Pansexuality

Pan-sex-u-al adj.
Not limited or inhibited in sexual choice with regard to gender or activity

This is how Websters dictionary defines the term pansexuality. This is a relatively new term and while this is true enough, I don't feel like this really encompasses what it means to be pansexual. The definition that to me really encompasses what it means is this one from urban dictionary:
one who's affections, romantic platonic or sexual, are potentially geared towards anyone regardless of sex or gender identity.

I don't like labels and definitions applied to people but if I'd have to pick one, that would for me the best one. I find sexuality especially to be such a personal thing that no one should try to impose another label upon for you.
This was something I personally struggled a lot with in high school because even just three or four years ago the term pansexual didn't exist. You were straight, gay, or bi, and those were essentially your only options. I never really identified with any of them. I was raised in a home where I never really had gender imposed on me; if there was a toy I wanted, regardless of whether it was a girls or boys toys, I would get it. I was raised to accept everyone for who they were, not based on their appearance, so being raised like that, it had carried over into my sexuality. I felt like bisexual never really encompassed who I felt I was. But everyone is so obsessed with labels in high school so I had to be something. I also at the time didn't know who to articulate that I didn't care what you were packing in your pants, it had more to do with who someone was, what their personality was. I couldn't articulate this definition for myself when I was fifteen.
I don't think it's really up to anyone else to define someone's sexuality for them, and I would much rather someone asked me about it than they assume something that's not true or partially true. Usually people of different persuasions are very open and willing to talk about things if you are genuinely interested. A little bit if respect goes a long way.