Never thought politics could be so complicated did you?

Texas's first lesbian congresswoman now says she's NOT gay... and comes out as 'pansexual'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A Texas politician has come out as 'pansexual.'

Mary Gonzalez won her seat in the state's House of Representatives in May as the first openly lesbian lawmaker in Texas.

 But she now says she rejects that label, telling the Dallas Voice that she is actually 'pansexual' - someone who is attracted to all gender identities.

Pansexual: Mary Gonzalez, pictured, will be the first openly 'pansexual' lawmaker in the US when she wins in the fall

The clarification will make her the first U.S. legislator to come out as pansexual if she wins in Austin in January, which, with no republican candidate on the ballot in her El Paso district, she's almost certain to do.

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The 29-year-old told the newspaper she identifies with the little known sexuality that many would call bisexual because she doesn't believe in a gender binary.

What Is Pansexuality?

Pansexuality, also known as omnisexuality, is defined as sexual attraction, sexual desire, romantic love, or emotional attraction toward persons of all gender identities and biological sexes.

Self-identified pansexuals may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant in determining whether they will be sexually attracted to others.

Gonzalez said she can be attracted to all gender identities because 'gender identity isn't the defining part of my attraction', which is how pansexuality differs from being bisexual.

After coming out as bi at 21, Gonzalez said relationships with 'gender-queer' and transgender partners made her question her sexual orientation.

 'As I started to recognize the gender spectrum and dated along the gender spectrum, I was searching for words that connected to that reality, for words that embraced the spectrum,' she told the Voice.

'At the time I didn’t feel as if the term bisexual was encompassing of a gender spectrum that I was dating and attracted to.'

It is not clear whether Gonzalez is currently dating a man or a woman.

Support: Gay and lesbian groups have come out in strong support of Gonzalez, pictured

Acknowledging that many people are not familiar with the term pansexual, she held off coming out until after she won her seat in the House of Representatives.

During the campaign she was continually questioned about her sexuality and was nicknamed the 'Latina lesbian lawmaker' by the media.

'During the campaign if I had identified as pansexual, I would have overwhelmed everyone,' she said. 'Now that I’m out of the campaign, I’m completely much more able to define it.'



Voice: Gonzalez' admission prompted messages of support on her Facebook page, pictured

Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund spokesman Denis Dison said there were several openly bisexual politicians around the US but none have used the term pansexual.

'People should inform the media and others about the term they prefer, and that sort of education is a good thing,' Dison told the Voice.

'It’s also a little more tricky in politics to be cutting edge and inform people about something they may not be familiar with.'

 Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund said Gonzalez' bold move was a 'big victory for Mary, for El Paso and for Texas.'

'The people of El Paso will be represented by a talented and committed fighter who knows how to get things done in Austin,' he said.

Courage: Supporters said Gonzalez, pictured, showed courage in coming out

'And LGBT Texans will be represented by an authentic voice in the Capitol, standing up and speaking out for fairness and freedom for all.'

The politician has won support on her Facebook page, with users thanking her for more clearly defining her sexual orientation.

'You've shown great courage by coming out as pansexual, and it makes me so proud to be from el paso!' Micki Broquita Duran wrote.

Heather Frederick said: 'Thank you for coming out as pansexual. Your courage and heart will not be forgotten.'

And Jessi Su Q, who first identified as pansexual as a teen, said: Thank you so much for being so vocal, open, and proud of your pansexuality. Truly inspired by someone so public creating space for both pride and sexual diversity!'