Sexual Orientation, Identity, and Attraction

[Shadowhunter]

Are you familiar with all the terms of sexual orientation and identity?

From eras of trying to pretend homosexuality didn't exist to the battle of homosexuality vs. heterosexuality and choosing one or the other, the times have rapidly changed. Now society is becoming more educated and people are learning that both men and women can be homosexuals, sexual orientation is not anyone's deliberate choice anymore than being heterosexual is, and that homosexuality is not a contagious life threatening disease (lol). To add to this, we are still learning about bisexuality, transgender identities, asexuality, and more.

Many of these are becoming just as popularly portrayed in the media as heterosexual relationships are. However, there are still a great deal of sexual identities that are overlooked, targeted by hate groups, and belittled as non-existent or attention seeking just as homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders once were (and often still are).


Little known fact: Many people can engage in a normal relationship with a member of the opposite sex and still maintain feelings of sexual orientations other than heterosexuality and whether in a relationship or not, many can identify with more than one sexual identity.



Because a lot of these acronyms and abbreviations can be a bit confusing, here's a little guide to help with your confusion. Though there may be some surprisingly new information here that might confuse you more......



Lesbian: A female-identified person who is attracted romantically, physically, or emotionally to another female-identified person.

Gay: A male-identified person who is attracted romantically, physically, or emotionally to another male-identified person. However, this term can sometimes loosely apply to lesbian relationships as well.

Bisexual: A person who is attracted romantically, sexually, and/or emotionally to both men and women. Some also use this term to define attraction to more than one gender or sex. Many bisexuals may identify more strongly with one particular sex and/or gender than the other or others.

Transgender: A person who identifies as a member of a gender other than that expected based on anatomical sex and dresses or presents themselves as such. This is not the same thing as cross-dressing. Cross-dressers mostly identify as "straight"; some members of the LGBT+ community may participate in cross-dressing as well, but not all will.

Transsexual: A person who has physically altered their anatomy to better match their gender identity.

Queer: An umbrella term which embraces a variety of sexual preferences, orientations, and habits of those who do not adhere to the heterosexual and cisgender majority. The term queer includes, but is not exclusive to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transpeople, and intersex persons. Traditionally, this term is derogatory and hurtful. However, many people who do not adhere to sexual and/or gender norms use it to self-identify in a positive way. It is also often used as a general term in place of "LGBTQQIA+" though again, some still find this term offensive.

Intersex: Someone whose physical sex characteristics or organs are not categorized as exclusively male or exclusively female, but a mix of both.

Androgynous: A person who displays both female and male physical characteristics and traits to the point that their gender cannot be easily identified. Many models are sought out especially for this.

Hermaphrodite: A person who has the reproductive organs or other sexual characteristics typically associated with both male and female sexes. This is generally an offensive term.


Cisgender: A person who identifies with the gender they were assigned/identified as at birth.

Third Gender & Third Sex: A person who is not categorized as either male or female and/or is recognized as multiple genders.

Kink: A person who enjoys consensual engaging of bondage and discipline, dominance-submission and/or sado-masochism, as well as those with an incredibly diverse set of fetishes and preferences.

Asexual: A person who is not sexually attracted to others. Many can be emotionally attracted to others and some do engage in sexual activity and do not see activities such as masturbation or the ability to engage sexually as a sign of latent sexuality. This is also an umbrella term that includes other terms.

Demisexual: A person who does not develop feelings of sexual attraction to someone unless they first develop a strong emotional and/or romantic connection.

Greysexual: Someone who falls in-between asexuality and non-asexuality, sometimes experiencing sexual attraction and desire, but usually not.

Pansexual: A person who can develop feelings of sexual attraction for anyone regardless of where they stand in terms of gender and/or sexuality.

Aromantic: Someone who does not experience romantic attraction.

Heteromantic: Someone who experiences romantic attraction to others who identify in the opposite gender.

Homoromantic: Someone who experiences romantic attraction to others who identify in the same gender as they do.

Panromantic: A person who can develop feelings of romantic attraction for anyone regardless of where they stand in terms of gender and/or sexuality.

Biromantic: A person who is romantically attracted to members of two different sexes or genders.

Polyamory: A person who has sexual, intimate, and/or romantic relationships with more than one person at the same time while all parties are knowledgeable and consenting. (No knowledge and consent = cheating! And yes, people in a polyamorous relationship may cheat just the same as monogamous couples may.)

Monogamy: A person who has a sexual, intimate, and/or romantic relationship with only one person at a time or during their lifetime.

Ally: A person who does not identify as LGBTQIA+, but supports the rights and safety of those who do.

Questioning/Unidentified: A person who is still exploring their sexuality and/or has not identified their sexual orientation yet.

