I know this is a kinda weird thing to ask, but... I’ve always identified as pansexual, ever since 3rd or 4th grade. Yea, I’ve like people for people for a long time. But recently I’ve been seeing a lot of discourse over weather pansexuality is valid, or bisexual erasure. I’ve always heard it’s an umbrella term, like how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are square, all pansexual people are bi but not all bi people are pan? I’ve always thought pansexuality is the attraction of people regardless of gender, not transphobia, but I’m not trans so I suppose I have no right to decide.

Anyways, I want to know, what are your thoughts or opinions? Not to sound SALTY but I feel that people should identify as whatever they want without being judged, but some may see it differently. I just want to know:

Should I give in to peer pressure (which can sometimes be positive don’t get me wrong) and identify as bisexual because it’s easier and maybe even less offensive and try to see why pansexuality is bad?

Or

Should I continue to identify as pansexual and stick to my beliefs at with the possibility I’m devaluing someone else’s identity and risk being shut down by my community?

I don’t know what to think anymore. I’ve grown so comfortable in pansexuality that I don’t want to leave. I felt that it helped define my feelings toward attraction well but I don’t want to put someone else down at my expense...