A Brief Guide to Understanding Omnisexual Identities

When you're meeting people on a dating site for pansexuals, you might encounter the term "omnisexual." It's a term that describes someone's sexual orientation, and it provides a glimpse into who a person is and isn't attracted to.

While bisexuality and pansexuality are pretty well-understood, omnisexuality often gets lost in the more extensive discussion of sexual orientations. This blog will describe what it means and how it differs from others on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

What is Omnisexual?

If you think back to grade school, you might remember the prefix "omni" and get a good idea of what this orientation means. "Omni" means "of all things."

Omnisexual people can experience attraction to all people regardless of their gender identities and expressions. That means they can fall in love or be sexually attracted to men, women, and people who are gender-nonconforming.

The unique thing about omnisexuality is that people experience attraction to different gender identities in unique ways. For example, their feelings for women are often distinct from what they feel around men. Some people even change their perceived roles or how they act based on who they're currently feeling attracted to.

How is Omnisexuality Different from Pansexuality and Bisexuality?

Many people confuse these three terms. It can seem a little redundant when you see the word "omnisexual" on a dating site for pansexuals. However, there are a few key differences.

First, let's look at bisexuality. Generally, omnisexuality is more inclusive than bisexuality. Bisexuality implies that people are only attracted to two genders, not nonbinary folks.

When someone is pansexual, it typically means that they don't see gender. They usually feel attraction toward the person and not their gender identity. That's where the critical distinction is.

With omnisexuality, you see another person's gender, and it does matter. However, it's not the reason you're attracted to someone.

Final Thoughts

The best way to look at omnisexuality is to view it as an attraction to each and every person regardless of gender identity and expression. Gender still matters, and omnisexual people aren't gender-blind. But, gender usually isn't the primary factor that determines attraction.

Read a similar article about trans women dating here at this page.

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Guide to Safe Sex for Lesbians

So you've entered a chat for lesbians, met up with someone, and shared a connection you want to take to the next level. Now what?

Unfortunately, sex education is painfully heteronormative, leaving queer women to figure things out independently. If your knowledge of safe sex for lesbians is severely lacking, we have you covered! Here are some essential things to know to practice safe sex.

STIs are Still a Concern

One huge misconception is that a penis needs to be a part of the equation to spread sexually transmitted infections. We hate to burst your bubble, but that couldn't be further from the truth!

Many STIs can path through skin-to-skin contact. Contact with bodily fluids on hands and fingers, sharing sex toys, and oral sex can lead to STI spread, too. You might not have to worry about pregnancy, but you need to be wary of Chlamydia, syphilis, HPV, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and more.

Staying Protected

There are many ways to protect yourself from STIs. You can use dental dams or craft a makeshift barrier using a traditional condom. For hand play, try using latex gloves.

Here's a tip to keep in mind, ditch the flavored lubes. Those products can irritate the vulva and cause other issues.

In addition to physical protection, it's a good idea to get tested regularly. Physicians don't always offer throat swabs for STIs, but you can request them. Traditional smear tests are crucial, too, despite the misconception that lesbians don't need them.

Best practices say that you should get tested between monogamous partners or at least once annually. You can even go in every six months to be on the safe side!

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

The most important tip we can give is to communicate with your partner. Lesbians are susceptible to STIs just like heterosexuals. No form of sexual contact is without risks, so you need to discuss those matters to decide what forms of protection you need.

If you need to learn more about sexual health for queer women, check out a chat for lesbians and communicate with others going through the same experiences.

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The History of Marsha P. Johnson and What She's Done for the Queer Community

LGBTQ+ history is complex and full of queer icons worth remembering. But one name everyone should know is Marsha P. Johnson. Johnson was a transgender activist who played a pivotal role in the events that led to the gay rights movement.

Without her contributions, the queer movement may have looked very different.

Who Was Marsha P. Johnson?

Johnson was born male in New Jersey. She enjoyed wearing traditional feminine clothing at a young age. Johnson moved to New York City when she graduated high school and began dressing in women's clothing almost full time.

Back then, gay rights were severely limited. Marsha was part of a growing group of LGBTQ+ youth aiming to change that.

The Stonewall Riots

On June 28th, 1969, Marsha P. Johnson became the face of the queer rights movement. She was near the Stonewall Inn gay bar when police raided it and began arresting patrons for discriminatory laws.

