"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."
A person's emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to others, which may be directed towards the same or different genders.
Sexual orientation: This refers to an individual's sexual attraction towards a particular gender.
Gender identity: Refers to an individual's sense of being male, female or non-binary.
Gender expression: This refers to the way an individual presents their gender to the world through clothing, behavior, and other such means.
Sexual orientation and disability: The challenges faced by individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities in acknowledging, exploring and expressing their sexual orientation.
Discrimination and prejudice: The societal attitudes and practices that lead to discrimination and prejudice against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Intersectionality: The ways in which different aspects of an individual's identity (such as race, class, disability) intersect with their sexual orientation and gender identity to shape their experiences.
LGBTQ+ history: The history of the LGBTQ+ community, its struggles and victories, and how those have shaped our current social and political landscape.
Coming out: The process through which an individual acknowledges and reveals their sexual orientation and/or gender identity to themselves and others.
Queer theory: A field of study that explores how societal constructs of gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation are created and maintained, and how they can be disrupted and dismantled.
Transgender studies: An area of study that focuses on the experiences of transgender individuals and the societal attitudes towards them.
LGBTQ+ representation in media and literature: The portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals in popular culture, media and literature, the impact it has on the community, and the importance of representation.
Health issues facing the LGBTQ+ community: The health disparities faced by individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, such as higher rates of mental health issues and certain physical health problems.
Politics and law: The legal and political struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including attempts to limit their rights and protections.
Religion and LGBTQ+ identities: The relationship between religion and the LGBTQ+ community, including the impact of religious beliefs on acceptance and the struggle for equal rights.
LGBTQ+ activism: The role of activism in the LGBTQ+ community, including historical and current movements, as well as intersectional activism.
Gender-affirming healthcare: The specific healthcare needs of individuals who identify as transgender and non-binary.
Sexual orientation and culture: The impact of cultural values on sexual orientation and how cultural attitudes towards sexual orientation change over time.
heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite gender.
homosexual: Attraction to the same gender.
bisexual: Attraction to both the same and opposite genders.
pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of gender identity.
asexual: Little to no sexual attraction to other individuals.
demisexual: Sexual attraction only after developing an emotional bond with someone.
graysexual or gray-ace: Experiences limited or low levels of sexual attraction.
queer: A non-heterosexual and non-cisgender identity that can encompass various sexual orientations.
questioning: Uncertainty or exploration of one's sexual orientation.
omnisexual: Attraction to all genders but does not fall under the category of pansexual.
skoliosexual: Attraction to non-cisgender people.
"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."