CHAPTER 3: SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION

Sexual Orientation

Is a term used to refer to a person’s pattern of emotional, romantic, and sexual orientation to people

3 basic types of sexual orientation

1. Monosexuality

2. polysexuality

3. Asexuality

Monosexuality

Sexually and / or romantically attracted to only one sex or gender

1. Gay → A man attracted towards the same sex (M2M)

2. Lesbian → A woman attracted towards the same sex (W2W)

3. Straight → It is where the a specific sex is attracted towards the opposite sex of they are (M2F, F2M)

Gay

• An inclusive term for people physically, romantically, or emotionally attracted to the same gender.

• It is frequently used as a specific label for men attracted to men.

Lesbian

A woman (or nonbinary person connected to womanhood) who has a physical, romantic, or emotional attraction to other women.

Straight

• Is often known as being “heterosexual.”

• Refers to experiencing physical, emotional, or romantic attraction to people of a different gender or the "opposite" sex.

Polysexuality

People who are attracted to member of multiple genders

1. Bisexual → attracted to two genders, specifically one’s opposite sex and another (male and female)

2. Pansexual → attracted to people across the entire gender spectrum, including men, women, transgender, non-binary, and agender individuals (focuses more on the emotional aspects rather than physical)

3. Queer → people who have sexual or gender identities other than heterosexual and cisgender (Historically meant “unusual or peculiar”)

Bisexual

Refers to someone who feels romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to more than one gender

Pansexual

Refers to experiencing sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction to people regardless of their sex, gender identity, or biological sex.

Queer

It is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities whose identities do not conform to traditional, heterosexual, or cisgender norms.

Asexuality

A term used to describe someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction towards any individuals

Part of the ACE spectrum:

1. Aromantic → people who feel little to no romantic attraction at all.

2. Demisexual → only feels sexual attraction after they form a deep emotional bond with someone.

3. Gray-asexual / aromantic → This means a person feels sexual or romantic attraction very rarely or only under special conditions

Aromantic

People generally do not experience romantic attraction or "fall in love" in the traditional romantic sense— Often shortened to "aro."

Demisexual

A sexual orientation where a person only feels sexual attraction to someone after they form a deep emotional connection.

Gray-asexual / aromantic

Refers to someone who rarely experiences sexual attraction or under specific circumstances, while experiencing little to no romantic attraction to anyone.

Gender Identity

Is your deeply-held inner feelings of whether you are a female or male, both, or neither (ex. gender-fluid, agender, bigender)

Gender Expressions

Is how a person present gender outwardly, through behaviour, clothing, voice or other perceived characteristics

Transgender

Is an umbrella term for person whose gender identity, gender expression or behaviour does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth