THE THEORY OF PANSEXUALITY

6th CONGRESS OF SEXOLOGY – LIMASSOL, JUNE 2002

by Peter Boom
I'm a Dutchman living in Italy since 1956. My personal experience and my studies
brought me to conceive the Theory of Pansexuality about ten years ago. The Theory
has been published in several non professional papers and through Internet, but
never before has it been presented in such an important academical Congress as
this one, and I hope that it will help mankind to suffer less from sexual
repression that persists strongly in our brave new world. People are traumatised
by ideas of sin, ideas that have created cases of homicide, suicide and a lot of
other grave social disorders. A great deal of the problems regarding alcoholics,
drugs and also several types of sedatives depend on sexual repression.
Even in Art we can see the sexual repression, noting, for example, beautiful
sculptures without genitalia or covered by a leaf. This is of course very
castrating.
Before reading the Theory and some of my ideas about sexual behaviour, I would
like to say that I'm very honoured to participate in this Congress, more so
because I'm not a professional sexologist , but an actor, singer, author and so
on, perhaps better categorised as a Dutch adventurer living in Italy near Rome,
for the past 43 years consuming my best energies as a gay activist.
I am an ideal pansexual. Before 23 I had sex with women and then I discovered the
wonderful, though difficult world of gayness.
Tomorrow morning at 8.30 there will be a roundtable discussion and perhaps I'll
have more time to tell you about my personal experiences and ideas.
I thank the Scientific Committee of the European Federation of Sexology very much
for approving my Theory.
Here it is:
THE THEORY OF PANSEXUALITY
Human beings, by nature must be, "pansexual" (from the Greek, Pan = all) a
complete sexual person. We all possess various sexual possibilities
generally classified as heterosexual, homosexual, bi-sexual, autoerotic,
fetishist, sado-masochistic, etc. These tendencies in our nature can come
out at any time, according to the development of each individual. Children
are born polimorphoperverse; the curiosity of discovery leads them to play
with their mothers, touch their genitals, masturbate and investigate their
excretia. Later, as they develop, they play games of "doctor" as they
explore the bodies and functions of their friends. All this is perfectly
natural.
During puberty their ambivalence is natural and undeniable as they adapt to life
as an adult. Only later does their sexual proclivity become more
crystallized and definite, although the range of options remain open. These
options are partially repressed or are made taboo, according to the society
in which they live.
There's a tribe in Borneo in which the women live with their children in a
huge hut, while men live apart from them. In Kenya there's a nomadic tribe of
proud long-living people who have the custom of coupling boys of twelve
in a ritual of blood-mixing. These male couples remain faithful to each
other all their lives, wandering far off together, returning to the tribe
once or twice a year in order to procreate with the women. There are many
examples, like the Siwans from Africa, the Sambia in New Guinea, where nearly all
males engage in both hetero- and homo-sexual intercourse, but we can leave these
to the anthropologists.
The term "pansexuality" exists already, but with a different meaning to that which
I apply to it, indicating the concept to which sexual instinct is the basis of all
human behaviour (Freud).
It is important not to repress any of our pansexuality and to live it
freely, using good sense. The repression and banning of natural instinct
creates frustration, often resulting in antisocial and violent behaviour.
Good sense is embodied in the expression: "Don't do unto others what you
would not have them do unto you!"
Definition of pansexuality:
Pansexuality includes all kinds of sexuality that can exist in a human
being, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual, transgender, heterosexual,
tendencies that may prevail either permanently or occasionally.
The word Pansexualism is explained by Professor Haeberle in his Critical
Dictionary in the following way:
"Pansexualism. (sometimes also "pansexuality". From gr. "pan": all) All-embracing
sexual love. An attitude or a philosophy which is based on the belief that the
human sexual potential can and should be directed towards everybody and
everything. At one time, the term "pansexualism" was also used for the theory that
all human behavior is somehow sexually motivated. This theory is no longer
considered valid. Today the terms "pansexualism" and "pansexuality" are often
employed by certain advocates of sexual liberation who want to convey the idea
that the present sexual and gender roles of men and women are too confining, and
that, therefore, an all-embracing sexuality should accept the entire spectrum of
sexual orientations and deliberately ignore all other conventional distinctions."
I had an interesting exchange of emails with Professor Haeberle and I want to
thank him publicly for his contribution to my studies of Sexology.
The Theory of Pansexuality is best understood not in absolute but in relative
terms, just as the biological sex and the gender roles.
From the observation of human sexual behaviour we learned that femaleness and
maleness, femininity and masculinity, homosexuality and heterosexuality are a
question of degree.
Today people talk too easily about hetero-, homo-, and bi-sexuality without
