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SEXUAL IDENTITY

Behavior | Orientation | Attraction

Sex and Gender

Sexual Orientation

Gender Identity

Genderqueer|Non-Binary

Trans|Transgender

Gender Expression

Sexual Behavior

"Sexual Identity" is a broad term, not to be confused with the specific definitions of sexual orientation or gender identity. The term, which is about sexual behavior, is sometimes used an umbrella term under which sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and sexual attraction, and other factors are objectively discussed, described, and defined. Think of it as a rational (clinical) way to talk about having sex and falling in love.

Sexual identity does not specifically concern itself with gender, gender identity, gender expression, or gender presentation.

Otherwise, sexual identity is how one thinks of oneself in terms of to whom one is romantically or sexually attracted. Sexual identity may also refer to sexual orientation identity, which is when people identify or dis-identify with a sexual orientation or choose not to identify with a sexual orientation.

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Poll Shows Gen Z Adopting Their Own Labels for Sexuality

Info: Sex and Gender

LGBTQ Video Chat: Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Sex and Gender Intro: A Beginner’s Guide

Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with identity referring to an individual's conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and sexual orientation referring to romantic or sexual attractions toward persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, to both sexes or more than one gender, or to no one.

Historical models of sexual identity have tended to view its formation as a process undergone only by sexual minorities, while more contemporary models view the process as far more universal and attempt to present sexual identity within the larger scope of other major identity theories and processes.  Behavior is not necessarily the same thing as orientation.

The concept of sexual identity allows discussions of sex and gender in a manner that is more behavioral, clinical, scientific, or research-oriented. This neutral or impartial approach permits discourse about sexual attraction (and other factors) in a more detached or dispassionate way. This would include objective conversations about sexual behavior from a purely sociological or psychological perspective.

Poll Shows Gen Z Adopting Their Own Labels for Sexuality

Facebook List: 58 Gender Options

Overview of Sexual Orientations

UC Davis: LGBTQ Glossary of Terms

Info: Gender Identity

LGBTQ Video: How You See Me

List of Orientations and Flags

Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic

Psychology Today: Sex-Relevant Terminology

What is Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?

Sexual Orientation Video: Is It a Choice?

Radically Queer

Definitions and Identity

Sexual identity has been described as a component of an individual's overall identity that reflects their sexual self-concept. The integration of the respective identity components (moral, religious, ethnic, occupational) into a greater overall identity is essential to the process of developing the multi-dimensional construct of identity.

Sexual identity can change throughout an individual's life, and may or may not align with biological sex, sexual behavior or actual sexual orientation. In a 1990 study by the Social Organization of Sexuality, only 16% of women and 36% of men who reported some level of same-sex attraction had a homosexual or bisexual identity.

Surge in Sexual Identities

Kids Health: Sexual Orientation

LGBTQ Video: Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

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Research: Sexual Identity

Huff Post: New Orientation to Sex

Sexual Identity Explained

Sexual identity is more closely related to sexual behavior than sexual orientation is. The same survey found that 96% of women and 87% of men with a homosexual or bisexual identity had engaged in sexual activity with someone of the same sex, contrasted to 32% of women and 43% of men who had same-sex attractions.

Upon reviewing the results, the organization commented: "Development of self-identification as homosexual or gay is a psychological and socially complex state, something which, in this society, is achieved only over time, often with considerable personal struggle and self-doubt, not to mention social discomfort."

Facebook List: 58 Gender Options

Guide to Gender and Sexuality Terms

Psychology 101 Video: Sexual Orientation

Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic

Wikipedia: Sexual Orientation

Bill Nye Science Guy: Sexuality and Gender Spectrum

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Video Talk: Aesthetic Attraction

Overview of Sexual Orientations

Variety of Sexualities

In 1976, the French philosopher Michel Foucault made the meticulously researched case that sexuality is a social construct used as a form of control. In the 40 years since, society has been busy constructing sexualities. Alongside the traditional orientations of heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual, a myriad other options now exist in the lexicon, including:

Ambisexual - Similar to bisexual, sexual attraction to both males and females

Pansexual - Gender-blind sexual attraction to all people

Polysexual - Gender-blind sexual attraction to many people
Omnisexual - Similar to pansexual and polysexual, but actively attracted to all genders, rather than gender-blind

Abrosexual -  Someone whose sexuality is fluid (this means that their sexual identity can change)
Gynesexual - Someone who’s sexually attracted to women, females, and femininity (this does not specify the subject’s own gender in the same way as “lesbian” and “heterosexual”)
Androsexual - Sexual attraction towards men, males, and masculinity (this does not specify the subject’s own gender in the same way as “gay male” and “heterosexual”)

