What Does ‘Pansexual’ Mean?

What You Need to Know

In a exclusive interview with People Magazine, Wayne Brady opened up about his sexuality, saying he is pansexual. 

The host of the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” said he suppressed his sexuality because he was worried about people finding out, and felt a lot of shame. 

“I am pansexual,” Brady said. “Bisexual - with an open mind!” Brady added that “pan means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transgender or gender nonbinary. Being able to be attracted across the board.” 

In the interview Brady spoke about how it is “scary as s- - -” to feel attracted to men because of the way he was raised and living in today’s world. He was taught from a young age that calling someone gay was a way to hurt or emasculate them. 

The interview unveiled that a reality tv, focused on Brady’s family, will be coming out soon centered around Brady’s blended family. Brady is divorced from his wife and they have a 20 year old daughter. Brady’s wife has a new partner and is expecting another child.  

Brady first came out to his ex-wife and daughter years ago. 

Why You Need to Know

Words mean different things to different people. GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization defines someone who is pansexual as “a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attractions to any person, regardless of gender identity.” The term pansexual came out of the complication people had with “bisexual” because it implied the gender binary. 

Either term can include attraction beyond the male-female gender binary, including those who are transgender, gender-fluid, androgynous, intersex and more. 

The fact is, no matter who you are attracted to, however you identify, you deserve to experience love, safety and respect.

Continue reading about Brady’s road to self-discovery and acceptance.