When it comes to sexual orientation, at least for myself, it has been an evolution of sorts. For many years I considered myself a heterosexual, from birth until I was about 28. That is when I finally admitted to myself and the world that I was gay. There were many years of confusion until I came out. I have evolved more since then. At times I considered myself demisexual because I wasn't into random hookups, preferring someone who I had some connection with.
Sexual orientation can be a complex and personal part of who a person is and their life as a whole. It refers to how a person identifies themselves in terms of romantic or sexual attraction towards others. Sexual orientation is about who you are attracted to and who you seek relationships with.
Here are some common terms used to describe sexual orientation based on Gender Attraction
Heterosexual - attracted to people of the opposite sex
Homosexual - attracted to people of the same sex
Gay - typically refers to men attracted to other men
Lesbian - typically refers to women attracted to other women
Bisexual - attracted to both men and women
Pansexual - attracted to people regardless of their gender orientation
Terms based on Sexual Attraction
Asexual - not experiencing sexual attraction
Demisexual - only experiencing sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional connection
Other Terms for types of sexual identities
Omnisexual - attracted to people of all genders, but not necessarily equally
Sapiosexual - attracted to intelligence
Lithosexual - romantically attracted to people but not sexually attracted
It's important to remember that these are just a few common terms, and sexual orientation is a spectrum. Many people may not fit neatly into one category. Additionally, sexual orientation can change over time as individuals explore their feelings and experiences. Each type listed in this blog can have its spectrum. Some asexuals do have some sexual attraction and the degree can be different for each person. There are no set-in-stone rules for any sexual orientation. No one person has the right to gatekeep how you have to act or be as a person based on how you identify sexually.
We will be expanding in future blogs about each type of sexual orientation briefly mentioned in this blog. Properly discussing each deserves to be done in more detail than a single blog can do. I am no expert on any of them so this allows me to expand my knowledge and better understand other points of view and sexual identities. Stay tuned for the next in this series.
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