Sexual Orientations

A

Androsexual

Androsexual refers to individuals who are sexually attracted to men, males, and/or masculinity, regardless of their own gender identity. This term is often used by people who want to express their attraction without specifying their own gender or who don't identify with more traditional labels like gay or straight.

Aromantic

Aromantic (often shortened to "aro") describes someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction towards others and generally does not desire romantic relationships, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This orientation is distinct from asexuality, as romantic and sexual attraction are separate aspects of human relationships and identity.

Asexual-spectrum

The asexual spectrum, also known as "ace spectrum," encompasses a range of sexual orientations characterized by experiencing limited or no sexual attraction to others, including asexuality, demisexuality, and gray-asexuality. People on the ace spectrum may experience varying levels of sexual attraction, romantic attraction, or neither, while still forming meaningful relationships and experiencing intimacy in ways that feel authentic to them.

Asexual

Asexuality refers to individuals who experience little to no sexual attraction towards others, regardless of gender, though they may still form romantic, emotional, or intimate relationships. While asexual people may engage in sexual activity for various reasons, they generally don't feel an intrinsic desire for sexual interactions with others.

Autosexual

Autosexuality refers to experiencing sexual attraction primarily or exclusively to oneself, including finding oneself sexually arousing or preferring solo sexual activities over partnered experiences. This orientation exists on a spectrum and can coexist with other forms of sexual attraction.

B

Bicurious

Bicurious describes someone who primarily identifies as heterosexual but is interested in exploring romantic or sexual experiences with people of the same gender, or someone who is questioning whether they might be bisexual. This term often refers to a period of exploration and questioning of one's sexual orientation, particularly when someone is beginning to acknowledge potential attraction to more than one gender.

Bisexual

Bisexuality refers to the capacity for romantic and/or sexual attraction to more than one gender, typically both one's own gender and other genders. While some bisexual people may experience attraction to different genders in similar ways, others might feel varying levels or types of attraction across the gender spectrum.

D

Demisexual

Demisexual is a sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum, describing individuals who only experience sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond with someone. Demisexual people may experience little to no sexual attraction to others initially, and their sexual desires typically only emerge within the context of a close, intimate relationship.

Demisexuality

Demisexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by the inability to experience sexual attraction to someone without first forming a strong emotional connection. Individuals who identify as demisexual typically do not experience primary attraction (based on immediately observable characteristics) but may develop secondary attraction (based on personality, experiences, and emotional connection) over time.

E

Erotic Plasticity

Erotic plasticity refers to the degree to which a person's sexual attitudes, behaviors, and desires can be shaped and changed by cultural, social, and situational factors. It suggests that sexuality is not entirely fixed but can be influenced and molded by external forces and personal experiences throughout one's lifetime.

F

Fraysexual

Fraysexual refers to a sexual orientation where a person experiences sexual attraction towards someone only until they develop a deep emotional connection or bond with them. As the emotional intimacy grows, the sexual attraction fades or disappears entirely. This orientation is considered part of the asexual spectrum.

G

Graysexual

Graysexual, also known as gray-asexual or gray-A, refers to a sexual orientation on the asexuality spectrum. Individuals who identify as graysexual typically experience sexual attraction rarely, with low intensity, or only under specific circumstances. This orientation falls between asexuality (experiencing no sexual attraction) and allosexuality (experiencing regular sexual attraction).

Gynesexual

Gynesexual, also known as gynosexual or gynephilic, refers to a sexual orientation characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to women, femininity, and/or female anatomy, regardless of whether the object of attraction was assigned female at birth. This term is used to describe the attraction itself, rather than the gender identity of the person experiencing the attraction.

H

Heteroflexible

Heteroflexible refers to a sexual orientation where a person is primarily attracted to the opposite sex but occasionally experiences attraction to or engages in sexual behavior with the same sex. This term describes individuals who generally identify as heterosexual but acknowledge some level of same-sex attraction or openness to same-sex experiences.

Homoflexible

Homoflexible is a term used to describe individuals who primarily experience same-sex attraction but occasionally feel attracted to or engage in sexual behavior with people of a different gender. This orientation falls on the spectrum between homosexuality and bisexuality, acknowledging that sexuality can be fluid and complex.

K

Kinsey Scale

The Kinsey Scale, also known as the Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale, is a tool developed by Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues in the 1940s to describe a person's sexual orientation. It uses a scale from 0 to 6, where 0 represents exclusively heterosexual behavior and 6 represents exclusively homosexual behavior. The scale acknowledges that sexuality exists on a spectrum rather than in rigid categories.

O

Omnisexual

Omnisexual refers to individuals who are attracted to people of all genders and sexual orientations. The term comes from the Latin prefix "omni-" meaning "all" or "every." Omnisexual people experience sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or expression. Unlike pansexuality, which often implies gender-blindness, omnisexuality recognizes and can be influenced by gender, but it doesn't limit attraction.

P

Pansexual

Pansexual refers to a sexual orientation where an individual experiences sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction to people regardless of their sex, gender identity, or gender expression. Pansexuality emphasizes attraction based on personality and individual qualities rather than limiting attraction based on biological sex or gender.

Pillow princess

A pillow princess refers to someone (typically feminine-presenting) who prefers to receive sexual pleasure rather than give it during intimate encounters, often remaining relatively passive while their partner takes a more active role in providing stimulation and satisfaction.

Polysexual

Polysexual refers to individuals who are attracted to multiple, but not necessarily all, genders. This sexual orientation falls under the multisexual umbrella, which includes orientations attracted to more than one gender. Polysexual people may experience attraction to various gender identities, but unlike pansexuals, they may not be attracted to all genders.

S

Sapiosexual

Sapiosexual refers to a person who finds intelligence to be the most sexually attractive feature in others. This orientation emphasizes mental stimulation as a primary source of attraction, often prioritizing intellectual connection over physical appearance or other attributes. Sapiosexuals may experience sexual desire and arousal primarily through engaging in deep, thought-provoking conversations or witnessing displays of knowledge and wit.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation refers to an individual's enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, both genders, multiple genders, or no genders. It's an inherent aspect of a person's identity and is generally considered to be on a spectrum rather than strictly defined categories.