Seven years later, pansexuality remains a crucial conversation in Indian pop culture and LGBTQ+ discourse.

The world, long ago, moved far from basic sexual orientation, that is heterosexual or homosexual. It had just started making peace with bisexual- a new kind of orientation that made space for itself. Let us call it pansexual.

The word pansexual became the most searched term on April 26 on Merriam-Webster, after singer Janelle Monae was quoted in Rolling Stone magazine self-identifying with the term.

“‘Pansexual’ is our top search today,” Merriam-Webster tweeted.

? ‘Pansexual’ is our top search today. ?https://t.co/DJ8gUex3qs

— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 26, 2018

Pansexuality is sexual desire or attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation.

Pansexual (and pansexuality) entered the English language in the early 20th century, although with a different meaning than it generally has today; the word initially meant “tending to suffuse all experience and conduct with erotic feeling.”

Twitter seemingly appeared obsessed with the word ‘Pansexual.’

“The best part of @JanelleMonae’s coming out, was the inclusion of the very real fact that our sexualities and identities can change as much as we do (if we want). that our language can evolve in whatever ways we need it to. I needed that representation and lots of others do too,” a user tweeted.

the best part of @JanelleMonae‘s coming out, was the inclusion of the very real fact that our sexualities and identities can change as much as we do (if we want). that our language can evolve in whatever ways we need it to. i needed that representation and lots of others do too. https://t.co/jcUApVYhA7

— A Andrews (@alyssashmalyssa) April 27, 2018

In a series of tweets, the Human Rights Campaign tried explaining the difference between bisexual, pansexual, queer.

“Not only is @JanelleMonae proudly living her truth, she is bringing visibility to others whose sexual orientations are often erased or ignored,” the Human Rights Campaign tweeted.

“For those who need more information on what #bisexual, #pansexual and #queer identities mean, here’s a quick rundown,” it said, in another tweet.

The third tweed read, “#Bisexual: A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.”

“4/ #Pansexual: Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree,” the fourth tweet added.

“5/ #Queer: A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with “#LGBTQ,”” another tweeted read.

It wrote in another and the last tweet, “These identities mean different things to different people — and we’re so grateful to @JanelleMonae for the opportunity to celebrate them all.”

“I went from identifying as bisexual to pansexual over the last two years. Someone said Pansexuals just want to be loved and what gender or sexuality that love comes from doesn’t even matter and I related so much to that sentiment,” another user wrote.

I went from identifying as bisexual to pansexual over the last two years. Someone said Pansexuals just want to be loved and what gender or sexuality that love comes from doesn’t even matter and I related so much to that sentiment.

— ??‍?✨????? ????? ✨? (@HentaiKyoko) April 26, 2018

“In case you missed it, Janelle Monae came out. Not as lesbian, straight, bisexual, pansexual or asexual. Janelle came out as free. That, is enough,” another Twitter user tweeted.

In case you missed it, Janelle Monae came out. Not as lesbian, straight, bisexual, pansexual or asexual. Janelle came out as free. That, is enough. https://t.co/Y8aoj2pznq

— DENIS NZIOKA (@DenisNzioka) April 26, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pansexual mean in simple terms?

Pansexuality refers to sexual attraction or desire that is not limited by a person’s gender identity or biological sex. Pansexual individuals can be attracted to people of any gender—cisgender, transgender, non-binary, or others—based on emotional, physical, and romantic connection rather than gender specificity.

What is the difference between pansexual and bisexual?

While bisexuality typically refers to attraction to two or more genders, pansexuality encompasses attraction regardless of gender identity. Pansexuals may not distinguish between genders in their attractions, whereas bisexuals may experience attraction differently to various genders. Both terms are valid and self-defined by individuals.

Why did pansexual become a trending search term in 2018?

Singer Janelle Monae publicly self-identified as pansexual in a Rolling Stone magazine interview on April 26, 2018, making ‘pansexual’ the top search term on Merriam-Webster that day. Her openness sparked widespread discussion on social media and helped normalize conversations about sexual orientation diversity.

When did the term pansexual enter the English language?

The word ‘pansexual’ entered English in the early 20th century, though its original meaning differed from today’s usage. Initially, it meant ‘tending to suffuse all experience and conduct with erotic feeling,’ but modern usage defines it as attraction irrespective of gender identity.

Why is pansexual representation important in Indian media?

Representation in media helps audiences understand and accept diverse sexual orientations and identities. For Indian viewers, seeing public figures openly identify as pansexual validates the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, encourages inclusive conversations, and demonstrates that sexuality and identity can evolve authentically.