No, pansexuality doesn’t involve attraction to pans — or any kitchen utensils, for that matter.

What is pansexuality, anyway? It’s a fluid sexuality, meaning someone who identifies as "pan" is attracted to all different types of people of all types of genders. This includes cisgender, nonbinary, and transgender people. 

This term has gained traction in the past decade or so, with many celebrities coming out as pan and proud — including Cara Delevingne, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato. Here’s more about its meaning and other terminology you might want to know.

What does pansexual mean? 

Pansexual refers to people who experience sexual and/or romantic attraction to people regardless of gender. If you’re pansexual, you aren’t necessarily “attracted to everyone.” It’s more about seeing people outside of their gender, dating people you love instead of people whose gender you’re typically attracted to. 

While it might feel like a newer term, pansexuality is rich in history, and its first appearance came from psychologist Sigmund Freud in the early 20th century. But Freud described pansexuality as an attraction to many things that weren't necessarily about romance or sex — and the meaning’s changed drastically over the years. 

Today, pansexuality is being into people regardless of whether they're male, female, trans, non-binary, or any other gender. This identity has its own pink, blue, and yellow flag, representing sexual and romantic attraction to women, men, and non-binary people respectively. And according to the Ipsos LGBT+ Pride 2023 survey, 1% of adults identify as pansexual. 

Pansexual versus bisexual  

Pansexuality and bisexuality both involve attraction to multiple genders, but they aren’t the same. Here’s how they’re different: 

Scope of attraction  

Bisexuality typically involves attraction to more than one gender, but not necessarily all. Bisexuals might experience attraction to just men and women or just women and non-binary folks. 

Pansexual people experience attraction to people of any and every gender identity. Every person is different, but generally, this all-encompassing nature sets pansexuality apart. 

Gender considerations  

When a pansexual person is attracted to someone, they don't really think about gender. Instead, they focus on the person's personality and physical characteristics, from their smile to their kindness and how outgoing they are. On the other hand, many — but not all — bisexual people acknowledge gender as a factor in their attraction to others. 

Cultural and social representation 

The “B” in LGBTQ+ stands for bisexual, and this sexuality has been part of the queer community and society for longer than pansexuality. Pansexuality is still gaining recognition and becoming more understood in mainstream culture and LGBTQ+ spaces, but it’s not yet at the same level as bisexuality. 

Perceptions of terminology 

Some might say the term bisexual, with “bi” implying “two,” reinforces the gender binary. Pansexual, on the other hand, with “pan” meaning “all,” is inclusive of the gender spectrum. It’s generally more progressive and moves past the traditional binary concept. 

This doesn’t mean bisexuals are exclusive or transphobic. While the term traditionally refers to two genders, bisexuality can cover all of them. 

Personal choice 

Identifying as bisexual or pansexual is a personal decision that, for some people, is as simple as choosing which term they resonate with more. For example, someone who primarily or only dates cisgender men and women may prefer bisexual. Another person who mainly dates transgender or nonbinary people may choose pansexual. It all boils down to what you're most comfortable with. 

What's the deal with pansexual pronouns? 

Sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct. Just like anyone else, pansexual people use a range of pronouns to represent their gender identities, which are not the same as their sexual orientations. Common pronouns include “he/him,” “she/her,” and “they/them,” but there are also other non-binary pronouns like “ze/hir” and “xe/xem.”

Like people of any other sexuality, you should respect a pansexual person’s pronouns. It's a fundamental way to honor their identity and affirm their sense of self. Using the correct pronouns is an easy way to make someone feel seen and validated, regardless of their sexual orientation — and it’s just basic respect. 

Pansexuality and stigma 

Society tends to get the idea of pansexuality wrong. It's a common misconception that pansexual people are promiscuous and hypersexual because they're attracted to all genders. Some say they’re more likely to cheat on their partners for this reason. 

This is not the truth, and this misconception can lead to harmful assumptions about the sexual behavior and consent of pansexual people. Like everyone else, they live varied lives and have varied preferences — and can (and do) thrive in monogamous relationships.

Some people might also assume pansexual people are “confused” or “experimenting.” They might think pansexuals will settle on a traditional sexual orientation — like gay or straight — in time. But this invalidates their experience. There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to multiple genders, and dating people of all orientations is normal.

These stigmas have a profound impact. According to a report from the Human Rights Campaign, over 75% of pansexual, bisexual, and gender-fluid people experience high levels of emotional distress, often feeling worthless or hopeless. Pansexual people are also more likely to experience violence from intimate partners than gay, bisexual, and lesbian people. 

Society has come a long way, but there's still further to go in terms of accepting and understanding pansexuality. These stigmas and findings highlight the need for greater acceptance, knowledge, and respect — so if you’re reading this article, you’re already taking a step toward change. 

Frequently asked questions 

Sexual orientation and gender identity are diverse concepts, and it’s okay if you don’t understand everything right away. To continue educating yourself, here are some frequently asked questions: 

How many sexual orientations are there? 

There's no definitive number of sexual orientations, but there are many. The spectrum of sexual orientations includes asexuality, homosexuality, and pansexuality, and there are some lesser-known terms like demisexuality, monosexuality, and skoliosexuality. There are also many romantic orientations, including aromantic and demiromantic, that exist along with sexual orientation. Some people identify as queer, which is an umbrella term for all kinds of non-straight identities.  

How many genders are there? 

Gender is so much more than the binary. Many cultures and individuals recognize many genders beyond male and female, including genderqueer, two-spirit, and non-binary people. Like sexuality, there’s no concrete number of genders. 

What is cisgender? 

Cisgender refers to someone whose gender identity aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth. For instance, someone assigned male at birth (AMAB) who identifies as a man is cisgender.

What is pangender? 

Pangender describes a person who identifies with a wide range of genders. This identity is about having multiple genders at once, which is separate from pansexuality. A pangender person has many genders and is part of the broader non-binary spectrum. 

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