Androgynosexual - Sexual attraction to both men and women with an androgynous appearance

Skoliosexual - Sexual attraction to non-cisgender people, including genderqueer, non-binary, and transsexual people and expressions

Asexual - Someone who doesn’t experience sexual attraction

Allosexual - Opposite asexual, term for someone who is not on the asexual spectrum, someone who regularly experiences sexual attraction for others (also: zedsexual)

Demisexual - Sexually attracted to someone based on a strong emotional connection
Graysexual - Occasionally experiencing sexual attraction, but usually not

Cupiosexual - Subset of asexual, describes people who never experience sexual attraction who still desire a sexual relationship

Sapiosexual - Sexually attracted to intelligence
Sociosexual - Comfortable with having sex without any intimacy, closeness or commitment

Objectumsexual - Sexual attraction to inanimate objects
Autosexual - Someone who prefers masturbation to sexual activity with others
Hypersexual - Dysfunctional preoccupation with sexual fantasy

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Research: Sexual Identity

Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation

What is Heteroflexibility?

List of Sexualities

Bisexual vs Pansexual: What's the Difference?

Psychology Today: Sex-Relevant Terminology

List of Orientations and Flags

Androphilia and Gynephilia

Variety of Sexualities

Sexuality Spectrum

Gay|Men

Lesbian|Women
Bi|Bisexual

Pansexual|Polysexual

Ace|Asexuality

Aro|Aromantic

Romantic Orientation

Straight|Heterosexual

Cis|Cisgender

Sexual Diversity

Gender and sexual diversity (GSD), or simply sexual diversity, refers to all the diversities of sex characteristics, sexual orientations and gender identities, without the need to specify each of the identities, behaviors, or characteristics that form this plurality.
 

In the Western world, generally simple classifications are used to describe sexual orientation (heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals), gender identity (transgender and cisgender), and related minorities (intersex), gathered under the acronyms LGBTQ or LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex). However, other cultures have other ways of understanding the sex and gender systems. Over the last few decades, some sexology theories have emerged, such as Kinsey theory and queer theory, proposing that this classification is not enough to describe the sexual complexity in human beings and, even, in other animal species.

For example, some people may feel an intermediate sexual orientation between heterosexual and bisexual (heteroflexible) or between homosexual and bisexual (homoflexible). It may vary over time, too, or include attraction not only towards women and men, but to all the spectrum of sexes and genders (pansexual). In other words, within bisexuality there exists a huge diversity of typologies and preferences that vary from an exclusive heterosexuality to a complete homosexuality (Kinsey scale).
 

Sexual diversity includes intersex people, those born with a variety of intermediate features between women and men. It also includes all transgender identities which do not frame within the binary gender system and, like sexual orientation, may be experienced in different degrees in between cisgender and transgender, such as genderfluid and genderqueer people.

Lastly, sexual diversity also includes asexual people, who feel disinterest in sexual activity; and all those who consider that their identity cannot be defined, such as queer people.

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What is Heteroflexibility?

List of Sexualities

Variety of Sexualities

Andro and Gyno

Andro  -  sexual behavior relevant to men/males/masculinity 

Gyno  -  sexual behavior relevant to women/females/femininity

Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioral science to describe sexual orientation, as an alternative to a gender binary homosexual and heterosexual conceptualization. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to men or masculinity. Gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to women or femininity. Ambiphilia describes the combination of both androphilia and gynephilia in a given individual, or bisexuality.

The terms are objectively (sometimes clinically) used for identifying a person's object of attraction without attributing a sex assignment or gender identity to the person. This can avoid bias inherent in normative conceptualizations of human sexuality, avoid confusion and offense when describing people in non-western cultures, as well as when describing intersex and transgender people, especially those who are nonbinary or otherwise falling outside the gender binary.

Other objective (clinical) shorthand describes sexual interactions (behavior) without reference to sexual orientation or romantic relationships:

MSM   -  men having sex with men

MLM   -  men loving men

WSW  -  women having sex with women

WLW  -  women loving women

Bisexual vs Pansexual: What's the Difference?

TED Talk: Bisexual Invisibility

Sexual Diversity

Psychology Today: Sex-Relevant Terminology

List of Orientations and Flags

Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic

Video Talk: Aesthetic Attraction

Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation

PBS Video: Bisexuality

List of Sexualities

Romantic Identities
 

Heteroromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of the opposite gender
Homoromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of the same gender

Alloromantic - General term for persons who regularly experience romantic attraction (Opposite of aromantic)
Monoromantic - Romantic attraction to members of one sex or gender only

Biromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of either or both genders
Omniromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of any and all genders

Panromantic/Polyromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of any and all genders
Transromantic/Skolioromantic - Romantic attraction towards persons of variant or ambiguous gender or to transgender or intersex persons

Neutroisromantic - Romantic attraction toward persons of neutral or null gender

Demiromantic/Grayromantic - Romantic attraction towards anyone, but only after forming a deep emotional bond with the person

Cupioromantic - Subset of aromantic, describes people who never experience romantic attraction who still desire a romantic relationship

Lithromantic - Feels romantic attraction towards someone, but does not have any desire for those feelings to be reciprocated

Aromantic - Lack of romantic attraction towards anyone

What is Gender Expression?

