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What is the difference between pansexual and bisexual?

50 Answers
Last Updated: 06/19/2022 at 3:25pm
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Top Rated Answers
Cadence
March 9th, 2015 8:52pm
The differences really lie in semantics. By name, bisexual means that someone is attracted to two sexes in a sexual manner, primarily male and female. Pansexual means that someone is attracted to all genders and sexes. This can include males, females, trans folks, genderqueer folks, or any other means of gender presentation. This isn't to say that bisexual people don't like trans or genderqueer folks, and that's where the semantics argument comes in. Some people that are pansexual prefer to identify as bisexual because it seems easier, as the term is more well known. In the end, they're both labels that mean relatively similar things, but some prefer pansexual as it encompasses all genders in one term, and some prefer bisexual because it's more recognizable.
Anonymous
January 15th, 2015 2:54pm
Bisexuality is widely defined as sexual attraction to the same and other genders (not just two, regardless of the name!) and pansexuality is sexual attraction to people regardless of gender. The source that explains it the best: http://argentconflagration.tumblr.com/post/67280987324/i-made-a-thing
Anonymous
April 5th, 2015 12:39am
Bisexual is being attracted to boys and girls whereas pansexual are attracted to boys,girls,transexuals,intersexual ,etch
brirose23
July 7th, 2015 2:44am
Pansexual is a new age phrase first of. Bisexual is liking both male and female for the facts that they are male and female and seeing the difference between the love. Being pansexual is loving someone based on love alone and not caring what the gender is or anything for that matter.
Lior
July 20th, 2015 10:46am
Bisexual is the term which says attraction to two (Bi=Two) genders, it's referring to the woman and man (Although sometimes it refers to the sexes themselves (male and female)). Pansexual is a term which tries to break the dichotomy of man and woman and acknowledge that there are more genders and sexes other than that (Like intersex, genderqueers and others) and so gives place to all of them. Pansexuality can be an attraction to a person regardless their sex/gender, or the possible attraction to all genders and sexes.
Anonymous
January 16th, 2015 10:43pm
Bisexual is having attraction to males and female while pansexual is having sexual attraction to all genders.
Anonymous
May 2nd, 2015 3:54pm
It's actually unclear as many that identify as pan or bi just identify with the first term they hear. Many have their own separate definitions anyway. The main ones I understand and have heard are that pan people do not care about looks or gender whereas gender and appearance do play a small part for bisexuals. Another is that bis may have a slight gender preference or even that they do not want relationships with trans or interesex persons (in my case I find that to be transphobic and that's not why I identify as bi). The basic pattern is that pan is a more universal attraction spectrum than bi, but bi is used more as it's the more commonly used term. I personally identify as bi because more people know what it means and I have preferences. My advice is, pick the one that you prefer the sound of and remember that the label is there to help you and not another thing to conform to. :)
genuineSeal64
March 8th, 2015 2:28pm
Bisexual means your attracted to men and women... Pansexual means your attract to men women trans (all genders basically)
Anonymous
April 23rd, 2015 12:50am
Bisexual means that you are attracted to two genders, whatever they may be. Pansexual means that you are attracted to every gender, it doesn't matter.
Brittneym101
March 13th, 2015 7:57am
Bi-sexual is simply when you are a male or female that likes to date and/or have sex with both male and female. Pan-sexual basically means that you have the ability to love anyone or any/and every gender.
Anonymous
September 3rd, 2015 4:59am
Bisexuality, by definition, is sexual attraction to two or more genders. It is usually used as sexual attraction to only males and females. Although there is the term Bi- meaning two- as a prefix, bisexuality has evolved to include the or more. Pansexuality, by definition, means sexual attraction to any gender, regardless of gender. That means that most pansexuals, while stil accepting your gender, won't have your gender taken into account on matters of sexual attraction.
Anonymous
August 11th, 2015 7:19pm
I, myself am pansexual. You see, being pansexual means that you are attracted to people without paying attention to their gender, as there are more than two genders (Agender, Bigender, Genderfluid, Genderqueer). Being bisexual means that you are attracted to "only" male and female people (not always equally).
theoceansblue
June 22nd, 2015 9:45pm
A lot of people get confused by the two. Bisexual is liking both genders; female and male. Pansexual is not caring what gender their partner is; wether their male, female, transgender..etc.
LilacLillies
May 27th, 2015 9:38pm
Pansexual means attracted to all-Female, Male, Transgender-Male to female, Transgender Female to Male, androgynous, and gender fluid people. Bisexual is only attracted to two, female and male. A way to remember is Bi means two (Like Bicycle) and Pan means all :)
grassence
May 9th, 2015 5:53pm
Pansexual is universal; you don't mind dating any gender and that included non-binary. Gender fluid. Trans. Bisexual is mainly boys and girls.
royalApple76
August 29th, 2016 1:00pm
Bisexuality is attraction to two or more genders whereas pansexuality is attraction regardless of gender. The difference can be confusing and it's perfectly ok to not be sure which one you are. Your still valid.
Aayla
- Expert in LGBTQ+ Issues
August 6th, 2019 2:44am
Pan is a subgroup of bi: bi people are attracted towards more than one gender, with "bi" meaning "your own gender + other(s)". Bisexuals could potentially be attracted to all gender. They may or may not have a preference towards one gender. Pansexuals are attracted to people regardless of gender, so they couldn't have a preference. If you are attracted to all genders it is up to you to identify as pan or bi since the definitions are broadly overlapping.
SingingWolf
January 5th, 2016 7:51am
Bisexuals are only attracted to two genders, Male and Female. Pansexuals are usually attracted to most if not all of the gender spectrum.
calmingCat38
January 4th, 2016 12:35am
You are pansexual if you are attracted to ALL genders. You are bisexual if you are attracted to your own and to the opposite sex.
wecanberainbows
March 12th, 2019 5:29pm
pansexual people do not consider gender at all, and instead are attracted to people more based on their personalities. bisexual people do consider gender, and are usually just seen to be attracted to two genders, which could be "male" or "female" or could be other genders, such as being attracted to women and genderqueer people, or men and agender people. this isn't how all bisexual people identify though, and bisexual people can be atracted to people of all genders, just as pansexual people are. basically, pansexual people don't take gender into account, but bisexual people do. these can also be romantic orientations; panromantic, and biromantic.
wolfanna
August 25th, 2015 6:05am
The difference between pansexual and bisexual is that bisexual is a person who is strictly attracted to male and female individuals. Pansexual is a person who is attracted to anyone, no matter their gender, color, etc.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2015 1:55am
Bisexual means you're attracted to men and women; pansexual means you're attracted to all different genders ("bi" means "two" and "pan" means "all"). It gets a little fuzzy because people in their thirties and up are more likely to identify as bisexual even if they're attracted to more than two genders, just because that was the only word that was available when they were growing up.
Anonymous
May 28th, 2015 4:56am
Pansexual means being attracted to people of any sex/gender identity (such as interest, transgender, third-gender, androgynous, or any of the other identities); you don't have a preference. Bisexual means you are attracted specifically to males and females.
HereIsToUs
June 22nd, 2015 4:57am
Bisexual is the ability to like a male or female sexually. Pansexual is tue ability to like somebody of any gender idemtifaction either aesthetically, platonically, sexually or romantically.
HeyItsAlexGuyz
July 25th, 2015 4:48am
Bisexual means that a person is sexually attracted to two genders, usually male and female. As time progressed, people realised that there are more than two genders, thats when pansexuality came into play. Pansexuality is when you are sexually attracted to all genders including males, females, and those who do not conform to binary gender.
Opalescentrose
June 25th, 2018 11:56pm
Bisexuality refers to the attraction to two genders, binary or not, while pansexuality refers to the attraction regardless of gender
Anonymous
July 3rd, 2017 6:58pm
Pansexual is you are attracted based on personality rather than gender. Bisexuals are attracted to both genders.
Anonymous
October 22nd, 2015 1:38am
Pansexual is attraction to people of all genders and identities Bisexual is attraction to 2+ but not necessarily all genders
OakShield15215
February 17th, 2015 1:35pm
Pansexual is the attraction to people not gender. And bisexual is being attracted to two genders, commonly the same sex and opposite sex.
Greatlistener87
April 26th, 2016 2:46am
Pansexual: Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. Bisexual: Romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females.