A Simple Guide To Understanding Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is a term to describe who you¡¯re attracted to and who you feel drawn to romantically, emotionally, and sexually.

Sexuality is an important part of who we are as humans, and how we see ourselves. It is beyond the discussion of reproduction and is an expression of how we relate to others.

The discussion on gender and sexual orientation is becoming mainstream, and efforts are made to make society more inclusive, we are being introduced to new terms that express sexual orientation.

Interestingly, scientists are still trying to understand the origins and causes of sexual orientation. They hit their first breakthrough when they unearthed the grave of what may be the remains of the oldest known homosexual or transgender man in the Czech Republic.

The prehistoric body dates to the Copper age -- or 2900 to 2500 years ago -- and was buried in a manner that was typically reserved for women.

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Due to a lack of awareness and education on sexuality in schools, people are often oblivious to different types of sexualities that exist.

Who are pansexuals? Who is queer? These are only some of the questions most people wonder about. So, here's a quick lowdown on categories of sexual orientation:

Heterosexual (straight) - describes a person who is attracted only or almost only to the "other" gender.

Homosexual (gay, lesbian, queer) - describes a person attracted only or almost only to those of the same gender.

Bisexual - describes a person attracted to both men and women, though not necessarily equally or at the same time.

Pansexual (or omnisexual) - describes a person attracted to those of any gender.

Asexual - describes someone not sexually attracted to any gender. This is different from deciding not to have sex with anyone (abstinence or celibacy).

What is queer?

Queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or are not cisgender -- a person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.

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It embraces a matrix of sexual preferences, gender expressions, and habits that are not of the heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary majority.

Also, sexual orientation is fluid and ever-evolving, and many people discover more about their sexual orientation over time. A girl may be attracted to boys in school, but later on, they may find themselves to be more attracted romantically and sexually to members of their own gender.

It¡¯s also important to note that some people don't think any of these labels describe them accurately. Some people don't like the idea of labels at all.

The Human Rights Campaign further simplifies the understanding of common terms related to gender, identity, and orientation:

Asexual

The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.

Biphobia

The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.

Cisgender

A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Coming Out

The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts, and appreciates their sexual orientation or gender identity and begins to share that with others.

Gay

A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. Men, women, and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves.

Gender binary

A system in which gender is constructed into two strict categories of male or female.

Gender-expansive

A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.

Gender-fluid

A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender or has a fluid or unfixed gender identity.

Gender non-conforming

A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category.

Homophobia

The fear and hatred of or discomfort with people who are attracted to members of the same sex.

Intersex

Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy.

Lesbian

A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to other women.

LGBTQ

An acronym for ¡°lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.¡±

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation.