First Openly Pansexual US Politician

In Texas, of all places.

Mary Gonzalez

Mary Gonzalez broke barriers when she became her state’s only openly lesbian lawmaker when she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives.Now, however, Gonzalez is going even further, telling the Dallas Voice that she instead identifies herself as “pansexual.” As ThinkProgress notes, Gonzalez’s admission makes her perhaps the only openly pansexual elected U.S. official.

Though many might describe Gonzalez’s orientation as bisexual, pansexuals don’t believe in a “gender binary,” and hence can be attracted to all gender identities.

Gonzalez specified to the Voice that she doesn’t believe in a gender binary because “gender identity isn’t the defining part of my attraction,” and that she never fully embraced the term “lesbian.” Although she came out as bisexual at age 21, Gonzalez said she has also dated transgender and “gender-queer” people, in addition to women.