Pansexual

The pansexual flag by Jasper V.

* Any; often used to denote attraction regardless of attraction type (particularly in the case of perioriented pansexual people)

### Spectrum or umbrella

* Pluralian/Multisexual
* Plurian

## Related terms

### Similar or related

* Panromantic
* Panflux

### Sometimes confused with

* Bisexual
* Omnisexual
* Polysexual

**Pansexual**, often shortened to **pan**, is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to all genders, and often regardless of gender. It can also be defined as attraction which is not limited by gender, or is gender-inclusive. Gender often plays little to no role in a pansexual person's attraction. This may mean that they have few or no gender-based preferences, are attracted to all genders equally, and/or are attracted to all genders in the same ways, at the same time. This is sometimes referred to as being "gender-blind."

Some use the pansexual label as a way to express their attraction to all genders, but not necessarily regardless of gender. It is possible for a pansexual person to have gender preferences, or experience attraction to different genders in different ways. This is similar to bisexuality and omnisexuality, and some use multiple terms to describe their experiences.

## Etymology

The term "pansexual" comes from the prefix *pan-*, meaning "all," and "sexual," denoting sexuality.

## History

The term "pansexual" was initially coined by Sigmund Freud in the early 1900s, with a very different definition. Freud used this term to suggest that everyone is born with an innate attraction to many things, including things which weren't human, or even necessarily alive. This innate sexual instinct, according to Freud, was the driving force for all human activity, mental or physical. This was also notably referred to as "pansexualism," rather than pansexuality. This definition is now heavily outdated. The current definition of pansexuality, denoting gender-inclusive attraction, has been present since the late 1960s or early 1970s.

## Distinction

### Bisexual

***Main article:*** *Bisexual*

Bisexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to two or more genders. This definition overlaps with pansexuality, but is not the same. A bisexual person may or may not experience attraction to all genders, whereas attraction to all genders is inherent to pansexuality. In other words, bisexuality is more broad, and may encompass people who experience attraction to multiple (but not all) genders, whereas pansexuality does not. Some people identify with the bisexual and pansexual labels simultaneously, while others identify with only one.

### Omnisexual

***Main article:*** *Omnisexual*

Omnisexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to all genders, often with gender playing a role in one's attraction, rather than lacking preferences or gender-differentiation. This definition overlaps with pansexuality, and is sometimes synonymous, referring to attraction towards all genders. However, gender is often specified to play a role in omnisexual attraction, whereas it typically plays little to no role in pansexual attraction. Some people identify as pansexual and omnisexual simultaneously.

### Polysexual

***Main article:*** *Polysexual*

Polysexual is a sexual orientation in which one experiences attraction to multiple (but not necessarily all) genders. Pansexuality, on the other hand, involves attraction to all genders.

## Flag

The pansexual flag was designed by Jasper V as late as October 8, 2010. The colors were specified on their Tumblr blog on January 27, 2011, if not earlier:

> I chose pink, yellow and blue[...] because pink and blue have come to be accepted to represent binary gender[...], while yellow is a bright colour, that [symbolizes] life and happiness in many cultures, and is neglected by most queer-representing flags. Yellow makes it stand out from the bisexual colours, representing non-binary attraction, while the similar use of pink/blue[...] acknowledges the similarity of having attraction fall into the binary.
>
> - Jasper V, Tumblr (quoted on a different blog)

Nearly a decade later, on August 13, 2019, Jasper V verified the color meanings on Twitter:

> Pink and blue, because of their gendered traditions, and yellow, a generally non-gendered colour, to represent nonbinary folks etc.
>
> - Jasper V, Twitter

## Symbol

The pansexual symbol is the letter 'P' with a Mars-Venus symbol on the tail. The 'P' stands for pansexuality, due to it being the first letter of the word. Additionally, Mars (♂) is commonly used to represent men and masculinity, Venus (♀) is commonly used to represent women and femininity, and symbols combining the two are often used to represent transgender and nonbinary people. This represents attraction to all genders, or gender-inclusive attraction. It is unclear how the pansexual symbol originated, but it has been said to predate the pansexual flag.