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Gender Expression vs Gender Identity

Huff Post: Lots of Sexual Identities

BetterHelp: What is the Split Attraction Model

Gender Spectrum: Understanding Gender
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Discussing Orientation: Splitting Sttraction

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Research: Sexual Identity

Amelia Ace: What is the Split Attraction Model

Split Attraction Model

The split attraction model or SAM is a model of attraction used by many ace-spec and aro-spec people to describe their identity. The SAM states that for some people sexual attraction and romantic attraction are two different things. For example, an asexual person may feel romantic attraction, and an aromantic person may feel sexual attraction. In those cases the a-spec person may describe their identity using the SAM in order to express both aspects of their identity.

If someone's sexual and romantic orientation are the same they can simply use one word. For example, one would not have to say "pansexual and panromantic" as they could just say they're pansexual. The exception to this is aroace, which is often said together because only saying one could imply that one is alloromantic asexual or allosexual aromantic or lead to other confusion. Someone whose sexual orientation and romantic orientation don't match might identity as varioriented.

Not all a-spec people use the SAM, and one should not assume that another uses the SAM until the other people says so. Most notably are non-SAM aros, but some people prefer more precise terms include "romantic orientation" (or "romantic orientation labeling," for the personal use of terms like aromantic) and "attraction types," "attraction subtyping," or "differentiating types of attraction." Not everyone who experiences different types of attraction necessarily has a distinct romantic orientation, and not everyone who has a romantic orientation necessarily experiences multiple types of attraction.
 

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Psychology Today: Bisexuality Myths Debunked

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Video: Bisexual Spectrum Explained

Love, Sex, Romance

When discussing issues of sexual identity, four common suffixes are typically utilized: sexual, philic, romantic, gender. Any number of prefixes (homo, hetero, bi, trans, cis, pan, poly, a) might be attached to these suffixes:

sexual - Describing a state or style of sexuality relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals. Related terms include: carnal, coital, erotic, sensual

philic - Comes from the Greek word "philos," which means love. Words that end with philic refer to someone that has a fondness of, attraction to, or love for someone or something. It also means to have a tendency toward someone or something. Related terms include: phile, philia, philo.

romantic - Condition of being romantic. Romantic love is the kind of love related to desire. It is heavily controlled by emotions such a passion. It is the opposite of platonic love, where you have no sexual desires for that person whatsoever. Related terms: affection, expression, sentiment, intimacy, lust.

gender - Socially constructed characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed. Not to be confused with biological sex.
 

Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation

Research: Sexual Identity

Video Talk: Aromantic Spectrum

Asexual Relationships & Romance

Shades of Grayro: Romantic Orientations

Huff Post: Lots of Sexual Identities

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Video: Ace and Aro People in Relationships

What is Heteroflexibility?

Love Panky: Different Kinds of Romantic Orientations

Video Talk: Being Asexual and Biromantic

This is What Sex Feels Like for an Asexual Person

Sexual Behavior: Orientation and Identity

Most definitions of sexual orientation include a psychological component, such as the direction of an individual's erotic desire, or a behavioral component, which focuses on the sex of the individual's sexual partner(s). Some people prefer simply to follow an individual's self-definition or identity.

The APA states that "sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction toward others. It is easily distinguished from other components of sexuality including biological sex, gender identity (the psychological sense of being male or female), and the social gender role (adherence to cultural norms for feminine and masculine behavior). Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality and includes various forms of bisexuality. Bisexual persons can experience sexual, emotional, and affectional attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex. Persons with a homosexual orientation are sometimes referred to as gay (both men and women) or as lesbian (women only). Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and self-concept. Individuals may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors."

Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with identity referring to an individual's conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and orientation referring to "fantasies, attachments and longings." Individuals may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors. People who have a homosexual sexual orientation that does not align with their sexual identity are sometimes referred to as "closeted." The term may, however, reflect a certain cultural context and particular stage of transition in societies which are gradually dealing with integrating sexual minorities.

