What does pansexual mean and how is it different to bisexuality?

More and more celebrities are coming out as pansexual and openly speak about their experiences.

But it is a term that many still find confusing.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is bidding to become leader of the party, has become the first MP to announce that she is pansexual .

Here, we take a look at what it means and how it differs from bisexuality.

What does it mean to be pansexual?

To be pansexual is to not be limited in sexual choice by biological sex, gender, or gender identity.

People who identify as pan are attracted to a person emotionally, physically, or both, regardless of gender.

Deriving from Greek, the prefix “pan” simply means “all”.

How does it differ from bisexuality?

While there are some similarities between pansexuality and bisexuality, there are distinct differences between being bi and pan.

Bisexuality is where someone is attracted to more than one gender, whereas pansexuals are blind to gender and attracted to a person.

Who has identified as pansexual?

Oxford West and Abingdon Lib Dem MP, Layla Moran, announced that she was pansexual in a Tweet dated January 2, 2020.

In the post, Ms Moran wrote: “2020 is a new decade and a new path in my journey. Last year I fell in love with a wonderful woman. Something I’d never even considered before. Now I am just happy.”

She also used the hashtags #Pansexual #OutAndProud.

Since, thousands of well-wishers have flooded the comments section, congratulating Ms Moran.

Other notable figures who have recently identified as pansexual include Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie, who came out in an interview with Paper magazine in July 2018.

Miley Cyrus, Bella Thorne, Héloïse Letissier, Amber Heard and many other celebrities have stated they are pansexual.