realizing the overlapping qualities of the different categories.
A very narrow-minded view on human nature cripples a natural view of life, not the
natural view as intended by science of the past ... and religions of the past and
of today.
Today the word "nature" has become regularly used to fight for sexual rights and
as Professor Erwin Haeberle says: " A critical study of the Natural Law tradition
can still teach us a great deal about a truly humane sexual morality".
In most societies women cannot live their "Pansexuality". The relationship between
men and women is based on the concept that a woman is at least one step lower on
the ladder of valuation, only useful for procreation and taking care of the
children, and of course that's no good basis for love or either sex.
"Fescinninni versus" was an ancient orgiastic rite in which people allured each
other in mixed "pansexual" intercourse. In the Etruscan civilization women could
freely choose their partners and reject them whenever they wanted.
"I love you as you are" is the text I wrote in 1977 for a film called Tomboy, the
actors were well-known American and European sexologists. The song (I'm the singer
too) expressed the physical and psychological pain of the person under the hand of
the surgeon proceeding in a sex-change operation. But I consider this kind of
operation a terrible violence. A person who wants to change sex is doing so
because he or she wants to be better accepted by society. Many psychologists argue
that they want to be accepted by themselves.
In ancient cultures a hermaphrodite was honored and considered a rare flower, an
orchid. In most of our societies such a person is marginalized and in many cases
used and abused sexually during nighttime by people who spit on them during
daytime.
No, it's society that has to change and no rare flower should ever be submitted to
sadistic and profitmaking operations to become a very common and artificial
flower.
Another difficult debate that is not spoken freely about in many countries is the
sexual life of the handicapped. To have sexual intercourse is very difficult to
obtain or still forbidden for these people, depriving them of the little joy
they're still able to squeeze out of life. The sentiment of love and affection
should be open for them as well and I always say: "There's always someone for
everyone".
At least I hope so.
Personally I was an enormously surprised when I discovered that so many young men
love older people like me. I used to think that sex was finished for me in my old
age, but then I discovered the Italian Silverfox sites on Internet and since then
I have made wonderful male friendships, and now I’ve found my ideal partner.
I must say that the young gerontophiles I've known to date are all very sensitive
people and it could be interesting to start a specific study concerning their
feelings.
For them it's more difficult to be accepted by society and families. And if they
are homosexual they are doubly marginalized and heavily criticised when they
present their lover who often is older than their own parents.
Another taboo is not talking openly and scientifically about Pedophilia, it seems
to have aroused a wave of popular, but alas not scientific, indignation around the
world.
Anthropological studies provide us with different answers to this theme and of
course a child can never be considered an asexual being. Yes, children have to be
protected against all violence, especially hypocritical educators, priests and
people within their family. Politicians still find it hazardous to finance
projects to thoroughly study the phenomenon of Pedophilia, in order to understand
more precisely what can be permitted and what can not.
After all these digressions I would like to clarify that, in my opinion, all
orientations of affective liaisons are self-induced, psychologically constructed
and are not predetermined biologically: "I like that person, he or she has
something which attracts me".
Society, in most cases, has tried to condition these orientations except
heterosexual or what is called "normal". Perhaps it was felt as a necessity to
procreate more in order to obtain powerful nations in times when starvation,
pestilence and wars were decimating entire populations and when medicine had not
yet arisen to the nearly miraculous heights of today.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why today, with the evermore menacing
overpopulation, Pansexuality is developing more freely.
All our different sexual tendencies, our Pansexuality, also include the negative
inclinations, those that are harmful to others or to ourselves,
just as the telephone and Internet can be used both negatively and positively.
What is the negative use of sex and which are the positive ways of sexual
behaviour? They are not easy to define.
For example, sadomasochism is acceptable to a certain point, necrophilia is
regarded as a serious deviation, pedophilia, in our Society, is not acceptable.
Of course I have to be very humble as I cannot be compared with the highly
specialized and important scientists participating at this Congress.
I hope to learn a great deal from you all.
I am aware of the many problems my Theory of Pansexuality may arouse,
theoretically in the area of psychological research as in social, political and
religious fields. A "Weltanschauung" that will not easily be accepted by
everybody, but can find an affirmation and become a common way of considering
sexuality.
Thank you very much for your attention. – Peter Boom – pansex@libero.it

