Today we set out to explain a relatively simple concept: not everyone is more attracted to one sex/gender than another.
Let’s think of people as food. You like pizza, right? Maybe you don’t, but you’re not going to get up in my grill if I do. Some people also like chocolate. Some people prefer one or the other, some both, some neither – some even like chocolate on their pizza. Some prefer different foods altogether, and others don’t mind what they’re eating provided it’s tasty. As long as everyone’s enjoying themselves and no-one’s getting sick, it’s all good.
Now replace types of food with gender identities and/or physical sex, and appreciation with sexual attraction. There you have it: the sexuality spectrum, in a nutshell. In this glance of the Queer Eye, we’re zeroing in on non-monosexual orientations.
The term “monosexual” describes any person who is sexually attracted to only one physical sex or gender identity – gay, straight, etc. “Non-monosexual” describes anyone who is sexually attracted to two or more sexes or genders.
There are three broad types of non-monosexual:
- Bisexuals: people who prefer two sexes or genders, whatever they may be. These are usually male and female, but can include genderqueer, androgynous and intersex.
- Pansexuals: people who don’t see gender identity or physical sex as a barrier to attraction, and usually don’t mind throwing all gender identities and anatomies into the mix. Genderqueer? Great. Transdude? All good. Cisgenderd (Not trans)? Damn skippy!
- Unlabelled people who don’t like to box themselves into one sexual orientation.