Singer-actress Janelle Monáe recently came out as pansexual. Within 24 hours, the word pansexual topped Merriam-Webster’s search.
On 26 April, Rolling Stone magazine published its cover story about Monáe, where she opens up about her sexuality. That same day, dictionary Merriam-Webster tweeted the following:
📈 ‘Pansexual’ is our top search today. 👑https://t.co/DJ8gUex3qs
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 26, 2018
Confusion
Many Twitter users were confused about the term, wondering how it’s different from bisexuality.
doesn’t it basically means bisexual????
— Donara B. (@ohsorandom8706) April 27, 2018
Serious question. How is this different from bi-sexual?
— Montana SeaGal (@MontanaSeaGal) April 26, 2018
Definitions
Merriam-Webster defines pansexuality as ‘of, relating to, or characterized by sexual desire or attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation.’
They note that the term entered the English language in the early 20th century. However, it originally had a different meaning than it does today.
The word initially meant ‘tending to suffuse all experience and conduct with erotic feeling.’
On 27 April, pansexual was still at the top of Merriam-Webster’s search:
📈 ‘Pansexual’ is still on top and your joke about cookware is still hack.https://t.co/DJ8gUex3qs
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 27, 2018
Bi vs. Pan
Many Twitter users, especially those who are LGBTI-identified found themselves in a frustrating situation of dealing with bisexual and pansexual erasure upon hearing Monáe’s news.
Additionally, many bi and pan-identified people were just getting sick of the jokes about cookware (just search ‘pansexual’ on Twitter and you’ll see tons of jokes about literal pans) and the idea that either bisexuality or pansexuality aren’t inclusive of trans and non-binary people.
why is it so hard for people to understand the difference between bisexual and pansexual. like grow the fuck up and educate yourselves and quit invalidating pansexuals because your ignorant minds can’t wrap that there is more sexualites than lesbian, bisexual, and gay.
— idiot 1 🚷 (@infuried) April 28, 2018
Stop making a joke out of pansexual people and asexual people. (Aka making Pan jokes or constantly equating them to bisexual people / treating asexuals like pure children and belittling them.) They deserve to be represented and treated as maturely as anyone else.
— 【 I 】【 Я 】【 Ө 】【 П 】gσ∂∂єѕѕ @ PFC (@TerraTimberWolf) April 25, 2018
In light of the Janelle Monae article, some quick clarifications!
Bisexual: attracted to two or more genders/same and different genders, not necessarily in the same way or to the same degree
Pansexual: attracted to all genders, regardless of gender.
-signed, a bi
— liz ⛸❄ 💙💜 (@her_nerdiness) April 26, 2018
✨Bisexual = attraction to two or more genders
✨Pansexual = attraction to all or most genders
✨Many people exist in the overlap. Many people do not.
✨Bi as a label has never been exclusive of trans and non-binary people.
✨The definition of bi BY bi people hasn’t changed. pic.twitter.com/qy1i4T77pE
— Thal (@thalestral) April 28, 2018
If someone tells you they’re #bisexual, they’re bisexual.
If someone tells you they’re #pansexual, they’re pansexual.
If someone says they’re both bi and pan, they’re both bi and pan.
What label(s) a person uses, if any, is up to them, and should be respected.
— Bi-Trans Alliance (@BiTransAlliance) April 28, 2018
bisexual: attraction to two or more genders
pansexual: attraction regardless of genderit’s not that fucking hard y’all
— jenny vega stan (@aritsotIe) April 28, 2018
Yo don’t explain pansexual by saying that bisexual people are only attracted to binary genders, because this v bisexual nb has some info for you:
Bi people have been breaking down gender binaries for decades. Check out the 1990 Bi manifesto to see what i mean.
— Ruby 💖💜💙 (@RubySusan29) April 27, 2018
I really don’t get the bisexual vs pansexual debate – I know loads of bi people who would date someone with a nonbinary gender
— not like a regular mom (@shonfaye) April 28, 2018
Y’all really, REALLY need to fucking stop with this damn myth that pansexual people are more inclusive that bisexual people. Bisexuality does not and HAS NEVER excluded people outside of the gender binary. I’m so sick of this.
— a free ass mothafucka ✊🏾 (@ashleykatina3) April 27, 2018
I’m sorry, but no. I’m not playing bisexual vs. pansexual in my mentions anymore. I recognize pansexuality as a valid, separate, and distinct sexuality. There’s no debate. There’s the door.
— 🏳️🌈Jenny Trout (@Jenny_Trout) April 29, 2018
The Human Rights Campaign even got involved to help dispel the confusion.
2/ For those who need more information on what #bisexual, #pansexual and #queer identities mean, here’s a quick rundown:
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
3/ #Bisexual: A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
4/ #Pansexual: Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
5/ #Queer: A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with “#LGBTQ.”
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
6/6 These identities mean different things to different people — and we’re so grateful to @JanelleMonae for the opportunity to celebrate them all. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜https://t.co/msEv5RgItK
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
Basically, when it comes down to it, pansexuality like all sexual identities should be respected.
