"Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender."
The emotional, romantic or sexual attraction a person experiences towards another person.
Sexual Identity: This refers to an individual's sense of self-identification with regard to their sexual orientation.
Biological Factors: These are the physical and genetic factors that influence an individual's sexual orientation.
Social Factors: These are the external factors that influence an individual's sexual orientation, such as cultural norms, social norms, and peer pressure.
Sexual Fluidity: This refers to the concept that an individual's sexual orientation may change or shift over time.
Gender Identity: This refers to an individual's sense of self-identification with regard to their gender.
Gender Expression: This refers to the outward display of gender, such as behavior, clothing choices, and other nonverbal cues.
Intersex: This refers to individuals born with physical sex characteristics that are not clearly male or female.
LGBTQ+ History: This refers to the historical events and milestones that shaped the LGBTQ+ community and their struggle for equal rights.
Homophobia: This refers to negative attitudes, fear, and discrimination against individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
Transphobia: This refers to negative attitudes, fear, and discrimination against individuals who identify as transgender.
Coming out: This refers to the process of disclosing one's sexual orientation or gender identity to friends, family, and others.
Sexual Health: This refers to the physical, emotional, and mental well-being related to sexual activity.
Gender Roles: This refers to the expectations and norms surrounding the behavior, attitudes, and responsibilities of men and women in a given society.
Intersectionality: This refers to the concept that an individual's identity is a complex intersection of multiple factors, including gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation.
Heteronormativity: This refers to the assumption that heterosexuality is the default and normative sexual orientation.
Heterosexual: An individual who is attracted to people of the opposite sex or gender.
Homosexual: An individual who is attracted to people of the same sex or gender.
Bisexual: An individual who is attracted to people of both sexes or genders.
Pansexual: An individual who is attracted to people regardless of their sex, gender, or gender identity.
Asexual: An individual who does not experience sexual attraction to others or has a lack of sexual interest or desire.
Demisexual: An individual who experiences sexual attraction only after developing an emotional connection or bond with someone.
Graysexual: An individual who identifies as being somewhere between asexual and sexual.
Queer: A term that applies to those who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender, or those who reject labels altogether.
Androsexual: An individual who is attracted to masculinity or male characteristics, regardless of the gender identity of the person.
Gynesexual: An individual who is attracted to femininity or female characteristics, regardless of the gender identity of the person.
"Asexuality (the lack of sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified as the fourth category."
"People may use other labels, such as pansexual or polysexual, or none at all."
"Sexual orientation 'also refers to a person's sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions.'"
"Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity."
"Sexual preference largely overlaps with sexual orientation but is generally distinguished in psychological research. A person who identifies as bisexual, for example, may sexually prefer one sex over the other."
"Scientists theorize that it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences."
"Scientists favor biologically based theories as there is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial, biological causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males."
"There is no substantive evidence which suggests parenting or early childhood experiences play a role with regard to sexual orientation."
"Across cultures, most people are heterosexual, with a minority of people having a homosexual or bisexual orientation."
"A person's sexual orientation can be anywhere on a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex."
"Sexual orientation is studied primarily within biology, anthropology, and psychology (including sexology)."
"It is also a subject area in sociology, history (including social constructionist perspectives), and law."
"These attractions are generally subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality."
"Sexual preference may suggest a degree of voluntary choice, whereas sexual orientation is not a choice."
"Scientists theorize that it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences."
"There is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial, biological causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males."
"There is no substantive evidence which suggests parenting or early childhood experiences play a role with regard to sexual orientation."
"Asexuality (the lack of sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified as the fourth category."
"A person's sexual orientation can be anywhere on a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex."