Pansexuality means being attracted to people no matter their gender or gender identity—it’s about the person, not their gender. This is different from bisexuality, which is attraction to two or more genders. Myths like “pansexual people are confused or promiscuous” aren’t true. Pansexuality is inclusive and valid. Safe sex still matters: use protection, talk about boundaries, and have a birth control plan if needed.
Pansexual is a sexual orientation you might have heard of before, but what exactly does it mean? And how is it different from being bi or from other LGBTQIA+ identities?
The prefix “pan” means “all” or “every” in ancient Greek. Pansexuality is attraction to others regardless of gender or gender identity. Or, rather, it is attraction toward all genders and sexualities. Physical attributes can be just as attractive as personality, intellect, and/or the connection they’ve formed.
There’s a lot more to explain when it comes to pansexuality. Let’s get into it.
Are bisexuality and pansexuality the same?
Bisexual and pansexual are not the same. While bisexuality traditionally refers to attraction to two (or more) genders, pansexuality encompasses attraction to all individuals regardless of gender identity. Pansexuality acknowledges that gender is not a defining factor in romantic or sexual attraction.
For example: A bisexual cisgender woman might be attracted to cisgender and trans women (and maybe anyone who’s non-binary) but she’s not attracted to cisgender or transgender men. Compare this to someone who identifies as pansexual. Pansexuality is attraction to cisgender men and women, transgender men and women, nonbinary, and gender-fluid individuals.
The term pangender can get confused with pansexual. Pangender refers to a person who finds a fluid identity with all genders and identities.
How does it work in a relationship?
Pansexuality acknowledges and celebrates the vast spectrum of identities. In a relationship, pansexual individuals are attracted to people based on personality, shared interests, and emotional connections and are not limited to one gender. This approach leads to relationships that transcend societal norms, stereotypes, and expectations related to gender roles.
How do you have safe sex as a pansexual?
Sex is universal, and no matter how someone identifies, it’s still important to practice safe sex. This includes communication with partners about boundaries, consent, and using protection to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Educating yourself about safe sex practices doesn’t need to take away from your experience. It can actually give you more peace of mind, so you can focus on being in the moment.
- Safe sex as a pansexual identifying person can look like:
- Getting clear on your boundaries and giving/receiving clear signals of consent
- Using condoms or other forms of barrier protection
- Using a reliable method of birth control with penis in vagina sex
- Taking the Julie Morning After Pill™ if contraception failed (condom broke or fell off, missed birth control pills) or if unprotected penis in vagina sex happened
Pansexuality Myths
When it comes to pansexuality, there are some myths floating around that can lead to misinformation, misconception, and confusion. And who wants that?
- People who are pansexual are confused: False.
When someone identifies as pansexual, a common misconception is that they’re confused about their sexual orientation. That’s not the case. Pansexuality reflects an individual’s clear understanding of how they’re attracted to someone and how that goes beyond traditional gender and gender identities.
- They’re promiscuous: False.
Promiscuity is an age-old assumption about, well, anyone who seems to go outside of societal sexual boundaries — and pansexuality is often unfairly associated with promiscuity. However, like any sexual orientation, people who identify as pansexual are not inherently promiscuous. Everyone has their own preference for the amount of sexual activity they want. Attributing promiscuity to pansexuality only perpetuates harmful stereotypes and overlooks the diversity of behaviors of all identities and sexual orientations.
- They're attracted to everyone: False.
Just because their attraction transcends gender and gender identities does not mean they’re attracted to everyone. Pansexual orientation simply means they can experience attraction across a broad spectrum of gender identities. It doesn't imply a universal attraction to every person encountered.
- It's transphobic: False.
Pansexuality is inherently inclusive, recognizing and valuing individuals of all gender identities. According to the LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Stonewall, an LGBTQIA+, the assumption is that pansexual people are transphobic by stating that they’re attracted to trans people because they don’t see trans people as men or women. But to be pansexual is to reject the notion that gender is a limiting factor in their attraction to them. Again, they see the personality and experience emotional connection regardless of identity.
- It's a fad: False.
Pansexuality is not a passing trend. Sexual orientations, including pansexuality, are deeply rooted in an individual's core feelings and attractions. Dismissing them as trends only undermines the legitimacy of diverse sexual identities.No one can tell you how you identify and who you’re attracted to.
While we love to share useful and helpful information, the above shouldn’t replace the advice of your healthcare professional. For questions about birth control and other women’s health issues, please talk to your doctor.
Julie wants to keep young women in the driver’s seat of their own stories and provide them with the tools necessary for a happy, healthy sex life.
We know (and have lived!) through the ups and downs of young adulthood firsthand, and we aim to normalize the events, conversations, and questions that come during this period to help destigmatize sexual health. We believe women should live life with total freedom — starting with their ability to choose how, when, and if they become pregnant.
We know that women can make the best choices for themselves when equipped with the right information. We don’t take sexual education lightly and are committed to sharing accurate and factual information through rigorous planning and QA processes. In fact, all Julie content is reviewed by at least two board-certified doctors on our medical board. Learn more about them here.
For more details on our editorial process, see here.
Tessa Commers, MD, FAAP, MS is a board-certified pediatrician based in the Seattle area with a particular interest in adolescent health and sexual education. In addition to clinical practice and serving as Head of Medical at Julie, Tessa also founded AskDoctorT — an education platform with over a million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — aimed at improving adolescent health literacy and body confidence. She also hosted and wrote the puberty podcast “That’s Totally Normal!” and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and educational initiatives focused on child and adolescent wellbeing.
Education: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City – Pediatric Residency; University of Nebraska Medical Center – Doctor of Medicine (MD); University of Nebraska Medical Center – Master of Science (MS, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy); New York University – Bachelor of Arts (BA)
