We have one incredibly talented person to thank for bringing it further into the public eye.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the world ‘pansexual’ is defined as follows:
“of, relating to, or characterised by sexual desire or attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Yesterday, that same dictionary announced that there had been an 11,000% increase in the search for the definition of the word, becoming the most searched for word in the entire world on Thursday 26 April.
The reason for the sudden spike in interest?
Janelle Monáe.
The singer and artist has a nice album out this week – Dirty Computer is receiving 5-star reviews left, right and centre, and is well worth a listen – but in the lead-up to the album’s release, Monáe sat down for an interview with Rolling Stone, and over the course of the interview the artist covered everything from her new music to her up-til-now quite guarded personal life.
Clip via Janelle Monáe
Over the course of the conversation, Monáe states that she “has been in relationships with both men and women – I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker.” Initially, Monáe identified as bisexual, but then later she clarifies that: “I read about pansexuality and was like, ‘Oh, these are things that I identify with too.’ I’m open to learning more about who I am.”
There had been endless rumours regarding Monáe’s sexuality since her first album The ArchAndroid was released back in 2010, and lately there had been added conversation that she was apparently in a relationship with Thor: Ragnarok and Westworld actress Tessa Thompson, who has appeared as a love interest for Monáe in many of her recent music videos.
Monáe coming out has brought a much-misunderstood sexual preference into the spotlight, and has sparked a conversation and new-found awareness in the music-loving public.
https://twitter.com/TessaThompson_x/status/989732216182788096
https://twitter.com/MontanaSeaGal/status/989537899229016064
https://twitter.com/yo_its_kirstyn/status/989755194631114755
My pansexual heart is all aflutter right now. Thanks Janelle for being your wonderful self.
— wondrabread, what is the secret of your power ✨ (@wondrabread) April 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/chrrycxla/status/989727427990405120
the best part of @JanelleMonae's coming out, was the inclusion of the very real fact that our sexualities and identities can change as much as we do (if we want). that our language can evolve in whatever ways we need it to. i needed that representation and lots of others do too. https://t.co/jcUApVYhA7
— Your friend, Gus (@_anghost) April 27, 2018
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