Bibliography:
Bullough Vern L. – 1994 – Science in the bedroom – New York – Basic Books
Haeberle Erwin –1981 – The Sex Atlas - Berlin - E.J.Haeberle
Haeberle Erwin – 1983 – Anfänge der Sexual Wissenschaft - Berlin - De Gruyter
Herdt Gilbert – 1987 – The Sambia – Ritual and Gender in New Guinea – Orlando –
Harcourt College Publishers
Mieli Mario – 1977 – Elementi di critica omosessuale – Milano – Giulio Einaudi
Editore
Rigliano Paolo – 2001 – Amori senza scandalo – Milano – Feltrinelli

Boom Peter
Via Forno di sotto 47
01031 – Bagnaia (VT)
Italy
pansex@pansexuality.it
http://www.pansexuality.it

ABSTRACT:

THE THEORY OF PANSEXUALITY

Human beings, by nature must be, "pansexual" (from the Greek, Pan = all) a
complete sexual person. We all possess various sexual possibilities
generally classified as heterosexual, homosexual, bi-sexual, autoerotic,
fetishist, sado-masochistic, etc. These tendencies in our nature can come
out at any time, according to the development of each individual. Children
are born polimorphoperverse; the curiosity of discovery leads them to play
with their mothers, touch their genitals, masturbate and investigate their
excretia. Later, as they develop, they play games of "doctor" as they
explore the bodies and functions of their friends. All this is perfectly
natural.
During puberty their ambivalence is natural and undeniable as they adapt to life
as an adult. Only later does their sexual proclivity become more
crystallized and definite, although the range of options remain open. These
options are partially repressed or are made taboo, according to the society
in which they live.
There's a tribe in Borneo in which the women live with their children in a
huge hut, while men live apart from them. In Kenya there's a nomadic tribe of
proud long-living people who have the custom of coupling boys of twelve
in a ritual of blood-mixing. These male couples remain faithful to each
other all their lives, wandering far off together, returning to the tribe
once or twice a year in order to procreate with the women. There are many
examples, like the Siwans from Africa, the Sambia in New Guinea, where nearly all
males engage in both hetero- and homo-sexual intercourse, but we can leave these
to the anthropologists.
The term "pansexuality" exists already, but with a different meaning to that which
I apply to it, indicating the concept to which sexual instinct is the basis of all
human behaviour (Freud).
It is important not to repress any of our pansexuality and to live it
freely, using good sense. The repression and banning of natural instinct
creates frustration, often resulting in antisocial and violent behaviour.
Good sense is embodied in the expression: "Don't do unto others what you
would not have them do unto you!"
Definition of pansexuality:
Pansexuality includes all kinds of sexuality that can exist in a human
being, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual, transgender, heterosexual,
tendencies that may prevail either permanently or occasionally.

Key words:
Pansexuality
Polimorphoperverse
Ambivalence
Anthropology
Hermaphrodite
Homosexuality
Hétérosexuality
Bisexuality
Transexuality