10.4 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Defined as an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to members of the same gender, the opposite gender, or multiple genders.
Categories include:
- Heterosexuality: Attraction to the opposite sex.
  - Definition: "An enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to persons of the opposite sex."
  - Commonly referred to as 'straight'.
- Homosexuality: Attraction to the same sex.
  - Definition: "An enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to people of the same sex."
  - Terms: 'lesbian' (female) and 'gay' (male), with 'gay' also used for both genders.
- Bisexuality: Attraction to both genders.
  - Can also refer to attraction to any gender or sex, known as pansexuality.
- Asexuality: Lack of sexual attraction to others, sometimes considered a fourth category.

Definitions can be complicated and socially influenced.
Majority identify as heterosexual, but sizable populations in the U.S. are homosexual or bisexual.
- Research estimates that 3% to 10% identify as homosexual.
  - References include Kinsey et al. (1948), LeVay (1996), and Pillard & Bailey (1995).

Historical perspective: early beliefs attributed orientation to socialization and family experiences.
Research shows similarities in family backgrounds for both heterosexuals and homosexuals.
Scientific inquiry points towards biological influences:
- Genetic contributions have been evidenced over 25 years of research.
  - Studies estimating genes account for at least 50% variability in orientation include Bailey & Pillard (1991), Hamer et al. (1993), Rodriguez-Larralde & Paradisi (2009).
- Brain structure/function differences noted between orientations.
  - Key studies include Allen & Gorski (1992), Byne et al. (2001), Hu et al. (2008), and LeVay (1991).
- Changes in basic body structure/function also documented.
  - Research by Hall & Kimura (1994) and others from 2000-2008.

Orientation is not a choice; it is an inherent, stable characteristic.
Misconceptions persist regarding conversion therapies.
- Research critiques have branded successful gay conversion therapy claims as unreliable.
- Notable recant by Dr. Robert Spitzer in 2012, acknowledging flaws in his earlier research supporting conversion therapy.
  - Spitzer's apology: "I now judge the major critiques of the study as largely correct…"
Legislative actions are ongoing to outlaw conversion therapies deemed damaging, e.g., grounding laws in places like California.

Common misconceptions exist that conflate sexual orientation with gender identity.
Gender identity is about self-identification as male, female, or otherwise.
Gender dysphoria is a recognized diagnostic condition characterized by distress due to mismatch between assigned gender and gender identity.
- To be diagnosed, distress must persist for at least six months.
- Children must express desire for a different gender identity verbally.

Cisgender: Identity aligns with birth sex.
Transgender: Identity does not align with birth sex.
- Approximately 1.4 million U.S. adults (0.6%) are transgender.

Gender and its expression is deeply cultural; influenced significantly by sociocultural norms.
Gender identity can be diverse: includes woman, man, genderqueer identities.
Gender expression is based on gender norms (clothing, behavior, etc.).
- Recognized as a spectrum rather than a binary concept.
- Vocabulary limitations persist in representing gender diversity.

Different cultures have distinct attitudes towards gender and sexuality.
- Example: In New Guinea, periods of same-sex interactions are part of male socialization.
In the U.S., predominant binary classification of gender (male/female).
- Other cultures (e.g., Thailand) recognize additional genders such as kathoey, similar to intersex or transgender classifications elsewhere.