Gay Defined

Lesbian Defined
Bisexuality Defined

Straight Defined

In studies related to sexual orientation, when dealing with the degree to which a person's sexual attractions, behaviors and identity match, scientists usually use the terms concordance or discordance. Thus, a woman who is attracted to other women, but calls herself heterosexual and only has sexual relations with men, can be said to experience discordance between her sexual orientation (homosexual or lesbian) and her sexual identity and behaviors (heterosexual).

Sexual identity may be more effective in describing a person's perception of his or her own sex, rather than sexual orientation.

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Psychology Today: Sex-Relevant Terminology

Guide to Gender and Sexuality Terms

Sexual Diversity

Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation

Research: Sexual Identity

Video Talk: Aromantic Spectrum

Psychology Today: Bisexuality Myths Debunked

Facebook Gender Options

Asexual Relationships & Romance

Shades of Grayro: Romantic Orientations

Video: Ace and Aro People in Relationships

What is Heteroflexibility?

Love Panky: Different Kinds of Romantic Orientations

Video Talk: Being Asexual and Biromantic

Video Talk: Aesthetic Attraction

This is What Sex Feels Like for an Asexual Person

Miscellaneous Sexualities

The varieties of sexualities are numerous and sometimes unusual or exotic. For purposes of scientific discourse, all types of sexual behaviors are considered, analyzed, and researched without bias or agenda. Here is an example of some of the more obscure sexualities:

Cupiosexuality - Person who never experiences sexual attraction but still desires a sexual relationship. They are considered a type of asexuality.

Sapiosexuality - Person who is sexually attracted to intelligence in other people.

Sociosexuality - Person who is comfortable with having sex without any intimacy, closeness or commitment. They are often involved in sexual activity outside of their committed relationship.

Objectumsexuality - Person who has a sexual attraction to inanimate objects.

Autosexuality - Person who prefers masturbation to sexual activity with others. They are described as having sex with themselves.

Hypersexuality - Person who is a sex addict. It describes someone with a dysfunctional preoccupation with sexual fantasy.

Surge in Sexual Identities

Guide to Gender and Sexuality Terms

Sexual Identity Explained

Bill Nye Science Guy: Sexuality and Gender Spectrum

Overview of Sexual Orientations

Video Talk: Aesthetic Attraction

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Huff Post: Lots of Sexual Identities

Psychology Today: Sex-Relevant Terminology

Pomosexual

Pomosexual refers to someone who denies or does not fit any labels for a particular kind of attraction. A pomosexual person rejects, has an aversion to, or does not fit any sexual orientations such as gay, straight, asexual, bisexual. This can either be because one finds that this arguably more typical way of describing sexual orientation is not applicable to their sense of identity, or because one feels the current vocabulary within the LGBTQ community cannot accurately describe one's own sense of sexual orientation, or because one simply does not wish to describe their orientation. A pomosexual person may or may not feel sexual attraction, but is not interested in specifying whether they feel it, and to whom. They do not want or need a specific label. Pomosexual can be a sexuality by itself, but can also be used as an umbrella term. There are four main "branches" of pomosexuality, which are: Comsexual, Novisexual, Omniacepomo, Cryptosexual.

Comsexual - A sexuality that refers to someone who experiences attraction. It is the opposite of asexual in that way, however it is different from allosexual. Allosexual is an umbrella term, and can refer to anyone, gay, straight, bi, etc, who feels sexual attraction. Comsexual, on the other hand, is a specific identity for someone who feels sexual attraction and can't/doesn't want to specify their identity any farther than that.

Novisexual - A sexuality in which one feels complicated attraction or lack thereof in such a way that it is difficult or impossible to fit into one term. Novisexual falls under the umbrella of pomosexual, which is defined by the idea that one's orientation does not fit into any labels that currently exist, so therefore one chooses not to define one's orientation, or uses an intentionally vague label.

Omniacepomo - When a person is on the asexual spectrum but is unsure where specifically, and has no preference for the gender of their partner. Omniacepomo is a combination of three different words: Omni, indicated both omnisexual and pansexual, showing that this person is attracted to all genders/doesn't have any gender preferences. Ace indicated they are ace-spec. Pomo is short for pomosexual.

Cryptosexual - A sexuality in which one is puzzled by their orientation and as such it cannot be discerned, described or defined using our current English vocabulary or words. There is no pattern to how, when, or to whom one feels or doesn't feel attraction. Any time one attempts to think of a way to describe their orientation, they feel “lost”.

List of Orientations and Flags

Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic

Research: Sexual Identity

Facebook List: 58 Gender Options

Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation

What is Heteroflexibility?

List of Sexualities

What is Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?

Bisexual vs Pansexual: What's the Difference?

Androphilia and Gynephilia

Variety of Sexualities
 

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