Can bisexuals be attracted to genderfluid people?

Questions and discussion about your sexual lives, choices, activities, ideas and experiences.
Hel
not a newbie
Posts: 154
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:19 pm
Age: 25
Primary language: English
Pronouns: Any
Location: N/a

Can bisexuals be attracted to genderfluid people?

Unread post by Hel »

I’m pansexual and genderfluid and my boyfriend is currently figuring out a label for his sexuality. His latest label is bisexual and we’re both a bit stumped because he’s attracted to me no matter what gender I am, but the label pansexual or omnisexual doesn’t vibe with him... just wondering if a person can really be bisexual if they are attracted to non-binary/genderfluid people.

Obviously whatever he labels himself as I support and love him just the same but I was just curious. :)
Sam W
scarleteen staff/volunteer
Posts: 9770
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:06 am
Age: 32
Awesomeness Quotient: I raise carnivorous plants
Primary language: english
Pronouns: she/her
Sexual identity: queer
Location: Desert

Re: Can bisexuals be attracted to genderfluid people?

Unread post by Sam W »

Hi Hel,

So the short answer is: yes, bisexuality can include attraction to genderfluid folks or other non-binary identities. The fight over whether or not it does comes down to some people trying to make a hard separation between bisexuality and pansexuality, or trying to insist that because of the "bi" part of bisexual, a bi person can only be attracted to two genders. But that kind of separation just doesn't reflect the way sexual orientation plays out in the world. So, if bisexual feels like the right term to your boyfriend, then nothing about it invalidates his attraction to you (or your identity).
Hel
not a newbie
Posts: 154
Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:19 pm
Age: 25
Primary language: English
Pronouns: Any
Location: N/a

Re: Can bisexuals be attracted to genderfluid people?

Unread post by Hel »

Okay thanks! My boyfriend was confused about it too because of the people saying that the bi part only means being attracted to 2 genders. Good to know that the actual identity is more complex and this isn’t the case
Sam W
scarleteen staff/volunteer
Posts: 9770
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:06 am
Age: 32
Awesomeness Quotient: I raise carnivorous plants
Primary language: english
Pronouns: she/her
Sexual identity: queer
Location: Desert

Re: Can bisexuals be attracted to genderfluid people?

Unread post by Sam W »

You're welcome! And yeah, unfortunately the weird attempts to draw super-hard lines between identities can leave people feeling confused, which is why I'm glad you asked for clarification.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic