Bi vs Pan

"Why Can't You Just Let People Live?" Here's Why

The cultural impact of pansexuality

Here are some fairly recent statements about pansexuality that highlight the transphobic and/or biphobic use of the label and how it became mainstream.

Transphobic because they consider trans men and trans women as a separate category from cis men and women, implying that they are a "third gender" that only pansexuals can be attracted to.

Biphobic because it paints pansexuality as "more progressive" and "more inclusive", implying that bisexuals are not attracted to nonbinary people, that we always care about someone's gender or that we’re attracted to two genders only.

I obviously do not think that every single pan individual is at fault. The issue is with the label itself and with how its used to spread biphobic and transphobic stereotypes.

- 2020 - 

“Often confused with bisexuality, pansexuality is where gender isn’t factored into attraction at all. In contrast, those who identify as bisexual are attracted to both genders.”

- “What is pansexuality and how does it compare with bisexuality?”, Yahoo! News, January 4, 2020

“Pansexuals can feel sexual attraction towards androgynous, agender, bigender, cisgender, intersex, gender-neutral, gender-fluid, and transgender people.”

-”What is pansexual? What is the difference between pansexual and bisexual? We got answers!”, article on LGBTQnation, February 27, 2020

“It never felt right for me to identify as bisexual,“ she continues. “I know so many people who are asexual or two-spirited, and I’m open to being with someone who is trans. I never wanted to alienate anyone in my sexual exploration*. Even though I have never been with anyone who is trans, I’m open to it. For me it’s more of a political decision.* I think everyone, regardless of who they are with, should identify as pansexual. I think that would help everyone love each other more.”

- “What is Pansexual? A Guide to Pansexuality”, Vera Papisova, Teen Vogue, April 21, 2020

What is the difference between pansexuality and bisexuality?

Bisexual
Pansexual
The prefix “bi” means two – Bisexual is attracted to both sexes by both men and women – Attractiveness is related to gender.
The prefix “pan” means everything – Pansexual is attracted to all, including transsexuals – Sex does not play any role. The attraction itself is unrelated to sex.

- What is pansexual?, RainbowHeart, June 13, 2020

- 2019 -

“Pansexuality basically means it’s about hearts, not parts,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, trans male, trans female, nonbinary — everyone’s hot to me.”

- Boston’s 49th Pride Parade is a bright and colorful affair, Boston Globe, June 8, 2019

“On the other hand, the term ‘pansexual’ includes all genders and all sexes: man, woman, transgender, intersex”

- This Is What It Really Means To Be Pansexual, Gentside, March 17, 2019

“He told me that pansexuality meant you could feel attracted to people of all genders – boys, girls, transgender people, non-binary people”

- My Label and Me, Metro, 21 Feb 2019

“Just like bisexuality, pansexuals are sexually attracted to men and women. But the key difference is that pansexual people tend to consider themselves as more “gender fluid”. They may also be drawn to those who identify as intersex, third-gender, androgynous or transgender.”