What Is Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation?
Human sexuality is complex. Sexual identity is the degree to which we identify with the social and biological aspects of being a man or a woman. Many men and women identify primarily with their biological sex but transgendered people identify more with the biological and social characteristics of the other gender. An integral part of sexual identity is sexual orientation, which essentially is defined by who we are emotionally and/or physically attracted to. A person’s sexual orientation can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or questioning. All of these sexual orientations are considered to be normal by all prominent mental health organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. Conservatively, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people represent at least 10% of the total population.
Sexual identity is the degree to which one identifies with the social and biological aspects of being a man or a woman. Most people identify primarily with their biological sex but transgendered people identify more with the biological and social characteristics of the other gender. Sexual orientation is defined by a person’s emotional, romantic and sexual attraction to another. Heterosexuals are people whose sexual and romantic feelings are for people of the opposite sex. Homosexual (or gay and lesbian) are people whose sexual and romantic feelings are for those of the same sex. Lesbians are women who are homosexual. Bisexual (or bi) refers to people whose sexual and romantic feelings are for people of both sexes. People in a period of exploration or possible transition might be called “questioning.
Related Questions
- Does discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity occur against persons in South Bend?
- Why is it Important for society to be better educated about sexual orientation and gender identity?
- What is gender identity and expression and how does it differ from sex and sexual orientation?
