What Does Gynoromantic Mean? + Other Gynoromantic Information To Help You Be A Better Ally!

Anyone can feel attached to or identify with a diversity of gender identities and/or sexual orientations. And as evermore definitions have been popularised over the years to embody the emotions and experiences of queer people, it can be hard to keep up.

If you are not totally absorbed in LGBTQ+ culture or the rainbow community, you may not appreciate these lesser-known sexual orientations and gender identities – most of which have a lack of representation in mainstream media.

One such term is gynoromantic, so we are going to define and cover what does gynoromantic mean, speak about the gynoromantic pride flag, and then provide some tips to help you become a better ally to gynoromantic people.

What Does Gynoromantic Mean?

Gynoromantic is a romantic attraction to femininity, women, or female-identified people. Gynoromantic is also known as gyneromantic.

Gynoromantic involves the romantic attraction to women or femininity. It is having interest to people who identify as female or display characteristics stereotyped as feminine. Gynoromantics can be attracted to male, non-binary, female, or transgender people provided they express femininity.

This does not mean that gynoromantics are only subject to attraction to people who identify as female. Gynoromantics can also be attracted who people whose gender expression is feminine even though they don’t identify as female. A gynoromantic can be straight, lesbian, transgender, or any other sexual orientation.

Gynoromantic allows people to express their romantic attraction without identifying as heterosexual or homosexual. It is a way of saving individuals from bias and confusion of  the gender binary.

The prefix ‘gyne-‘ comes from ‘gyneco-‘ derived from ‘gynaeco-‘,  the Greek word gunaikos which means woman or female. The prefix ‘gyno’ comes from the Greek word gune, which means’ of women or pertaining to women’.

We can also narrow down the definition of gynoromantic into three aspects:

• Gynoromantic is a romantic attraction to women. Men, women, and non-binary individuals romantically interested in women are considered gynoromantics.
• Gynoromantic is a romantic attraction to people who present femininely regardless of their gender.
• Gynoromantic is the attraction to people who have female anatomy regardless of whether or not they identify as female. However, this definition is transphobic because it reduces people to their sexual organs.

The term gynoromantic might have been identified with gender-queer and non-binary individuals in mind. However, many non-binary people prefer to use terms like womanromantic to describe their attraction rather than the term gynoromantic.

They might prefer other labels because gynoromantic is gynesexual and can have negative connotations at times. Gynoromantic is the sexual equivalent to gynesexual. A transgender woman can identify as gynoromantic. It isn’t debatable when they refer to themselves as gyneromantic rather than lesbian. For example, you could refer to a transgender person as gay, but if they would prefer being called gynoromantic – this is what you should call them.

Being a gynoromantic means, you are attracted to women and femininity. It does not matter what your gender orientation is provided femininity draws you. However, some people might argue that if you identify as a woman and are attracted to women or femininity, you are simply a lesbian. Sometimes, the term might feel redundant. However, being a lesbian requires you to be a woman who is attracted to a fellow woman, and does not include those who do not identify as one particular gender.

When we look at it that way, then we will be able to accommodate everyone. Meaning, gynoromantic accommodates everyone depending on who they are romantically attracted to regardless of their gender. A transgender person can use gynoromantic to identify themselves rather than being referred to as lesbian simply because they are attracted to women.

Gynoromantic Pride Flag Meaning

There are many different pride flags symbolizing most queer identities, so it should come as no surprise there is a flag for gynoromantic people to proudly fly.

A group identified as proper page created the first gynoromantic flag to resemble other romantic flags. An alternative flag for gynoromantics was created on December 12, 2020, by ThatOneKnows. The flag has a white stripe at the top to represent genderless identities or non-binary. The middle three stripes represent women and femininity. The top purple stripe represents people who are feminine regardless of their gender.

The Middle pink stripe represents people who are aligned to the feminine. The bottom red stripe represents people who identify as women. It has a red stripe at the bottom to represent people who are masculine-aligned, or men regardless of gender.

