The New Intimacy

Polysexual?

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Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
I recently learned of the term "polysexual," which means something like "attracted to more than one gender," and differs from "pansexual" because pansexual implies that one is attracted to all genders.

Have you heard the term "polysexual" used? Do you identify as polysexual? Do you have any input on either word? I would love to hear your thoughts on the words and your reasons (or others') for identifying as polysexual instead of pansexual or vice versa.
01/18/2010
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Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Rockin'
I recently learned of the term "polysexual," which means something like "attracted to more than one gender," and differs from "pansexual" because pansexual implies that one is attracted to all genders.

Have you ... more
huh...never heard of polysexual as a term. I've heard of pansexual.
Given the prefix game though, poly makes more sense than pan...if there is a difference.

All things being equal, though, just plain "sexual" seems to fit best in my label maker. To each their own...
01/18/2010
Contributor: Red Red
I understand the urge to find specific wording to define one's sexuality, but as a friend once told me (and as I like to say on this subject)...."polysexua l, omnisexual, whatever....all totally awesome....but can I hit on you?"

Pansexual seems more common. On the topic of pansexual this weekend, someone joked "So, you're into pots and pans then?"

hardy har har
01/19/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Red
I understand the urge to find specific wording to define one's sexuality, but as a friend once told me (and as I like to say on this subject)...."polysexua l, omnisexual, whatever....all totally awesome....but can I hit on ... more
i know someone who said the same thing...
01/19/2010
Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
Quote:
Originally posted by Red
I understand the urge to find specific wording to define one's sexuality, but as a friend once told me (and as I like to say on this subject)...."polysexua l, omnisexual, whatever....all totally awesome....but can I hit on ... more
"Actually I'm only into Peter Pan..."

Joking aside, I brought this up because I hadn't even heard of polysexual and was wondering if anyone wanted to clarify why they would use one over the other. I agree that pansexual seems more common, but there's something about it I don't like, can't put my finger on it, though.

I might just stick with "sexual" for now.
01/19/2010
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
"You young people act as if you invented it!" - Mr. Grainger, age 66, 'Are You being Served?'

Sounds more like some college writer thinking 'hey, poly covers everything - let's use that!'.

As a rather sheltered hetero, I'm wondering what 'poly' and 'pan' could possibly mean, as I thought there were only two basic genders, with transsexual being those who switch from the gender they were born. And before you go off on me, I know I'm ignorant on the subject, so I'm ASKING for a definition.
01/19/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
"You young people act as if you invented it!" - Mr. Grainger, age 66, 'Are You being Served?'

Sounds more like some college writer thinking 'hey, poly covers everything - let's use that!'.

As a rather ... more
Chilipepper Girl, you are one of my fav. EF people now by citing Mr. Grainger.
01/19/2010
Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
"You young people act as if you invented it!" - Mr. Grainger, age 66, 'Are You being Served?'

Sounds more like some college writer thinking 'hey, poly covers everything - let's use that!'.

As a rather ... more
You totally earned points with me as well, I LOVE Are You Being Served ^_^

I'll start with pansexual. Someone who identifies as pansexual is attracted to all genders (pan meaning all), or you might say they are attracted to people regardless of gender.

Polysexual is a new term to me, but as I understand it, someone who is polysexual likes people of many genders but not necessarily all genders.

Female and male are two genders, but many people are not all one or the other, and many people are genderless, genderfluid, or genderqueer. The binary of male/female gender is not something that everyone identifies with. I'm getting a little out of my area of familiarity, so if anyone else wants to jump in here, feel free. I hope that helps a bit, though, Chilipepper Girl. ^_^
01/19/2010
Contributor: Evoluchun Evoluchun
just recently heard of both and neither make much sense to me
08/21/2010
Contributor: Brosia Brosia
This is the first time I've heard the term, but I already think I'm in love. It fits my preference exactly. I adore women, but my partner is genderqueer. So I'm not a lesbian. Nor am I hetero. Bisexual only includes men and women, so that doesn't fit either. The pansexual label includes all the people I love, but also those I don't. Straight-up men have never done it for me, so it feels like a lie to say I'm attracted to claim pan. But poly... poly is perfect.
05/20/2011
Contributor: AlaskanBeauty AlaskanBeauty
is there more than 2 genders?!
06/04/2011
Contributor: That Man from Mars That Man from Mars
Polysexual is much more accurate.

Pansexual is a big boom as of late, but for some reason I still don't understand (no offense to anyone) it's constantly misinterpreted.

Pansexual is a term that has been around for a long time. It stands for someone who is open to any and all sexual activities. It actually has nothing to do with gender or lack thereof.

It's just a fancy way of stating you have no sexual inhibitions.
06/05/2011
Contributor: kelaaa33wish kelaaa33wish
Never heard of it.
06/05/2011
Contributor: ToriToy ToriToy
To me pansexual is used when a person is attracted or has the potential to be attracted to any and all gender identifications.

Polysexual, as I have heard used and understand, means an emotional and sexual attraction to more than one but not all genders. The person is attracted to more than just one gender but not to all. My female friend identifies as polysexual and is attracted to women, trans women and queers identifiers, but not men or male identifiers.

I use pansexual to identify myself (when I feel the need to label myself at all) over polysexual simply because I am attracted to people and personalities over bodies. I hope this make things a little more clear, but please keep in mind that people will always have their own definitions for sexual identity labels and what does and doesn’t qualify under each.
06/12/2011