Popular prefixes: bi ? (two, both) with pan- (all), poly- (many), omni- (all), ambi- (both, usually implying ambiguity)

Fluid: A person whose attractions exist in a state of flux and change over time.




*Note: These are not fixed rules of attraction or sexuality by any means and these "labels" are not meant to stereotype or limit anyone's feelings. This is merely the general ideas of some of the most popular terms for educational purposes in the hopes that the more we learn, the more we can understand and be accepting of others and ourselves. Each person may identify with a particular "label" in their own way, to their own extents. No hard and fast rules; the point behind these communities is support!

​

*Note: The views expressed in this post are those of Shadowhunter, as a separate person, and does not necessarily reflect that of the staff or the website www.RealTrini.com as the TriniMotors forums are open to discussion on all opinions and welcome everyone to post their views.

 

[nirtime]

Oh wow, I did not even know all of these various forms existed! I never put effort into researching the true meaning of some of these terms, now I know them! Great write up and I love how its just to the point.

 

[LadyDeath]

Wow thank you so much Shadow ! I knew most of the terms but i am glad now that you have informed us about all.

Doesn't matter about what race, gender, sexuality etc. i believe in Equality for all ! We live in a modern world today and although i am not accustomed or comfortable with seeing gays lesbians , trans etc. i accept it . The faster we can accept these things, the world will move on .

 

[Shadowhunter]

I'm so glad this information is proving useful. Believe it or not, this does not cover all the terms lol I came across a lot of new ones but figured it might get too confusing.

I support people identifying and expressing themselves however they feel comfortable. I don't think everyone fits in the same standard box and the more open society is to individual differences, the easier it becomes for people to accept themselves and each other. I also hope that the more people understand these relatively new and often confusing concepts, the lower the chances of them judging, criticizing, discriminating against, and/or bullying anyone who does not identify exactly as they do.

 

[LadyDeath]

Yep i find these are little things that keep the world down. Too much hurt, freight and pain. In modern times now we need to accept things different from the 'old norm'. I might not affect us directly , but , we have to understand there are people that are different form us that are hurting or want to open up. We have to let them know its okay to be different.

These people can be the future peacemakers, presidents, doctors etc. that can change the world. Banning of these terms in a country will only make society worse.

 

[nirtime]

A lot of the hurt and hatred is driven by misunderstanding and misconceptation.

This post acts as a stepping stone in a way.

 

[Shadowhunter]

I'm really glad I did more research on these terms because as open-minded as I thought I was on this topic, I was still genuinely surprised by the great differences between some and in learning of the new existences of others. I now know that some terms are mistakenly used interchangeably as well.

Part of the research involved material from people who identify as one or some of these terms and many who are trying to figure out how to identify themselves in a world where they don't feel like they mirror what is perceived as the standard Jane or Joe. I think many times, we expect our definition of something [or the definition of what we are taught] to be the norm. This could be why people are stereotyped as having the "look" of a particular race or ethnicity, which also applies to sexual identities eg. tomboyish girls (or any girl who has very short hair, baggy clothes, or does not fit with stereotypical feminine standards) being called "butch" (lesbians) or strong burly men (or any man who does not act effeminate or display stereotypical gay tendencies) seeming too "normal" and not being "gay enough" regardless of what the person's actual sexual orientation is or how they identify.

 

[nirtime]

Its not so much our individual definition but rather what set of beliefs we choose to follow. There will always be those who lead and refuse to follow, they may eventually lead to new forms identity and even more categories may develop over time.

But really and truly, a lot of things people do in the mainstream its just so they can fit in and not be discriminated against or looked at differently.

 

[Shadowhunter]

True. I think the different forms of identity are good, especially with terms that acknowledge fluidity or uncertainty so it's harder for anyone to feel left out or that they don't belong. For many, a sense of belonging can be a major factor in how they see themselves and go forth in the world.

 

[nirtime]

I believe the education system needs to be more sensitized to differences in individuals especially these days .As the thread highlighted so evidently, sexual orientation is a large and diverse topic with many complexities. Its so easy to cause permanent damage to youths who may be different from the rest.

 

[Shadowhunter]

Agreed. I think globally, we have made great strides in accepting others and embracing our differences. In Trinidad specifically, not so much. LGBT sexual relations are actually illegal here, just not usually enforced. Even so, it says something that we would have such laws in existence anyway. Non-consensual sexual relations between anyone I can understand, but those in relationships other than the norm should be acknowledged, valued, and protected the same as anyone else.

 

[BrotherHood]

Well well....
This was quite informative and educational..
But..... WTF @ Third Gender.. LOL.

To each their own yes.

 

[Shadowhunter]

Well well....
This was quite informative and educational..
But..... WTF @ Third Gender.. LOL.

To each their own yes.

We learn something every day man lol