Sexual Orientation: Meaning, Types, and Key Differences
Sexual orientation describes a person’s enduring pattern of romantic, emotional, and sexual attraction and how it differs from gender identity and behavior.
Sexual orientation describes a person’s enduring pattern of romantic, emotional, and sexual attraction and how it differs from gender identity and behavior.
Binary describes a system divided into two categories. In gender discussions, it commonly refers to classifying everyone exclusively as a man or woman.
Gender-neutral attraction describes attraction that is expressed or experienced without gender acting as its central limit or deciding factor.
Gender-blind romantic describes romantic attraction in which gender does not limit who may become a romantic interest.
Transphobia is prejudice, hostility, stereotyping, or discrimination directed toward transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people.
Queer is a flexible identity and umbrella term for some people whose sexuality, gender, or relationships differ from heterosexual or cisgender norms.
Cisnormativity is the assumption that everyone is cisgender or that cisgender identities, bodies, and experiences should be treated as the expected standard.
LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning, bringing together distinct sexual orientations, gender identities, and communities.
Deadnaming is the use of a transgender or gender-diverse person’s former name, whether accidentally or as intentional identity denial, exposure, or harassment.
Gender-neutral describes language, policies, products, or spaces that avoid unnecessary gender assumptions while preserving accuracy and individual identity.