Since it’s difficult at times to understand what exactly a sexual orientation is like, here is a brief summary of the main ones. Please notice that there are people who identify with one of these, as well as people who identify with more than one sexual orientation or who don’t feel comfortable with identifying themselves as belonging to one of the following.
Every sexual orientation is valid and people deserve love and appreciation regardless of what they identify with.
This list is especially made for people who need to clear their minds about sexual orientations, whether because they cannot find enough information, or need to think about theirs more.
Remember that you’re valid, and deserve to be respected and loved, regardless of your sexual orientation. If you’re struggling with telling anyone about it, take your time and remember you don’t have to come out if you don’t want to. If you need help or need anyone to talk to, feel free to contact me or to write a comment below.
So, let’s get started with the list:
- Bisexuality: the sexual orientation of a person who can feel attracted in a romantic/erotic way both to male and female individuals.
- Asexuality: lack of sexual desire. Remember that asexual people can still feel attracted in a romantic way to other individuals, but they don’t feel the need to manifest it through sex.
- Gay: a man who’s romantically and/or sexually attracted to another man.
- Pansexuality: a sexual orientation which refers to people who can feel attracted to all genres. This includes males, females, transgender, cisgender and non-binary people.
- Non-binary: people who don’t identify themselves as male or female. This includes people who consider themselves other than male/female, none of them or both.
- Gender fluid: a person who can identify themselves as male/female/neutral/any other non-binary identity in any moment.
- Agender: a person that doesn’t identify themselves as belonging to any of the genres.
- Transgender: a person whose biological sexuality differs from their sexual identity. This includes genderqueer and non-binary people.
- Intersexual: people whose sexual cromosomes, sexual organs and/or secondary sexual characteristics cannot be defined as masculine or feminine.
- Lesbian: a woman who’s romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
- Polyamory: the philosophical concept which allows people to have more than one intimate relationships (both romantic and/or sexual) at the same time, with the consent of all their partners.
- Polysexual: sexual and/or romantic attraction to more than one person.
- Demisexual: a person who can only feel sexually attracted to someone after they’ve built an intimate relationship with them.
- Queer: people whose sexual orientation or identity differs from the heterosexual/cisgender one. A term that refers to gay, lesbian, pansexual, bisexual, asexual, transexual, transgender and/or intersexual people.
Do you have questions, want to know more or have anything to share? Feel free to write it in the comments below!