Who are polysexuals
Polysexuals 46 Terms That Describe Sexual Attraction, Behavior, and Orientation — are people who can experience romantic and sexual attraction to representatives of more than one gender. Moreover, it is not limited to just men and women.
Part of the word "poly..." translates POLY… // Great Russian Encyclopedia. Electronic version from Greek as "numerous, extensive". This means that a polysexual is interested in many genders, but not necessarily all.
Each polysexual person has their own individual set of preferences.
For example, one polysexual is attracted to representatives of all genders except cis-men, that is, people who were born with male sexual characteristics and clearly identify as male. Another polysexual feels attraction to people with male characteristics regardless of whether they are men or women by biological signs. A third one likes girls, and it doesn't matter whether they were born that way or became so after gender reassignment surgery.
How polysexuals differ from bisexuals and pansexuals
Polysexuality is a general Bisexual and Pansexual and Polysexual, Oh My! term that refers to any multitude of romantic and sexual interests. Bisexuality or pansexuality are just specific examples of this phenomenon.
One could say that every bisexual is a polysexual. But not every polysexual is "bi".
Also, not every polysexual has pansexual tendencies. A person with a pansexual orientation, when falling in love, does not pay attention to the partner's gender at all. A polysexual, on the contrary, pays a lot of attention to gender identity.
Which statements about polysexuals should not be believed
There are many misconceptions about polysexuality. Experts from the health portal WebMD dispel What Is Polysexuality? some of them.
1. Polysexual means fickle and unfaithful
This is not true. Polysexuals behave in relationships like everyone else.
When entering a long-term union, they remain faithful to their partner. Of course, if they are monogamous people. But polyamorous polysexuals can very well have multiple relationships, just like any other advocates of polyamory.
2. People demonstrate their polysexuality to attract attention
No, polysexuality and flamboyance are different things. People demonstrate polysexuality only to assert themselves and their romantic interests.
3. Polysexuals want a lot of sex
Polysexuality is not related to libido. Like others, polysexuals engage in sex only with the partner they love and to whom they feel sexual attraction.
This is an important point. Polysexuality cannot serve as a justification for coercion into intimacy. The rule of consent for polysexuals is just as important as for any other person.
4. Polysexual people simply can't make up their minds
Polysexuality is a psychophysiological characteristic, not a personal choice.
A person can suppress their desire for "the wrong" gender or for several genders at once. But this is much like suppressing the need for meat, water, or air. Such an approach will clearly not bring happiness and, in the worst case, may ruin health.
Recognizing and respecting the right to polysexuality is just as important as the right to any other sexual orientation.
