality has always been inclusive of all genders.
Bisexual is also seen as an umbrella term for all people who have multiple gender attractions. The more people who consider themselves part of the bi community, the more funding will go to groups who help all multi-gender attracted people, such as BiNet USA. The bisexual community has always included anyone attracted to more than one gender.
I identify as bisexual, because that’s the umbrella orientation that I am. Pansexual has always felt to me like the further description detailing my personal attraction.
I am bisexual, and if you want to know the DETAILS of my attractions, then I’ll tell you that I am equally attracted to all genders and we actually have a word for that: pansexual. That’s cool.
There are straight people who have strong preferences for certain body types and can never see themselves partnered with someone who is a huge body builder, and other straight people prefer that body type as their main turn on. They don’t set up separate names for those preferences and then split up into different orientations. They could easily have an orientation name for straight people who date trans people. They could easily have an orientation name for straight people who have no preferences and can see themselves partnered with anyone of any body type, hair color, etc. Gay people could be broken down into separate orientation names based on that, too.
If gay people split up into different orientations based on who is interested in what number of different genders and gender presentations, they would suddenly be split apart into different smaller communities having to scramble for their individual funding to address their needs. They would no longer be the unified and strong gay community.
If you’re gay and you date trans people and gender non binary people, imagine having to identify as a different orientation than gay. If you have preferences for men who are more masculine just like some straight people do, or for women who are more masculine, etc. etc., imagine needing to label yourself differently than gay because people outside of the gay community are always telling you that you have to pick a label that expresses THAT, and that will become your identity and your orientation label. The gay community would be split apart and fractioned just like everyone tries to do to the bisexual community.
Bisexual people are the only ones who are constantly told to split up into smaller groups and choose all separate orientations as their very identity, based on personal preferences. And that strips us of community.