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Pansexuality

Love and attraction beyond gender

Pansexual people do not see any importance to the genitalia of their partner or whether their gender identity is man, woman, non-binary, trans or cis. What does it mean to be interested in someone beyond their gender? We asked JOYclub members about their pansexuality.

New JOYclub feature: Pansexuality

  • From now on you can specify your inclination to "Pansexual" in your profile, in addition to the already existing options "Heterosexual", "Homosexual", "Bisexual" and "Bi-curious".
  • This is how it works: Open your profile management and select the corresponding inclination under "My interests". Save, done!

Pansexuality
 


What does it mean to be pansexual?

The term "pansexual" has its origin in the Greek word pan (everything). Simply put: pansexuals can be emotionally and sexually attracted to any person, regardless of their gender identification. A pansexual person simply does not care which sex or gender their partner has.

For me personally, it is the highlighting of the person without any focus on gender and identity. Not blind to it, but aware.
KajiraSefa

As an example, a pansexual person can be attracted to a cis woman with the “usual” gender characteristics as well as to a trans man whose body has been altered by testosterone and other transition processes. A determination on a binary or non-binary gender does not take place here. The person is perceived as attractive regardless of gender.

There are not only two genders, there never have been.
Duftgitarren
I label myself as pan because I love people and I find people attractive - not gender
miela_samira

Pansexual vs. bisexual - what is the difference?

Whether or to what extent a distinction should be made at all between the two sexual orientations pan and bi is controversial. The approach that bisexual persons are equally attracted to the binary gender order of man and woman is sharply rejected by some critics of the two-gender-model.

I first chose bi for myself at 20, but back then I was not yet aware of how many identities there are outside of man and woman. After more queer contacts I realized at 25 that the vibe between people is important to me and I perceive and respect the identity, but it isn't a deal breaker.
KajiraSefa

But to conclude that bisexuals are only interested in partners who clearly feel they belong to one of the binary genders is too short-sighted. Many bisexuals see bi as "two or more". Accordingly, gender plays a role in who they find attractive, but it does not have to be binary. Likewise, bi is often used as an umbrella term for anyone who is attracted to people of two or more genders.

In conclusion, everyone must decide for themselves what applies for them. For pansexual people the gender - or how binary it is - does not matter in any case.

I came out unintentionally at school when I said I didn't only like boys and had the bi label put on me. At that time it was okay if they wanted to label me as "not straight and not lesbian is just bi". For me it was just normal as a girl to not only be attracted to boys (- and not only to one person, but that's another topic ...). I didn't understand the fuss about it and or why you have to define and label yourself at all.
RootingNorse

Pansexual vs. omnisexual - how is it different?

Although the two sexual orientations pan and omni are almost identical, as both are open to any gender identity in their partner, there is a subtle difference: pansexual people find a person attractive regardless of their gender. It doesn’t matter to them which gender their partner identifies with. Pansexuals desire the person.

Obviously pansexuality is also often called "blindness towards gender". But I don't ignore the gender, it just doesn't influence my relationship to the person and I don't explicitly search for a certain gender.
RootingNorse

Omnisexual people, on the other hand, are attracted to the person, but are very much aware of the person's biological sex and gender. For omnisexuals, the gender of their counterpart thus does not play a role in attraction, but in principle they appreciate the differences between the sexes.

Pansexual vs. polysexual - what differences are there?

There is also a small difference between pan and poly: polysexuals are, according to the term poly (many), attracted to several genders, but not to all of them. A pansexual person, however, does not exclude any gender.

Human is human and love is love.
Marico82

And us from JOYclub add to that:

Lust is lust!

Who matches pansexual people?

Since for pansexuals it is more about the character, personality traits and the person itself, there must first and foremost be chemistry. Of course, they can get involved with someone who feels they belong to the binary gender assigned at birth (cisgender). But the following people could also be considered as partners:

  • Agender: These people do not feel they belong to any gender at all.
  • Intergender: Their gender identity lies between the two binary genders "man" and "woman".
  • Bigender: These people identify equally with both binary genders.
  • Transgender: These people do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
  • Pangender: Someone who recognizes and finds themselves in all gender identities.
  • Non-binary: This group of people does not feel they belong to any of the binary genders.
  • Genderfluid: For these individuals, gender identity changes from time to time or under certain conditions.

