Multisexuality (also known as plurisexuality) is an umbrella term for any form of attraction to more than one gender. It is synonymous with m-spec (multioriented spectrum), along with all other terms that broadly describe attraction to multiple genders (i.e. pluralian, bisexual, etc). It can describe individuals who are pansexual, polysexual, omnisexual, etc, or can be used as a stand-alone identity if one does not wish to specify their sexuality further.
The opposite of multisexual is monosexual. The romantic counterpart to multisexual is multiromantic.
Multisexual vs. Other Terms
Multisexual or m-spec includes terms to describe all sexualities attracted to multiple genders. Some individuals have pushed for "bisexual umbrella" to be used instead of multisexual, however this push was largely started by m-spec exclusionists, and so the use of "bisexual umbrella" can often come with the implication (intentional or not) that one sees other terms as "just bi" or that "no other terms are needed other than bi", even though bisexuality and multisexuality are synonymous in their definitions.
Many m-spec individuals who don't identify as bisexual do not want their identity watered down to "a subtype of bisexual". These individuals commonly identify with terms other than bisexual because those different terms often allow them to communicate their personal experience of attraction with more accuracy. While some individuals who use other labels do identify as bisexual in addition to that other label, other individuals do not connect to the label bisexual and don't feel comfortable using it. They would prefer being the sexuality they are, rather than being forced into a label they do not identify as.
Using multisexual as an umbrella term may also allow for all groups to have unifying term while also having separate communities. M-spec individuals who don't identify as bisexual may not have to feel like an after thought in things labeled as bisexual, and bisexual communities can have their own history and community. Additionally, it may allow for more visibility of various m-spec identities. This is not to say that using bisexual as an umbrella can't achieve these same things, just that multisexual tends to be the preferred label as many m-spec individuals unfortunately no longer feel safe within bisexual communities.
History
The term multisexual appears to have been created in the 1970s. It has even been used in professional settings in articles.[1][2] It gained popularity during the 2010s during the rise of discourse online[3] and was promoted as an alternative to the terms Multiple Gender Attraction (MGA) or the bisexual spectrum (bi+).
Mentions of the term m-spec can be found as early as March of 2016.[4]
Flag
The flag was made official on February 13th, 2019 and the creator went by "synp".[5] Peace is represented by the purple bar at the top, and unity by white, light blue stands for freedom and the pink/magenta bar is for love and compassion.
One of the first multisexual flags was created on or before Aug 24, 2015.[6] The creator is unknown. The meaning is also unknown.
An alternate flag was created on October 9, 2015 by an unknown person.[7] The meaning is unknown by it is likely a combination of the colors from the pansexual, bisexual, and polysexual flags.
The m-spec flag was created by arco-pluris on February 14, 2019.[8] The colors are taken from the bisexual, polysexual, pansexual, omnisexual, trisexual, quadsexual, and quintsexual flags. Orange represents any other identities and for those who identify just as multisexual and nothing else.
Cryptocrews alternate flag was coined on February 21, 2021 and was first posted on February 22, 2021. Purple-ish blue represents androgynous and neutral genders, blue represents masculine genders, purple-ish pink represents feminine genders, green represents the genderless/agender spectrum, yellow represents xenic genders, orange represents outherine genders, red represents women, blue represents men, and white represents multigenders. The flower represents love and a growing community.
Gallery
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An alternate multisexual flag, unknown creator.
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An alternate multisexual flag, unknown creator.
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Alternate version with even stripes, unknown creator.
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An m-spec flag by arco-pluris.
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An alternate multisexual flag by Cryptocrew.
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A second alternate multisexual flag by Cryptocrew.
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A New Alternative Flag to Multisexual created by FANDOM user AllieThePrince
Resources
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10197554/
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14681810220144873
- ↑ https://grandenchanterfiona.tumblr.com/post/100111427298/is-there-a-flag-for-the-entire-multisexual
- ↑ https://wetwareproblem.tumblr.com/post/143541701811/sorry-sorry-but-what-does-m-spec-mean
- ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/kinkflagsrus/art/Multisexual-Official-Pride-Flag-785458128
- ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Multi-1-555850754?ga_changes=1&ga_submit_new=10%253A1467515310&ga_type=edit
- ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Multi-4-565261843?ga_changes=1&ga_submit_new=10%253A1467515308&ga_type=edit
- ↑ https://beyond-mogai-pride-flags.tumblr.com/post/182817501690/mspec-pride-flag