I don't think pansexual is confirmed since the term doesn't have any connotation to sexual attraction: Aesthetic attraction: occurs when someone appreciates the appearance or beauty of another person(s), disconnected from sexual or romantic attraction. - https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/exploring-identities/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation/

I'm still confused about what coming out as an "aesthete" really means and why it would be considered part of the LGBTQ community. I'm probably not the only one. Seems to me that most people (consciously or unconsciously) could fall into the category of appreciating the (inner or outer) beauty of another person disconnected from sexual or romantic attraction. Either way doesn't seem to have hurt his political career in a very conservative (but changing) Colorado county. Maybe this is his way of saying he's gay without saying he's gay.

I'm still confused about what coming out as an "aesthete" really means and why it would be considered part of the LGBTQ community. I'm probably not the only one. Seems to me that most people (consciously or unconsciously) could fall into the category of appreciating the (inner or outer) beauty of another person disconnected from sexual or romantic attraction. Yeah, when TQIA+ was added to the LGB acronym it started adding extra dimensions not related to sexuality. (Although the A - or at least part of the A is). Trans people are obviously about how one feels about themselves and gender. Trans people can be straight, gay, bi, pan, etc. So another dimension not directly related to sexuality. Another gender dimension is how strongly an individual associates with a gender. Trans and CIS people both strongly identify with a gender, but nonbinary people only weakly associate with a gender or not at all. Often coming with Asexual is Aromantic - abbreviated as AroAce. That means they are neither sexually attracted or romantically attracted to others. But the Romantic dimension can be applied to the other dimensions as well. Some people can be Straight and Aromantic, or Asexual but interested in Romantic relationships. Some are even interested in one gender sexuality and the other romantically (surprisingly common). I think this might be what Laydon is referring to, but I could be wrong. This dimension might fit into Q or the +. Intersex is a biological condition where the individual has some characteristics of both genders. This might be due to odd combinations of single or more than 2 sex chromosomes or just developmental glitches during gestation. These individuals can have all the other dimensions attributed to them as well. There's also the Demisexual dimension. Demisexuals only become sexually (or romantically) interested after they make a close emotional bond with another person. So the spectrum between people who can have one night stands with anyone and people who can't/won't unless they are in love. Queer is a bit of a catch all (and + really is) but is tends to mean being fluid in one of more of the dimensions, changing with time. Yeah, sexuality/romance/gender/biology is complicated.

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to provide a detailed and thoughtful response!