#polyromamtic

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Benson says poly ptide :)

[rainbow-in-the-darc]

M-spec Labels

M-spec: shorthand for multi attraction spectrum (multisexual/multiromantic) A catch all term for people who are attracted to more than one gender, regardless of label. Much like, MGA, non-monosexual or queer.

There are many labels used by m-specs. One of the most well known is Bisexual or Biromantic

Bi: Attraction to more than one gender.

I find this is the best way to define bi as since the beginning it has meant many things to many people.

"There are as many definitions of bisexuality as there are bisexuals"- The Bi Manifesto

One of my favorite definitions from bisexual activist Robyn Ochs "The potential to be attracted – romantically and/or sexually – to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree" and "The bi in bisexual refers to the potential for attraction to people with genders similar to and different from my own"

Though the meaning of bi is so open, it has connotations of same or different genders to be attracted to-

The flag meaning according to its creator, Michael Page "The pink color represents sexual attraction to the same sex only (gay and lesbian), the blue represents sexual attraction to the opposite sex only (straight) and the resultant overlap color purple represents sexual attraction to both sexes (bi). The key to understanding the symbolism in the Bi Pride Flag is to know that the purple pixels of color blend unnoticeably into both the pink and blue, just as in the 'real world' where bi people blend unnoticeably into both the gay/lesbian and straight communities."

-but it is not neccesary to have a same or different gender to be attracted to, to call oneself bi. The only perquisite to the bi label is attraction to more than one gender.

Bi+/The Bi Umbrella

These are terms commonly used by bi orgs(such as BABPN and Bi Resource Center) to signal their inclusion of all people attracted to more than one gender of all labels or no label. Which is unsurprising since these other labels have been around just as long.

“Whether you call yourself bisexual, polysexual, multisexual, pansexual, me-sexual or refuse to be labeled altogether, if you are like me and find people attractive regardless of their sex or gender, then we need you. And why, for heaven’s sake, should we poly-perverse people limit ourselves to one label anyway? Be a polysexual bisexual. Be a bi-dyke or a bi-gay or a bi-androgyne or a bi-anything-that-moves-you.”

-Anything That Moves Issue #19

Many m-specs who do not identify with the bi label still find this alienating and as if its trying to box them into a label they do not use. I feel adding a term like m-spec or something similar into the mix would be appreciated.

I also think bi+/the bi umbrella would be better suited used in reference to those who identify with the bi identify but not soley bi, or of course m-specs who want to be included under the bi umbrella.

Many of these labels started off as synonymous to eachother but as bi became the most well known they've developed their own connotations overtime. Another well known label Pansexual or Panromantic

Pan: Attraction to all genders.

This I feel is the best way to define pan. As pan explicitly means all. It does have connotations of attraction being uninfluenced by gender or not having a preference. But this is not so with all pans.

And some labels that may not be as well known as bi or pan. Polysexual and Polyromantic

Ply: Attraction to multiple genders but not all

Ply likely gained this connotation to have a more specific label that doesn't mean attraction to all genders, which pan and bi have connotations of.

Ply is shortened as ply and not poly, which is short for Polynesian to prevent confusion. I also shorten polyamorous to polyam for this same reason.

The connotations of this one are probably the newest, Omnisexual and Omniromantic

Omni: Attraction to all genders where gender influences or is an important part of attraction

Defined clearly here by The Trevor Project along with others.

Likely given this meaning to have a more specific label without the connotations of attraction being uninfluenced by gender that pan has.

Here is a venn diagram that illustrates how these few labels connotations overlap.

Though they all have different connotations I'd say the only one with a set definition would be bi and that in itself is a very broad definition. And these are only a few labels. So use whatever label you like for yourself, use multiple or use none at all.

[rainbow-in-the-darc]

M-spec and Bi+ folks. How does it feel to have your own existence be a revelation. How great it is to know it does not just have to be one or the other. That in fact there are not even only two options.