"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 pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to individuals of a particular gender or both genders.
Biology and genetics: The study of how biology and genetics influence sexual orientation.
Social and Cultural Factors: The study of social and cultural factors that shape sexual orientation, including cultural norms, family values, and religious beliefs.
Theories of Sexual Orientation: The study of various theories on sexual orientation, including biological and psychological theories.
Sex and Gender: The study of how gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex influence sexual orientation.
Sexual Identity: The concept of sexual identity and how it can differ from sexual orientation.
Historical Perspectives: The study of how sexual orientation has been viewed throughout history and how it has changed over time.
Prejudice and Discrimination: The study of how prejudice and discrimination impact sexual minorities, including LGBT people.
Mental Health: The study of the mental health issues faced by sexual minorities, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Psychological Interventions: The study of psychological interventions aimed at helping sexual minorities cope with discrimination and mental health issues.
Legal Issues: The study of legal issues facing sexual minorities, including marriage equality and discrimination protection.
Heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite sex.
Homosexual: Attraction to the same sex.
Bisexual: Attraction to both men and women.
Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
Asexual: Lack of sexual attraction towards others.
Demisexual: Experiencing sexual attraction only after forming a strong emotional bond.
Graysexual: Experiencing limited sexual attraction or desire.
Polysexual: Attraction to multiple genders or sexes, but not all.
Skoliosexual: Attraction to non-binary or genderqueer individuals.
Androsexual: Attraction to men or masculinity, regardless of gender identity.
Gynosexual: Attraction to women or femininity, regardless of gender identity.
Queer: An umbrella term sometimes used to describe sexual orientations outside of the heteronormative spectrum.
"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."