"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 ways in which people express and experience themselves sexually, which can be influenced by gender and other identities.
Gender identity: This topic refers to the gender that an individual identifies with, which may or may not align with their biological sex.
Sexual orientation: This topic pertains to an individual's sexual attraction toward others, including but not limited to heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual orientations.
Feminism: This is a political movement advocating for the rights of women and equality between the sexes.
Intersectionality: This topic examines how various forms of oppression, such as gender, race and class, intersect and influence one another.
Sex hormones: This topic explores the biology of hormones and their influence on sexual development and behavior.
Sex education: This topic discusses the various methods of sexual education and their importance in promoting healthy sexual development.
Reproductive rights: This topic pertains to an individual's right to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Sexual health: This topic examines the various aspects of sexual health, including safe sex practices, sexual dysfunction, and sexually transmitted infections.
Sexual violence: This topic explores the various forms of sexual violence and the impacts they have on survivors.
Gender roles: This topic examines the societal expectations placed on individuals based on their gender identity.
Sex work: This topic pertains to some people's involvement in sex work and the intersection with issues related to exploitation, regulation and criminalization.
Transgender rights: This topic discusses the specific challenges faced by transgender individuals in society and their rights to gender affirmation and protection.
Sexuality in media: This topic examines the way sexual content is portrayed in different forms of media and its impact on individuals and society.
Same-sex marriage: This topic explores the political and social debates surrounding the legality and recognition of marriage between same-sex couples.
Homophobia and transphobia: This topic discusses the prejudice and discrimination faced by individuals who identify as LGBT, along with the detrimental effects these attitudes have on society as a whole.
"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."