Pansexual meaning: Demi Lovato comes out as pansexual - what does it mean and how does it differ to bisexual?

Singer and songwriter Demi Lovato revealed in a new interview on The Joe Rogan Experience that they are pansexual.

Speaking on the podcast, Lovato said that they are a “proud” member of the LGBTQ+ community, and that they are coming to terms with their sexuality having grown up in a Christian household in Texas.

What did Demi Lovato say?

Appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Lovato opened up about their sexuality, saying that they are “so fluid” and that they’re attracted to “anything, really”.

Rogan asked if they felt that the term pansexual fitted them the best, to which they agreed.

They said: “In this moment, I want to adopt [children] for sure.

“I also don’t know if I’m going to end up with a guy, so I can’t really see myself even getting pregnant.

“I don’t know. I’m so fluid now, and a apart of the reason why I’m so fluid is because I was super closeted off.”

Lovato explained that, growing up in a Christain household, they had come to feel a lot of guilt around their sexuality.

They said: “I felt a lot of shame because growing up in Texas as a Christan, that’s very frowned upon.

“Any attraction that I ever had toward a female at a young age, I shut it down before I even let myself process what I was feeling.”

Have they talked about their sexuality before?

In an interview for the March edition of Glamour, the singer also discussed their sexuality.

They said that their recent experiences, including the end of their engagement to Max Ehrich, helped them realise “how queer [they] really [are]”.

Lovato said: “When I started getting older, I started realising how queer I really am.

“This past year, I was engaged to a man and when it didn’t work, I was like: “This is a huge sign”.

“I thought I was going to spend my life with someone. Now that I wasn’t going to, I felt this sense of relief that I could live my truth.”

Lovato said that they feel “too queer” to be with a cisgender man, and said they preferred being with women.

What is pansexual?

Pansexual is a type of sexual orientation that refers to someone who can find romantic or sexual attraction with anyone.

LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall defines pansexuality a “a person whose romantic and/or sexual attractions towards others is not limited by sex or gender”.

When this term first started gaining popularity, there was some confusion around the difference between pansexual and bisexual.

Stonewall explained that bisexuality is “an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender”.

It’s explained that bisexual people may describe theselves “using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including, but not limited to, bisexual, pan, queer, and some other non-monosexual and non-monoromantic identities”.

How have their fans reacted?

Fans of the former Disney star have taken to social media to offer support and praise following the release of the interview.

One person Tweeted: “As for you @ddlocato I love you. I’m so proud of you and who you are. Continue to keep making choices for YOU, and doing the things that make YOU happy. Choose YOU always. You don’t owe it to anyone but yourself.”

Another wrote: “Love @ddlovato, you’re so inspiring and I have been such a huge fan forever. Wishing you all the best thoughts.”

“I clearly have never met @ddlovato, but I just gotta say, I support the hell out of you. Speak that truth. Who you are is beautiful,” Tweeted another.