Hello everyone! Happy Pansexual and Panromantic Pride Day!

(Image consists of a pansexual flag)

This Pansexual/Panromantic Pride Day I thought we could keep it simple, and start with the definitions of pansexuality and panromanticism.

Pansexual - experiencing sexual attraction toward people of all genders. A pansexual person will typically be attracted to others regardless of sex or gender.

Panromantic - experiencing romantic attraction, affection, deep emotional connection, or love for people of all genders. A panromantic person will typically be attracted to others regardless of sex or gender.

These may seem like fairly straightforward terms and ideas, but they too often get buried under myths and misunderstandings. Let’s take a look at a few of those now.

🚫Myth: Pansexuality and Bisexuality are the same thing.

✅Fact: While there may be some overlap between pansexuality and bisexuality, and people my identify as one, the other or even both. They are both also separate and valid identities. One of the main distinctions between pansexuality and bisexuality, would be with regard to how they approach gender. Bisexuality is defined as the attraction to multiple gender identities, while Pansexuality would be the attraction to all gender identities or even attraction regardless of gender identity.

🚫Myth: Pansexuality is Transphobic

✅Fact: While sadly there may be some transphobia in any community, pansexuality as an identity is not inherently transphobic. Some find the distinction between pansexuality and bisexuality etc implies that they do not see transgender people as men or women, this is not true. The distinction is often said to be simply that the attraction a pansexual person experiences is not premised on the gender of the person they are attracted to.

🚫Myth: Pansexuality is attraction to everyone and greedy!

✅Fact: While pansexuals experience attraction to all genders, that is not to say they experience attraction to everyone, only that the gender of a person is not a determining factor of when they will or will not experience attraction. Just like lesbians and gay men are not automatically attracted to all women or all men. This also does not mean that they experience attraction to multiple people or want multiple partners, so of course being greedy is also a misconception.

🚫Myth: Pansexuals are just confused and can’t make up their minds.

✅Fact: Many multisexualities are dismissed and invalidated as people unable to make up their minds, instead of recognizing that attraction is a multitude of experiences where gender may or may not be an important factor. Sometimes people can like chocolate ice cream and vanilla, or some just like ice cream in general!

🚫Myth: Pansexuality is a fad!

✅Fact: While it may seem to be an increasingly common term that more people identify with, it is not a new term by any means, and even if it were it still is no less valid or a fad. But societal acceptance and understanding have allowed more people to claim their identity and find the language that represents their experiences, such as pansexuality, so it may seem more common because it’s less hidden or unknown.

[Image consists of pink, yellow and blue ice cream the colours of the pansexual flag]

Alright so we’ve learned a bit about what Pansexuality and Panromanticism are and aren’t, now some questions for you!

1. If you identify as Pan, what are the myths or misconceptions you find most enduring? How do you cope with those?

2. What are some ways we as a community can work to support, recognize and validate those who identify as Pan?

[Image consists of the pansexual symbol]

sources: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-common-misconceptions-about-pansexuality https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/panromantic-meaning

