Polysexual
Definiton
Disclaimer: People can experience identities in different ways. As such, people can identify with a label without exactly matching the definition because identities are fluid.
Polysexual (also spelled plysexual and polisexual, often shortened to "ply") is a term used by people who experience sexual attraction to multiple genders, but not necessarily all genders. Polysexual people may or may not experience other sexual or romantic attractions, such as being on the asexual or aromantic spectrums, and can be any gender.
Some polysexual people have preferences for particular genders (which may change over time), while others do not. For some polysexual people, attraction can feel different depending on the gender of the person they are attracted to.
Some polysexual people also use another label to describe their sexuality, while others only use polysexual. Often, the terms bisexual, omnisexual, polysexual, and pansexual are confused with one another. The distinctions between the terms are frequently debated, so each person may define them differently. Ultimately, a person who experiences attraction to multiple genders chooses which label(s) to use based upon their personal preference.
Polysexuality should not be confused with polyamory, the capacity to be in a relationship with multiple people at once with the consent of all partners.
Flag History and Meaning
The polysexual pride flag was created by Tumblr user Samlin in 2012.
Each color of the polysexual flag has its own meaning:
- Pink: attraction to women
- Green: attraction to nonbinary people
- Blue: attraction to men
Related Identities
Polysexual is related to labels such as:
- Omnisexual
- Pansexual
- Polyromantic
Additional Resources
- The Bisexual Resource Center offers resources, support, and community for bisexual+ people, which includes polysexual people.
- WebMD's "What Is Polysexuality?" explains the term, differentiates it from polyamory, debunks myths about polysexual people, and answers other questions about polysexuality.
- In "Bisexuality vs. Pansexuality vs. Omnisexuality vs. Polysexuality - What does it all mean??", rapidpeach on YouTube describes the differences between these commonly confused terms.
Sources and Image Attribution
Sources:
- LGBTQIA+ Fandom Wiki's "Polysexual" page
- LGBTQIA+ Wiki's "Polysexual" page
- Orientation Fandom Wiki's "Polysexual" page
Images:
- "Polysexual flag" by McLennonSon, public domain
