Multi-Attraction Spectrum

Multi-Attraction Spectrum
The Multi-Attraction Spectrum, or MAS, is the group of sexual and romantic orientations that include attraction to multiple genders. Over the years, the MAS community didn't have any specific name to refer to itself, often forcing lengthy or exclusive terminology. Some of these terms were "non-monosexuals", which was rejected for its inherent reference to monosexuality (the attraction to one gender), "polysexuals", which was rejected because polysexuality was an identity in and of itself already, and "multisexuals" which was rejected not only for the same reason as polysexual, but also for being poor sounding.

MAS Identities
The following are some of the known MAS identities:
 * bisexual, attraction to multiple genders
 * pansexual, attraction regardless of gender
 * polysexual, attraction to multiple, but not all genders
 * multisexual, attraction to multiple genders
 * omnisexual, attraction to all genders
 * "queer" is also sometimes used by MAS people

Infighting
There has been much infighting within the MAS community, specifically between bisexuals and pansexuals. When pansexuality was starting out, many pansexuals felt the need to separate themselves from bisexuals as much as possible, and did so at the expense of the bisexual definition. While bisexuals have long considered "attraction to multiple genders" their definition, pansexuals often cited the transphobic and erasing "attraction to binary genders" definition of bisexuality as a reason to distance themselves from bisexuality, and thus creating the image that bisexuality is inherently transphobic. In return, many bisexuals have been vicious towards pansexuals, some stating that pansexuals are "really bisexual" or are "special snowflakes". All of this unacceptable behavior has died down for the most part, but is still fresh in the minds of many MAS people.

Label Multiplicity


Because of the overlapping definitions of MAS identities, many MAS identify themselves with many of these terms. Commonly, bisexual and pansexual are paired up together.

While this has caused some stir among misinformed people, biphobes, and panphobes, you'll notice that there is no contradiction involved. Bisexuality, for example, is the attraction to multiple genders. These genders could be male and female, female and nonbinary, etc, etc, or even all genders. A bisexual who is attracted to all genders might also wish to call themselves pansexual, as they fit the "all genders" definition of pansexuality as well.