What's the difference between Pansexuality, Bisexuality and Polysexuality?
Anonymous
on
Jan 10, 2015
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All three terms refer to sexual attraction, which is a pull or allure in which you feel you want to partake in sexual activities with a specific person. Note that sexual attraction is a feeling, not a behavior, so your sexual experiences (or lack thereof) have no sway on your sexual attraction. Bisexuality originally meant feeling sexual attraction to "both" genders, with bi meaning two. Since there are far more than two genders, the definition was changed to mean either sexual attraction to two or more genders or sexual attraction to the same gender and one other. Polysexuality means sexual attraction to multiple genders, with poly meaning many. Pansexuality means either sexual attraction to all genders or sexual attraction regardless of gender, with pan meaning all. Many (but not all) people who identify as pansexual say gender doesn't figure in at all when they feel sexually attracted to someone. Which of these three someone uses depends entirely on which one they feel most comfortable with. Some people may claim those who use these labels are indecisive or looking for attention. Ignore them. If you feel it, it is real and valid.
Anonymous
on
Oct 31, 2017
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Bisexuality leans more towards an attraction to two specific genders (hence the 'bi'), whereas pansexuality focuses on the attraction to all genders (though many pansexual people also identify as bisexual, and many bisexual people also identify as pansexual, this is because many non-binary people choose to identify themselves as male or female, which is the most common two attractions for a bisexual person). On the other hand, polysexuality may not necessarily be an attraction to two genders or all genders, rather three, four, five, etc. specific genders. Hope I explained this properly, sorry if I got this wrong! (feel free to correct me) Hope this helps :)
avanef
on
Apr 20, 2020
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Pansexuality is the sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others. Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one sex or gender. It may also be defined as romantic or sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender identity, which is also known as pensexuality. Polysexuality as been defined as "encompassing or characterized by many different kinds of sexuality", and as sexual attraction to many, but not all, genders. Those who use the term may be doing so as a replacement for the term bisexual, believing bisexual reifies dichotomies. All are valid sexualities and at the end of the day if you feel as though you don't have a title you feel best represents who you are, then don't worry about it. At the end of the day, you love who you love and that's all that should matter. If someone else doesn't like it or understand it, don't worry about it.
Aprildays2432
on
May 17, 2015
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Pansexuality is similar to bisexuality, but more fluid. They can be attracted to not just female and male genders but any gender. Bisexual people are attracted to men and women. Polysexuality is very similar to Pansexuality but Polysexual people can also be in love with more then one person at a time.
yurannus
on
Sep 14, 2015
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Bisexuals can have feelings for boys and girls *trans peoole are in boys and girls category too* Pansexuals can have feelings for nonbinary and genderfluid people and boys and girls And im sorry i dont have any idea about whats polysexual.
Potatofry
on
Nov 21, 2017
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Being pansexual means being attracted to all genders. Being bisexual means being attracted to two genders(not necessarily males and females) being polysexual means being attracted to some genders (more than 4) but not all gendera
Aayla
on
Aug 6, 2019
LGBTQ+ Issues Expert
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Bisexuals are attracted to more than one gender. They could potentially be attracted to all genders, or only to some. They may or may not have a preference. Pansexuality and polysexuality respectively mean attraction regardless of gender and attraction to more than two, but not all gender. Since the definition of bi also covers these sort of cases, you're free to identify as bi/pan or bi/poly as you prefer.
MamaTrinidad
on
Jul 7, 2015
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Pansexuality, you are not limited to who you love. Long story short, you don't care about any features of the person. You may love lesbian, bisexual, transgender. It doesn't matter.
Bisexuality, you have an interest in dating male and female.
Polysexuality, you like all different kinds of genders, very similar to pansexuality.
Anonymous
on
Jul 28, 2015
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From what I know, bisexuality is where there is a sexual attraction to both your own gender and the opposite gender/s. Pansexuality is when there is sexual attraction to all genders, or in other words sexual attraction regardless of gender. Polysexuality is the attraction to more than one gender, so bisexuality and pansexuality can come under polysexuality, but there are different forms of polysexuality.
TheFluteCat101
on
May 18, 2016
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One analogy I have seen is imagining sexualities as a direction of travel. Bisexuals can walk forwards and backwards (attraction to males and females). Polysexuality is being able to walk in some directions, but not all. Pansexuality is being able to walk in all directions, with no preference over which way you choose to walk.
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