Gynoromantic Pride Day

Education, visibility, commemoration, and appreciation are all critical in promoting global acceptance and acknowledgment of queer identities and queer folx in general.  And from experience, we know it is easier for queer people to talk to friends and loved ones – and to feel the love – when a worldwide day for them is observed. Not to mention it also helps foster awareness and increased sensitivities from society at large.

Sadly however a Gynoromantic Pride Day has not yet been designated. But that does not stop you from marking your calendar and doing something special (even if it’s just a social media post!) next pride month!

Or any other day of the year, to be honest.

Other Gynoromantic Information to Help You Be a Better Ally

People who present themselves as allies to gynoromantic individuals should be well informed. To be a better ally, get an understanding of gynoromantics identity and be accommodative. It would help if you did not burden them with many questions; research first before confronting them with endless questions for explanations.

No gynoromantic experience is identical to another. You can’t tell whether someone is gynoromantic by looking at them, observing their personality, or their physical aesthetic. None of these characteristics can provide a clue as to how a person identifies, and this is as true for gynoromantic individuals as it is for any gender or sexual orientation. 

The first thing you should do as an ally to gynoromantic people is to believe them when they tell you about their identity. Don’t try to argue them out of it or make the mistake of thinking you could know more about how they feel than they do. It could also help if you worked on your mindset.

Working on your attitude means you challenge your concept of gender, sexuality, and sex. 

After all, if you have any issues with understanding gynoromantic people, the root cause is bound in your understanding of gender and sexuality – not theirs.  Educating yourself (as you are by reading about what does gynoromantic mean?) is an excellent first step to increase your awareness and not make your lack of knowledge in this area a burden on them. 

Listen first, before making conclusion and assumptions. Also, it would be great if you were open-minded and willing to have a conversation with your gynoromantic friend, family, or colleague.

There aren’t any explicit rules or guidelines, but here are some thoughts on how you can be a better queer ally and support a loved one as you discover what it means to be gynoromantic.

Avoid Stereotypes

Simply because an individual is female and is attracted to a woman or feminine aspects does not mean they are lesbians. Therefore, if you have someone attracted to women or femininity and they are women, don’t refer to them as lesbians if they identify as gynoromantics. Respect them and avoid such misconceptions.

It would be best if you read about gynoromantics before asking them too many questions. Have a clue about what it is first, and it will be easier for you to have a conversation with gynoromantics. Showing interest in who they are will put them at ease to talk.

However, avoid taking any assumptions which you think might be hurtful.

Respect Their Choices

Gynoromantics (like all people) are people who are responsible for making their own decision. Treat them right and respective their choices. It is upon them to decide who they get involved with romantically.

Don’t just assume that because they are attracted to women or femininity they cannot be attracted to transgender people or other nonbinary genders that express themselves as feminine. Giving them their freedom allows them to have the space they need to live their lives.

Treat your friends, colleagues, and family as you would want them to treat you if you were the gynoromantic.

Defend Gynoromantics against Discrimination

A gynoromantic individual is a person like any other. Fight for their right and don’t allow bullying at work or school.

Please stand up for them and inform the person on the wrong that everyone deserves proper treatment with dignity and utmost respect. Don’t allow spiteful comments and labeling that will make your gynoromantic friends uneasy.

Keep Their Identity Confidential

If your friend, family, colleague, or schoolmate has not come out as gynoromantic, protect any information regarding their romantic attraction. It is not in your place to announce to everyone that so and so is gynoromantic or not.

If they confide in you, keep it to yourself because they trust you. Labeling them as gynoromantic when they are not ready is offensive and unethical.

If a friend confides in you, be trustworthy, and they will be able to depend on you and create room for future legitimate discussions. The best you can do as an ally is to protect gynoromantics from hurtful comments and stand up for them in case of any discrimination.