Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation, also known as sexuality, is a term which describes people's identities in relation to the way they experience sexual attraction, or attraction in general. One's sexual orientation may or may not align with one's romantic or nonsexual orientation. People whose orientations align may identify as perioriented, whereas those whose orientations do not align may identify as varioriented.
The sexual attraction (or lack thereof) that a person experiences is typically the primary factor in their sexual orientation. This often refers to the genders one experiences (or does not experience) attraction to. For example, a gay person experiences attraction towards the same gender, or genders similar to one's own. Some sexual orientations additionally specify the gender of the person experiencing it, such as lesbian. Some sexual orientations specify the number of genders one experiences attraction to, but not necessarily which genders that includes, such as bisexual.
However, it may also refer to the conditions in which it is possible for a person to experience attraction. For example, a demisexual person cannot experience sexual attraction unless a strong emotional bond is formed. Other factors may also be taken into account in one's sexuality. For example, a cupiosexual person's orientation not only takes into account the way they experience sexual attraction, but their sex favorability as well.
== Examples of sexual orientations ==
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== Distinction ==
=== Sexual attraction ===
Main article: Sexual attraction
Sexual attraction is a term which describes the feeling of being sexually drawn towards someone in particular, having sexual feelings sparked by a specific person, finding someone sexually appealing, or wanting to have sex with someone in particular. While sexual attraction is often a primary factor in one's sexual orientation, the two are not necessarily synonymous. Attraction refers to a feeling or experience, while orientation refers to identities often related to those feelings and experiences. One's sexual orientation also does not necessarily have to center around the way in which a person experiences sexual attraction, such as in the case of pomosexual people. Similarly, a person may prefer to describe their sexual attraction without labeling their orientation at all, such as in the case of unlabeled people. One can also have a sexual orientation without experiencing sexual attraction, such as in the case of asexual people.
=== Sexual activity stance ===
Main article: Sexual activity stance
Sexual activity stance is the personal stance a person takes on sexual activity and sexual relationships. This is also sometimes referred to as desire, though the term "desire" can also be interchangeable with "libido", which is not necessarily related to activity stance. People may experience activity stances often associated with a specific sexual orientation despite not experiencing that sexual orientation. For example, one may be interested in sexual relationships, or have a general desire for sex, while being asexual. The opposite can also be true; one may be allosexual without wanting to be in a sexual relationship. While activity stance can be a factor in one's sexual orientation, such as in the case of cupiosexual, apothisexual, or iculasexual people, it is often considered separately, and may not influence the person's sexual orientation label.
=== Libido ===
Main article: Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive, or sexual desire. This can be affected by medical conditions, medications, hormone levels, or other biological, psychological, and environmental factors. A person can experience varying libido levels regardless of their sexual orientation and attraction they experience.
=== Political sexual stance ===
Main article: Political sexual stance
Political sexual stance refers to the nonpersonal stance one takes on sexuality. This is completely unrelated to one's orientation. For example, one can be asexual when it comes to their sexual orientation, sex-positive when it comes to their political sexual stance. This would mean that this person generally believes that openness about sexuality is important, and that people should be able to consensually explore their sexuality without shame, even though sex is of no personal importance to them.
== References ==
Category:Terminology
1Sexual orientation
1Sexual orientation