Pansexual? AIBU to not understand how this isn't different to Bi?

[GoatWoman]

I really don't understand this new phenomena and I feel completely ignorant.
In my day (80's - 90's), if not having a sexual preference you termed yourself bisexual. Not that anybody has to classify themselves at all.

But recently I hear more of pan-sexual. What on earth does it mean? The only explanation I've heard is that they choose the mind over biology. Isn't that what everyone does?

My apologies, I missed out biological in the first sentence. But actually does pan include other species other than human?

I assume that bisexual relates to being attracted to what is now sometimes called cismen and ciswomen, whereas pansexual means you can also be attracted to transmen, transwomen, 'non binary' types etc etc.

They keep coming up with all these new terms and I can't keep up.

I think bi meant you liked men and women whereas pan does not limit the other person to being male or female so they could be gender neutral or any new label people want to call themselves.

Oh I see. But does it also mean if you love your dog or cat? Even though you don't want to have sex with them?

I'm fairly sure they just mean the categories of humans they would shag.

I believe it's a new term to say you would be attracted to a whole multitude of self identification categories.

Back in the real world people like who they like, sleep with who they want to sleep with and don't give it that much thought.
Pansexual seems to be one of those labels that only has any real meaning within a small circle of society. The rest of the world doesn't care who someone wants to sleep with.

I think it means you are open to sex with people of any biological sex or gender identity. Although presumably not asexual people cos that would be rapey.

It's a sexual attraction to woks, saucepans and frying pans. Some people are picky about the type of pan - Teflon, cast-iron, aluminium, stainless steel, chip-pan etc. Others are promiscuous and will grab any old pot, with or without a handle.

There's a big downside to being pansexual - you get covered in gravy or mushy peas sometimes.

I have had an almost sexual moment or two in the Le Cruset section, to be fair.

Pansexual is a more attention seeking type of bisexual. It's one of the "look at meeeeee" sexualities.

It means you fancy someone with horns, hairy legs and cloven hoofs - maybe even a tail - who plays a piping wind instrument. You don't meet people like that very often so it is a minority preference.

Ok, so it's not something I should worry about in terms of diversity and all that.
I only recently learned that Queer was now a commonly accepted term, although I don't know what that means. When I was young, it was hugely offensive. In fact, probably a disciplinary offence either at school or work.

What does queer mean?

Interesting that I've literally just had the same conversation with some family members.

Pansexual is about the person not the gender.

Back in the real world people like who they like, sleep with who they want to sleep with and don't give it that much thought.
Pansexual seems to be one of those labels that only has any real meaning within a small circle of society. The rest of the world doesn't care who someone wants to sleep with

Couldn't agree more.

They do keep introducing terms and expecting us all to understand them and then calling us bigoted if we don't. (I don't know who I mean by "they") I only know "cis" because of mumsnet and I don't know where it comes from.

Holy God Miley

"the mind over biology" bit is bullshit tbh, but it is a common explanation for some reason. It is, as pp have said, generally expressing an attraction to people outside of the gender binary, so gender neutral or nonbinary folk. People who choose to label themselves pansexual tend to do so because they don't think that bisexuality is inclusive of gender neutral people. I did used to use pan, now I'll normally say I'm bi, but for me that encompasses non binary and trans folk too. It's a personal preference between two largely similar terms, really.

Ha! As goatwoman, I should be on the receiving end of some pansexual interest?!

My awful daughter gave me this mane btw!

Can one be pan curious, I wonder?

Oh I see. But does it also mean if you love your dog or cat? Even though you don't want to have sex with them?

Well, given pansexual refers to sex, no, it doesn't include non-bestial love for your dog.

Name!

Queer is either (1) a term.meaning gay/bi reclaimed by gay/bi people (2) an insult used by Neanderthal types slung at anyone suspected of being non-heterosexual or (3) a term used so broadly as to be almost meaningless in referring to any sexual preference outside of a married male/female couple doing the missionary position in the dark, As it refers to sexualities or lack of, gender identities, relationship structures and 'kinks'. Best avoided.

It's a sexual attraction to woks, saucepans and frying pans. Some people are picky about the type of pan - Teflon, cast-iron, aluminium, stainless steel, chip-pan etc. Others are promiscuous and will grab any old pot, with or without a handle
*
-*My Dad wrote a porno??

It means you're not awfully picky

Queer is a catch all term for all people who aren't heterosexual. It's also used as a specific sexuality label for people who feel that their sexuality is not easily defined by any of the existing terms. So a gay person and a "bicurious"/experimenting person might both refer to themselves as queer. It evokes more of a sense of wider community than other specific sexuality terms, I think that's part of its appeal.