To be pansexual means to experience romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction to people regardless of their gender. Pansexual individuals are attracted to others based on their whole essence—such as personality, interests, and other qualities—rather than their gender identity or biological sex. This means a pansexual person can be attracted to men, women, nonbinary people, or anyone across the gender spectrum. Pansexuality emphasizes inclusivity and openness, where gender is not a defining factor in attraction or love, although preferences and boundaries still apply in relationships.
Pansexuality differs somewhat from bisexuality, which generally refers to attraction to two or more genders but not necessarily all. Pansexuality explicitly includes attraction to all genders, often including transgender and nonbinary identities, and is sometimes described as gender-blind attraction. However, the terms can overlap, and people may use them differently based on personal understanding and preference.
In summary, pansexual means being open to loving or being attracted to people regardless of their gender identity, focusing on the person as a whole rather than their gender.