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Polysexuality, the | polysexual (adj.)

Polysexuality is rarely used to describe sexual orientation and is therefore rather unknown compared to bisexuality, heterosexuality, lesbian, or gay. Polysexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person feels romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to several, but not necessarily all, genders or gender identities (Polysexualität, 2017). Polysexuality can therefore be described as the opposite term to monosexuality.

Polysexuality is often mentioned in connection with polyamory, pansexuality, or omnisexuality. It is important to note that these terms should not be used interchangeably (Nguyen, 2022). For example, polysexuality can be used as a collective term for sexual orientations that involve attraction to more than one gender (Polysexualität, 2017). Bisexuality, pansexuality, and omnisexuality can be summarised under the umbrella term polysexuality, but each has individual dimensions and differs from one another. While polysexuality refers to sexual attraction to several genders, polyamory is a relationship model in which a person can have romantic and/or sexual relationships with several partners at the same time. A polysexual person can be in a monogamous or polyamorous relationship, and likewise, a polyamorous person can have any sexual orientation.


Sources (in German)

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