Alt Pansexual flag - Hey All Scott here!
Pansexual symbol
Pansexual, often shortened to pan, is an orientation under the multisexual umbrella referring to someone who is attracted to individuals regardless of gender. The most common ways in which this is phrased are:*Being attracted to all genders with no preference
- Being attracted to individuals in general where gender is not a factor in attraction
- Viewing all genders as equally attractive
- Being 'gender-blind' or 'blind to gender' / being unable to see gender as an attractive factor
History & Coining[]
The term was supposedly first coined in 1917 by Sigmund Freud. His definition denoted the idea that "the sex instinct plays the primary part in all human activity, mental and physical.”
It was later used again in 1959 as a symptom of pseudo-neurotic schizophrenia.
Contrary to popular belief, its origins weren't a transphobic LiveJournal entry. It first picked up traction as a sexuality in the 70s, where in 1972, it was described as "not limited in sexual choice", and in 1981, described by Rita Mae Brown on her experience as not caring "If I fall in love with a black or a white or a man or a woman or an old or young person. I just care that they have a good heart."
Flags & Symbols[]
The pansexual flag was created in 2010 by shrikeabyssals. The flag's meaning has only been loosely defined.
An alternate pan flag was designed by Discord user Hey All Scott here! on June 4th, 2021.
A common symbol for pansexuality is the P with an arrow and crossed tail. The cross of the tail represents the cross on the symbol for Venus (♀), used to represent women. The arrow represents the arrow on the symbol for Mars (♂), used to represent men.
Modifiers[]
> Panromantic is the romantic counterpart (any form of attraction can be substituted)
> Panflux describes being pansexual but experiencing fluctuating parts of your identity (eg, ace-spec, aro-spec, presentation preference)
Etymology[]
The prefix pan- comes from the Greek word for "all" or "every".
Resources[]
https://sexuality.fandom.com/wiki/Pansexuality
https://lgbta.wikia.org/wiki/Pansexual
https://bisexuality.wikia.org/wiki/Pansexual
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/10/health/pansexual-feat/index.html