Frying pans are also sometimes used as a pansexual symbol. This is a pun on the word "pan," and is sometimes paired with the idea that pansexual people come out of the pantry, cupboard, or cabinet, rather than out of the closet. However, some people use frying pans as a way to disrespect pansexual people, imply that pansexual people are "literally attracted to kitchenware," or otherwise not take people's identities seriously. Depending on the context, frying pans can either be a symbol of pride, or can be considered rude.

Pancakes are also sometimes used as a pansexual symbol, as another pun on "pan." The pancakes usually feature the colors of the pansexual pride flag: pink, yellow, and blue. This can also be considered an asexual panromantic (or otherwise ace-spec pan) symbol, due to the presence of "cake," which is a common asexual symbol.

## Gallery

The r/pansexual logo, featuring a frying pan over the pansexual flag.PanCake pride art by u/bloomdust.
## Notes

1. ↑ The phrase "gender-blind," while commonly used to describe pansexuality, is sometimes criticized for potentially ableist connotations, and potential invalidation and dismissal of people's genders.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 List of LGBTQ+ terms. Stonewall. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Terms & Definitions. Amherst College.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 PFLAG National Glossary of Terms. PFLAG. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Hardell, Ash. *The ABC's of LGBT+*. Mango Media Inc., 2016. ISBN 9781633534087.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 What is Bisexuality?. bisexual resource center (2021). Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 WebMD Editorial Contributors (2021-06-28). What Is Bisexual?. WebMD. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pansexual. The Trans Language Primer.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Lane, S. Nicole (2022-05-02). What Is Pansexuality?. Verywell Health.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 MasterClass (2021-06-07). Pansexuality Explained: What It Means to Be Pansexual. MasterClass.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Maheshwari-Aplin, Prishita (2022-05-23). 5 common misconceptions about pansexuality. Stonewall.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cade, Nicky (2022-05-23). Laws of Attraction: Omnisexual vs. Pansexual. Greatist.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 pansexual | Etymology, origin and meaning of pansexual. Online Etymology Dictionary.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Pansexualism - definition of pansexualism. The Free Dictionary.
14. ↑ Sotska, Julia (2022-12-19). Polysexual - What is it? What does it mean?. Taimi.
15. ↑ What is polysexuality?. Feeld (2020-01-03).
16. ↑ Jasper V. Pansexual Pride Flag | Hex Color Codes. Tumblr. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011.
17. ↑ Jasper V. untitled Twitter post. Twitter.
18. ↑ pansexualparty (2011-01-27). FAQ - What do the colours mean?. Tumblr. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.
19. ↑ Jasper V. untitled Twitter post. Twitter.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Everything you need to know about the Pansexual flag, symbol, and colors. PansexualColors.com.
21. ↑ LGBTQ+ Symbols & Meanings. De Montfort University.
22. ↑ History of the Pride Flag (2015-03-10). Archived from the original on March 8, 2021.
23. ↑ Nangeroni, Nancy R. (July 1994). Transgender Symbol. GenderTalk.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 levoothan (2021-10-25). The whole frying pan thing. Reddit.
25. ↑ kristen\_the\_boring (2019-11-24). Out of the pantry?. Reddit.
26. ↑ Idontfuckpans (2020-03-20). Coming out of the pantry. Urban Dictionary.
27. ↑ TheHolyR0manEmpire (2021-04-08). Pansexual shouldn't come out of the closet.. Reddit.
28. ↑ Absolute\_Zer01 (2021-04-08). "I came out of the cupboard like all the other pans!". Reddit.
29. ↑ I Didn't Come Out Of The Closet (Pansexual) Coffee Mug. LookHUMAN.
30. ↑ Pastel Goth Otaku (2017-06-07). DIY Pansexual Pancakes. YouTube.
31. ↑ The Pansexual Pancake Breakfast. Constant Contact (2017).
32. ↑ Why\_U\_Readin\_Dis (2019-03-04). Im making PANcakes. Reddit.
33. ↑ bloomdust (2020-02-03). If you're pan and ace, that makes you a PanCake!. Reddit.
34. ↑ ANIMALGAMER14. Reddit (2019-11-04).