And these are only a few! Apart from them there are many other gender identities that can be considered as potential partners for pansexuals.

I always have been [pansexual], even as a child I used to say, if I love, then I love the human! Gender attributes are secondary! The human being, connectedness, sharing the same views, humour, charisma, those are the things we fall in love with, not with 🍓 or 🍆!
Marico82
Pansexual attraction is universal.
Pansexual attraction is universal.
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What symbol do pansexuals have?

By now, there is a whole range of LGBTQ+ symbols and flags with which the affiliation to a sexual identity can be shown publicly. Thus, of course the pansexual community also has their own.

Pansexuality
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The symbol of pansexuality is a “P” with male, female and transgender characteristics at the same time. It can be attached to clothing or other personal items in the form of pins, patches or stickers.

The Pride flag for pansexuals was created in 2010 in the colors pink - yellow - blue. Through this color scheme, it embodies the sexual inclination towards women, non-binary genders and men.

Pink, yellow and blue are the colours of the pansexuality flag
Pink, yellow and blue are the colours of the pansexuality flag
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What are the limits and possibilities of pansexuality?

Dating is at best exciting, respectful and pleasurable. We asked members from the community if they have specific experiences through their pansexuality in contact with (possible) (sex) partners. What are the limits? And more importantly, which possibilities arise?

I feel limits especially in aspects due to missing education. So I meet people again and again who believe that pansexuality = promiscuity. This is not at all the case, although of course pansexual people can and may be promiscuous
 
I see possibilities above all in being able to get close to people of all kind. I find sex to be so much more personal and intimate and therefore more beautiful, when the person really is more important to me than what surrounds them on the outside.
miela_samira
In JOYclub I have not had any challenges or problems with this so far, due to the "bi status" not exclusively gentlemen wrote to me. I have made the experience that those who accept bi in the JOYniverse also accept pan.
 
Mostly probably because they don't even know where the difference is. That's a shame, it would be nice if people knew there was more than just the big 3 (straight, bi, gay/lesbian).
 
I have noticed that non-binary and trans people have often been very timid in asking my preferences and were more relaxed when I mentioned that I was pan.
RootingNorse

Pansexuality as a preference in JOYclub

Sexuality is incredibly diverse. We at JOYclub want everyone to be able to live out their own sexuality freely, safely and visibly.

We asked the community why they, now that the inclination pansexuality is available for selection, have chosen it.

For visibility and because it made me feel seen. So that I can be understood better.
KajiraSefa
Due to my non-binary feeling and after almost 2 years of being transmasculine, pansexual is a lot more fitting than bisexual, as I had previously stated here in my profile.
 
Because if I move between the genders and also find all masculine people attractive, regardless of gender, the indication bi is not enough at all. Bi means two and I'm definitely not that and neither are some people I met.
KindredSouls
I will specify the inclination because I believe that open contact will provide much more communication and therefore education.
miela_samira
I didn't realize how much of a pain it was to not be able to choose it, so of course I used it right away.... *g*
RootingNorse

Am I pansexual?

You can also imagine yourself falling in love with a person - no matter which gender identity they feel they belong to? Then it could be interesting for you to learn more about the topic of pansexuality. If you don't think about the gender identity of your counterpart at all, it could be that you are pansexual.

The important thing to remember is: sexuality is your private business alone and you don't have to commit or fit into a certain pigeonhole. You decide for yourself what feels good and right. That's all that matters! Live out your own personal preferences, desires and needs.

Learn more!

As you know now, pansexuality describes not only a sexual orientation, but also an inner attitude. Pansexual people can often be open-minded and question social norms. They fall in love with and desire all kinds of people, regardless of their gender identity. Would you like to learn more about pansexuality? Exchange your experiences in the community!


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