tagging the subcommunity taglist (if you want to be added/removed, click here!) @0OOXOO0z @0verth1nker8 @2019DOGS @22butterflies @3m1lywh3at0n @4Butterflies2Dragonflies @A2021203 @ablacklatinx @abpio @ace2929 @acesarrow @Adamjohns22 @adorableSky52 @affectionateHuman529 @agreeableEyesz @AHMED1998 @AlexWilson @Alexx26 @AlexXxBlake @Alkina @alliegatorskinboots @ambitiousNorth1459 @AMusicalSilence @anewdaydawning @angelbunnybby @anis2222 @anna5485 @anonym0815 @anshumanverma @Antthony101 @archerzvy @Arihaanth @Arnav012568 @Arsonbaby @Arthilio27 @Asheristired @ashishere22 @athf4ever @Aubrey2018 @AveryLove @awalkintheforest @axolotladler @AzureWinter @badoinkitydoop @BaileeIsDaBomb @BaileyRomme @Batman64546 @beautifulFireworks63 @Bendall6456 @Biamcc27 @bigirl06 @Blake790 @blissfulForest7074 @blithesoul64 @Bloog @blueAcai8991 @blueBeing7491 @blueCamp8059 @bluehouse2020 @Bob1144 @bobby15 @BookyCapri @boomboom1bakubro @bpanon0510 @bpate00 @bread4 @brendenjensen @brendenjnsn @BrooklynM @BubbleTea15 @BumbleBee1523 @CallmeKir @calmPine4337 @celestialnova @centremid @chaoticneutraldreamer @Charcoaldust @Charlielloyd11 @Charmingplum4444 @charpercharlie @CherryBlossom7717 @chronosrose @CindyIsNotOkay @Civciv1453 @CivilJay @Clouldystarz @Cloverrz @cocoafp191 @colorfulHeart78 @comfortingAngel @compassion4you14 @compassionateThinker6493 @confidentialuser3322 @Confusedpear237 @considerateHeart21 @CoolRainboom @corkflies @creativeLand811 @creativePenguin5165 @crimsonVillage5753 @Crismerlyn @cUsTaRdGiRl @Cutewatermelon @cyanOrange9429 @dagaz13th @Daisymayes @DanceDanceMCRFOB @dapperThunderstorm17 @Davide @Dazzaboi @Deathdream13 @DebbieSapiosexual @DecayingPuppet @decisiveScarf8956 @Deerpark49 @delightfulBeauty9501 @DevinJG @Dinosaur @DinoSour @Dogbone17 @dreus1974 @DrowningWords @DylanletterR @dynamicSea7676 @easywest5007 @ElixirLove887 @ella2si @Elliot8Waugh @ElliotAnxiety27 @elxirr @EmmyKawaii @EnbyFreind @enigmaticButterfly7384 @ErosLovely @ethanrsmith @euphoria00 @FaboulousUnicornPotateo @fairmindedLychee7474 @fairmindedMap8489 @FantasyChapters @Fardec46 @Feirylesbian @FentonDnD @FeureVox @figFog @Flowerinthewind @FluffyHamster666 @ForestFern12 @FranklyMaple @Frankpenny3679 @Gagaintheroom @galactictroubles @galacticwolfspirit @GayLisaSimpson @GeriatricWeasels @GlitteringNights @goldenbeach22 @GoldenDog9992 @Gr33nIvy @Grace8402 @Gracie815 @greatfulRainfall46 @GwennyGwenya @h9y43n @HadesAzander @HalliB23 @Harper5555555555 @HawkM @hazelhorizons @heavenshadow @helloLime5675 @helpfulSummer9270 @Heybecca96 @heyitsalli @HeyItsMish @hippiewannabe @hippylonglegs @HisokaChan @honest13 @HydroTobo @i @IcarusFlew @Icean @Idk @Idk1405 @imaginativeSouth302 @Imkindawierd @ImpartialBirch1435 @impartialOwl3393 @imrose123 @IndecisiveClementine186 @InfinityPhoenix2001 @inolasnasadnarim @Insertnamehere45 @IntergalacticRaven @intuitivePond9315 @inventiveWalker6918 @iraismyname @ItsDev @ItsJustLauren @ItsReganingRain @ItzLeo @ivoryCircle1219 @Ivywater @jamaya @jammiedodgerrr @Jane27 @jayden173 @JaytheNinja @jazzyrainbow15 @jKempy @jkwon @Josefina93 @jprouv @Julianna2 @Justmeforyou @KalleeSmith @Kashew11 @kasperkat @KateDoskocilova @Kay63 @KeiSocolov @KimByeongIn @kinchaxel @kindowl400 @KingdomKey1314 @KinkyTheSilentWitch @Kira09 @Kiraiki @Kittycatra13 @KittyGurlIloveyou @koopwei @Kou @Kpopcat2020 @Krish29 @kwheelz @KyloRenFanGirl9905 @LadyDair @laicrose @Lakomb @LanaSwift89 @Lasagna1 @lavenderTree2843 @Lazmaxwell @lazyfudge @Lazypotato786 @lemongrasstea07 @LeoSun4 @LeoTheLittleLoinCub @lightMoon8193 @LocaBella @Lol883 @lovewillspread @loyalBirch3538 @loyalThinker4958 @Luminescentknight @Luna7298 @lunareyes37 @LunaWolf222 @Lupinpollo @Luriner @lxveyoongi @Lynse6713 @lyricalAngel70 @MAB23 @Mae @MakisLp @mari123sg @MasterMoose93 @MedicinalMelody @melloohi @meltheowl @MiaT465 @Michael2027 @migelato30 @MisterPrincess316 @MomoDeMomo @Moodyson @Mooingcow1234 @mortalixty @MrJacob @MSFrost @musicalBlackberry77 @musicgeek14 @MysterySpirit @NaeNae1517 @Naila2 @NamelessVamp @Nathalie00912 @navySea134 @Necas209 @NeonBlueButterfly @neonFarm9776 @neonxlilac @Nermie @NicoAce @nikkinik @nonbinarycactus22 @NorahListens @NotFrostButAPoet @Notfrostbutpoet @NotKhan @optimisticAJ13 @osbella @ouwillbefound @oyster7potato @PaganWarrior @Parvlakin @passionateApple7952 @PeaceLoveandPaws @peasantisactuallygod1617 @pepper2018 @persistentCircle1437 @Person12269 @Phillyriver @PhoenixAsh @PhoenixPatronus @Pinnae @pipandlivmania @pluckySouth5223 @PointlessExistence9708 @practicalIdeal2007 @Prettydays124 @PuffPride7 @Pumpkinpi @Purplebike7965 @Purpleflowerbud @purplesnail @quinton107 @Rainbovv @Rainbows3112 @RainyWithAWhy @Randall72 @Randie @raymaniii @rbfkun @rd1212 @RedApples667 @reliablePond8050 @renstilice @reservedPark5193 @resourcefulPond1641 @Ripley1567 @RJTransman @robyn420 @Roisin0 @Rosary @RoseTeaRabbit @royalRainbow1408 @rquote @RustyNails @RyleighBr1anne @Sadlonely90 @safespace899 @samantha5wales @Sanskruti29 @sapphicchloe @Saskianite @SassyVagrant @ScreenName34 @shadow8817 @shadowling13 @shadowmothhh @Shaeeeee @Shorday15 @Skyash @SkylarListens @SleepyShyCat @slytherinluvbot @Smolbean23 @Snapesnapeseverussnape @Sociablesky577 @sofiai9 @softRainbow9008 @Soleena @solidago @solsearchin @Sombrius @Someonelost @Someonlost @SomnolentLaelis @SparkyGizmo @spectacularEnergy60 @spiritwolf75 @spooderfaxy1987 @Stardew3 @stardust42 @stargazer45116 @stingray777 @StrawberryLemonade06 @stuckintime92 @Summerlove18976 @sunflower026 @sunflowerrs @SunnySideTrinket @sweetmango91 @sweetMelody95 @TaylorAlise @taylorhugs12 @taylorjensen @Taylzasoldastime @Tealperson @The0Vetoed0System @TheAutumnWitch @theindigojournal @TheoRae8289 @TheQueerCollective @thoughtfulApple1359 @tidyHickory3283 @tigerlily249 @tinycactus809 @tranquilForever68 @TroubledWithLife @Trying15 @turquoiseHemlock900 @turquoiseLand8120 @uzumaki6 @venusnity @veronikamalik @versatileLake2802 @vgranieri @vibiebb @vikingwolf802 @viktorija120 @wamai @wannatalkaboutit @warmheartedCity8277 @werenotgonnatakeit @WhoIAM2you @WonderfulHart1330 @worldwidejinn @Xaixu @xDarkNigxtmare0981x @xinyii11 @XwonderlandgirlX @xxharleyxx @Yavmarcus @YellowCanary11 @yellowdragon028 @YinYinChan @yourbuddy30 @yournewfriend13 @zenona5 @ZhaviaMachete