Panromantic is a romantic orientation that describes an individual who experiences romantic attraction to individuals regardless of gender. One who is panromantic can be romantically attracted to individuals of every gender identity.[1] Panromantic individuals may be described as being "gender blind." One may feel that other factors, such as presentation or personality, influence their romantic attraction more than gender identity does.[2]
This does not mean that panromantic individuals are attracted to everyone and anyone, simply that gender is not a factor in their attraction.[3]
Etymology
The term comes from the Latin prefix pan- meaning "all," and romantic to denote what form of attraction is being felt.[4]
History
The term appears to have gained popularity in the mid-2000s.[5]
Flags & Symbols
The most popular panromantic flag was posted onto the DeviantArt account Pride-Flags on May 9, 2016.[6]
An earlier panromantic flag was created by a now deleted Tumblr user and uploaded onto the DeviantArt account Pride-Flags on September 2, 2015. The red and blue represent romantic attraction to binary men and women, orange represents romantic attraction to genders outside of the binary and between the binary, and green represents romantic attraction to individuals who are genderless or gender neutral.[7]
Community
Controversy
There is a misconception that panromantic is a transphobic and biphobic identity. Some believe that the existence of it states that biromantic individuals are only attracted to cis men or women, or that panromantic individuals do not see trans individuals as men or women. This is untrue. The existence of panromantic does not invalidate the existence of biromantic and vice versa.[8]
Perceptions and Discrimination
There is a stereotype that panromantic individuals are less likely to be monogamous. However, panromantic individuals have the same variety of amorous orientations as those who are only attracted to one gender.[1]
A panromantic individual may find themselves in a variety of relationships over their lifetime, some may be "straight passing" and others may be obviously non-straight. Regardless of one's current partner's gender, a panromantic individual's orientation does not change. Panromantic individuals are often assumed to have "straight passing privilege," but that is often not the case. One may experience microaggressions as their orientation is dismissed based on the gender of their current partner.[1]
Related Attractions
| Orientation | Attraction |
|---|---|
| Panalterous | Alterous |
| Panaesthetic | Aesthetic |
| Panplatonic | Platonic |
| Pansensual | Sensual |
| Pansexual | Sexual |
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 WebMD. “Panromantic: What Is It?” WebMD, www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-panromantic.
- ↑ Zweig, Allison. “Panromantic: What Is It, Signs & How to Support.” Choosing Therapy, 23 May. 2023, www.choosingtherapy.com/panromantic/.
- ↑ Barnes, Stephanie. “What Does It Mean to Be Panromantic? A Look into Different Types of Attraction.” Mindbodygreen, 28 June 2022, www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/panromantic-meaning. Accessed 14 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ Dictionary. “Definition of Pan | Dictionary.com.” Www.dictionary.com, 2019, www.dictionary.com/browse/pan. Accessed 6 Dec. 2019.
- ↑ Sotska, Julia. “Panromantic - What Is It? What Does It Mean? - Taimi Wiki.” Taimi, taimi.com/wiki/panromantic-what-is-it-what-does-it-mean.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. “Panromantic (5) by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 9 May 2016, www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Panromantic-5-607943608.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. “Panromantic (1) by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 2 Sept. 2015, www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Panromantic-1-557589515.
- ↑ MAHESHWARI-APLIN, PRISHITA. “5 Common Misconceptions about Pansexuality.” Stonewall, 23 May 2022, www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-common-misconceptions-about-pansexuality.