The patrons of Stonewall finally had enough, and Johnson was on the front lines when they fought back. While there are many conflicting stories about what Johnson did, there's no denying that she played a big part in the riots. Along with other trans women, Johnson made their voices heard that night.

Queer Activism

After Stonewall, Johnson continued to push for change. She attended protests and sat in during meetings of the Gay Liberation Front.

However, Johnson wasn't happy with how transgender individuals weren't part of the larger conversation.

With another famous activist, Sylvia Rivera, Johnson started the Street Transvestite Activist Revolutionaries (STAR). The point of STAR was to give a home to trans people living on the streets.

While STAR struggled, the queer icons left a lasting impact and reminded people that transgender individuals deserved rights, too.

A Legacy That Carries On

Marsha P. Johnson's body was found in the Hudson River in 1992. Officials ruled it a suicide, but those who knew and loved her disagreed. Like many trans people of color, she was likely the target of a violent attack.

Johnson's death is still a mystery many decades later. But one thing is for sure: Her short time on this planet left an impact that continues to ripple today.

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The Difference Between Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

We're lucky to live in a time when changing attitudes gives more people the opportunity to live their authentic selves. However, that doesn't mean that ignorance on gender identity and sexual orientation doesn't exist.

This blog will discuss the differences between gender identity and sexual orientation and why they matter.

What is Gender Identity?

"Gender Identity" is a term that's been around for a long time. But it can be a significant source of confusion for those who don't have much exposure to dating non binary people or even being around transgender colleagues.

Your gender identity is your innermost sense of self concerning gender. It's how you feel and perceive yourself. For some people, the person they see looking back in the mirror at them matches up with their gender identity. The term used to describe that is "cis-gendered."

However, the gender identity for other people might not match what they were assigned at birth. You might feel female, male, or a blend of the two!

Non-binary people are those who identify with neither male nor female identities. Thus, they fall outside of the gender binary.

What is Sexual Orientation?

Sexual orientation is a little different. It's about the type of person you are emotionally, physically, or sexually attracted to. There are many sexual orientations.

The most recognizable are straight, gay, and bisexual. However, that's just scratching the surface. We won't get into the details of sexual orientation here, but the most important thing to know is that it revolves around how you feel attraction.

Understanding the Differences

Gender identity is how you perceive yourself. Meanwhile, sexual orientation is who you are attracted to.

The best way to put it is this:

Sexuality is who you fall in love with, while gender identity is who you fall in love as.

People are significantly more open about their gender identities and sexual orientations these days. Whether you're looking to start dating non binary people or you want to explore your sexuality, there's no better time than now!

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Language Barriers in the Asian-American Community

Just like with other segments of the American population, Asian-Americans can be gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or any other type of sexual or gender identity. Unfortunately, many Asian-Americans find that they have a hard time talking with others in the Asian-American community about their experiences and feelings.

A big part of the problem is that traditional Asian languages don’t often lend themselves to conversations about LGBTQ issues. In some cases, words simply don’t exist for certain feelings or experiences. In other cases, existing words are offensive or derogatory in nature.

If you’re having a hard time breaking down communication barriers in the LGBTQ Asian dating sphere, below are some tips:

Work to Create and Embrace New Words

One way that members of the LGBTQ Asian dating community have tackled this issue is by creating new words using existing languages. For example, “transpinoy” has been embraced by the LGBTQ Filipino-American community as existing words are considered offensive.

By creating new words using existing Asian language, members of the LGBTQ Asian-American community have the chance to take control over how feelings and experiences are expressed.

Consider Avoiding Western Words

If you’re concerned about LGBTQ identity being connected to Western identity, you can also consider avoiding Western words when talking about LGBTQ issues. Once again, this may require some creativity, but the goal is to separate LGBTQ from Western identity as this can cause relatives and friends in the community to believe that you only feel the way that you do because of Western influence.

Not All Expression is Verbal

You’re also encouraged to keep in mind that not all expression needs to be verbal to get a point across. The LGBTQ community has used non-verbal forms of expression for hundreds of years if not longer to signal their identities.

While you’re discouraged from hiding your identity by using non-verbal forms of communication, these can be ways to overcome language barriers. This can be effective in the Asian-American LGBTQ community as well as in the global LGBTQ community as a whole.

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