IntraSpectrum Counseling is proud to commemorate Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day, a time to celebrate pansexual identities within the LGBTQ+ community, and to combat stigma and prejudice towards pansexual and panromantic people. This reflection on Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day is authored by Dr. Kristin Kazyaka, PhD-L, a member of the IntraSpectrum Counseling team.
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Welcome to Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day! Too often, people who are attracted to partners of multiple genders are forgotten and erased within both straight and
queer communities.
Pansexuality is the sexual or romantic attraction to people independent of their gender or gender identity – panromantic is the romantic attraction to people independent of their gender or gender identity.
Even within the LGBTQ community, bisexuality and pansexuality is often perceived as a phase, not as queer, or not as legitimate as being gay/lesbian. Particularly in monogamous relationships, people’s sexuality is often assumed. For example, if you are in a same-sex relationship, you are assumed to be gay. This is a hurtful erasure of the experiences of people like me who experience attraction to people of a wide variety of genders.
I am reminded of a conversation I had a couple of years ago with a friend in which she asked me how it was to be in a “straight” relationship, given that at the time I was partnered with a cis-man. I reminded her that even though I was with a man, I was still queer identified, and therefore I still approached the relationship through a queer lens. Even now, people will speak to me about being a lesbian, as I am currently partnered to a woman. I find it tiresome to have to continually advocate for the visibility of pansexuality, even in my own life!
Research has consistently found that bisexual and pansexual people are the folks least likely to come out – both to heterosexual and queer people in their lives. Being closeted creates feelings of isolation, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and is an overall detriment to mental health! Within the last year, comedian Wayne Brady has come out as pansexual. I am so happy for him to come out and for his vulnerability in being seen as a part of the queer community. Selfishly, I’m also so happy that he has shed light on the sometimes forgotten identity of pansexuality, and appreciate that he brought visibility to this sexual orientation. You can learn more about his coming out experience by clicking here.
That being said, let’s all take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge pansexual and panromantic people today! And besides feeling encouraged to improv a tune, may we all also be inspired by Wayne Brady’s courage in publicly coming out. On this day, may you take up space and know you and your identity are valid!
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Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day is observed annually on May 24. As Chicago’s leading psychotherapy practice dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, IntraSpectrum Counseling is proud to acknowledge and celebrate these special dates on the LGBTQ+ calendar. Every day, we strive to provide the highest quality mental health care for clients of all ages and across the spectrum of identities. For anyone needing affirming and validating support or healing with any issue, please click here or email us at help@intraspectrum-chicago.com.
Today, July 26th, is National Disability Independence Day. This annual commemoration marks the day in 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The ADA enshrined several crucial civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities, but it still falls short of its intended goals after over 30 years on the books.