Sexual orientation describes to whom a person is sexually attracted. Some people are attracted to people of a particular gender. Others are attracted to people of more than one gender. Some people are not sexually attracted to anyone. Examples of sexual orientation include:
Asexual (ace): No sexual attraction to anyone and/or no desire to act on sexual attraction to anyone. An asexual person may still choose to engage in sex. Asexual people sometimes do experience emotional or romantic attraction.
Bisexual (bi): Sexual attraction to one’s own gender and people of other genders. There is a misconception that bisexual people are attracted to anyone and everyone, or that they just haven’t “decided.”
Gay: Generally a man who is attracted to other men. This term sometimes also refers to anyone who is attracted to people of the same gender.
Lesbian: Generally a woman who is attracted to other women. This term also is used by others within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
Pansexual (pan): Sexual attraction to people regardless of sex or gender identity. Sometimes also known as “omnisexual.”
Polysexual (poly): Sexual attraction to people of many/most genders.
Straight: Also known as “heterosexual”, this term refers to someone attracted to people of the opposite binary sex (male and female).