Anonymous: Zo what's the difference between being pansexual and bisexual ? I'm a bit confused

zobothehob0:

Well it’s all in the wording.

Pansexual is an attraction to all genders.

Bisexual is an attraction to two or more genders or your same gender and others.

As you’ve probably noticed (in by the fact that your asking this question), these definitions are very similar and have a lot of overlap. Sometimes people use them to mean the same thing, sometimes they’re used to mean different things. 

Sometimes bisexual is used to mean attraction to men and women and excludes non-binary genders. This is not how the bisexual community uses it though, and that definition is biphobic for that reason

Sometimes bisexual is used to mean attraction to some genders, but not all genders. 

But sometimes, people identify with bisexual and are attracted to all genders.

People might choose pansexual to identify with if they feel like bisexual is a little to rigid and structured. Some people might choose pansexual if they want to make it so that their attraction to all genders cannot be ignored or misunderstood by other definitions of bisexuality. Some people might choose it if they like the way it sounds better. Some might choose it if they want to draw attention to non-binary genders - I know a lot of non-binary people who identify with pansexual over bisexual more because they want the language surrounding their sexuality to point very clearly to non-binary people. Some might choose it just because they feel more comfortable with it, or because they feel uncomfortable with bisexual.

On the flip side, some might choose bisexual because it’s more widely known and accepted. Some might choose it because they identify with one of these other definitions.  Some might choose it because they want to draw attention to the fact that many times bisexual does mean attraction to all genders. Some might choose it because they take comfort in the familiarity of the word. Some might choose it because they like the open ended language of “two or more” or “same and other” and they feel like “all” feels too concrete. Some people might choose it because they feel more comfortable with it or because they feel uncomfortable with pansexual.

Also, many people identify with both of these words at the same time. 

At the end of the day, the difference is subjective.  There are many reasons people choose one over the other and their definitions are very similar.  

I hope that answered your question!

  1. zobothehob0 reblogged this from redflowerblooming and added:
    (x)If you have another reason polysexual feels right to you you’d like to draw attention to, just let me know!!
  2. redflowerblooming reblogged this from notbxdanymore
  3. sebanna2 reblogged this from zobothehob0
  4. minyoulater reblogged this from notbxdanymore
  5. 0-24-myself reblogged this from unicornssilverblood
  6. unicornssilverblood reblogged this from niquesse
  7. niquesse reblogged this from notbxdanymore
  8. ouijalove reblogged this from shinybadguys
  9. sillysilverkin reblogged this from notbxdanymore
  10. shinybadguys reblogged this from notbxdanymore
  11. notbxdanymore reblogged this from mysenia
  12. mysenia reblogged this from queerlyalex
  13. ariestess reblogged this from freifraufischer
  14. gastfyr reblogged this from fuckyeahdeafandasexual
  15. crazygoodfun reblogged this from sleepwalkerindreamersclothing
  16. tyezula reblogged this from themeaningofbisexuality
  17. when-kurt-met-blaine reblogged this from sleepwalkerindreamersclothing
  18. nnoell reblogged this from veracolorum
  19. veracolorum reblogged this from sleepwalkerindreamersclothing
  20. citruscandie reblogged this from apolkadotnerd
  21. apolkadotnerd reblogged this from sleepwalkerindreamersclothing
  22. sleepwalkerindreamersclothing reblogged this from mollynoble
  23. dustonmyscreen reblogged this from sleepy-skittles
  24. avocadojoner reblogged this from sleepy-skittles
  25. jenster21 reblogged this from sleepy-skittles
  26. toflirtwithlife reblogged this from sleepy-skittles
  27. sleepy-skittles reblogged this from kirasderek
(c)