Types of sexuality

Alloromantic

A person who identifies as alloromantic experiences romantic attraction

toward others.

Allosexual

This is an umbrella term.

A person who identifies as allosexual typically feels sexual attraction toward

other people. They may also want to have sex with a partner.

People who identify with this orientation may also identify with another
sexuality, such as being gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Androsexual

People who consider themselves androsexual feel attraction toward men,

males, or perceived masculinity, irrespective of whether or not they were
assigned male at birth.

Aromantic

A person who identifies as aromantic may not feel any romantic attraction
toward anyone. They may not want a relationship beyond friendship.
Those who identify with this orientation may also identify with another
orientation.

A person’s romantic attraction can differ from their sexual attraction. For
example, a person may not feel romantic attraction toward people but may still
be sexually attracted to some individuals.

Asexual

Asexual is an umbrella term that encompasses a broad spectrum of sexual

orientations.

According to the LGBTQIA Resource Center, asexuality is a spectrum. Some

people may experience no sexual or romantic attraction toward anyone, while
others may experience varying degrees of sexual or romantic attraction
toward people.

Those who identify with this orientation do not have to abstain from sex to be
asexual.

Some orientations that exist within the asexuality spectrum include:

• Sex-averse: This is when a person is averse to or entirely disinterested

in sex and sexual behavior.
• Sex-favorable: This is when a person has positive feelings toward sex
in some situations.
• Sex-indifferent: This refers to those who feel neutral about sex and
sexual behavior.
• Sex-repulsed: This refers to those who are repulsed by sex and sexual
behavior.
 • Cupiosexual: If someone identifies as cupiosexual, they do not
experience sexual attraction but still desire to engage in sexual behavior
or have a sexual relationship.
• Libidoist asexual: This term refers to those who identify as asexual but
experience sexual feelings that they can satisfy with masturbation or
self-stimulation.
• Graysexual: Those who are graysexual experience sexual attraction
either infrequently or not very intensely.
• Grayromantic: People who identify as grayromantic may experience
romantic attraction either rarely or not very strongly.

Autoromantic

Those who are autoromantic experience a romantic attraction toward

themselves.

This does not mean they do not also experience romantic attraction toward
others.

Autosexual

Those who identify as autosexual experience a sexual attraction toward

themselves.

Similar to those who are autoromantic, people who are autosexual may also
experience sexual attraction toward other people.

Bicurious

People who identify as bicurious are interested in having a sexual or romantic

experience with someone of the same gender.
The term indicates that the person experiences some uncertainty as to how
they identify romantically or sexually.

Biromantic

People who identify as biromantic feel romantic, but not necessarily sexual,
attraction toward more than one gender.

Bisexual

A person who identifies as bisexual can be of any gender.

Bisexuality means that a person feels attraction toward their own gender and
other genders or toward anyone regardless of their gender.

The LGBTQIA Resource Center notes that some people may use the terms
bisexual and pansexual interchangeably to describe their sexual orientation.

Demiromantic

People who identify as demiromantic usually do not feel romantic attraction

toward people with whom they do not have a strong emotional bond.

Demisexual

A person who identifies as demisexual typically only feels sexual attraction

toward a person with whom they have already established a strong emotional
bond.

Some people who are demisexual may have no interest or only a slight
interest in sexual activity.
Gay

A person who identifies as gay typically only feels sexual attraction toward
people of the same gender.

Socially, people use this term to refer to men who are romantically and
sexually attracted to men. However, those in the community use it as an
umbrella term.

Gynesexual or gynosexual

People who identify as gynesexual feel sexual attraction toward women,

females, and perceived femininity, irrespective of whether they were assigned
female at birth.

Heteroromantic

Those who are heteroromantic may experience romantic attraction, but not
necessarily sexual attraction, toward those of a different gender.

Heterosexuality

People who are heterosexual, or “straight,” typically feel sexual and romantic
attraction toward people who are of a gender different than their own.

Homoromantic

Homoromantic refers to people who are romantically attracted to those of a

similar gender to their own. They may not feel sexual attraction toward these
people, though.
Homosexuality

Homosexuality is a term describing those who are emotionally and physically

attracted to people of the same gender.

However, the LGBTQIA Resource Center states that this term is outdated and
may have negative connotations due to the past.

Lesbian

Those who identify as lesbian are usually women who feel sexual and
romantic attraction toward other women.

Some nonbinary people — those who do not identify with the traditional binary
sexes of male and female — may also identify as lesbians. This may be
because they feel a closer connection to womanhood and are mainly attracted
to women.

Monosexual

Monosexual is an umbrella term encompassing all sexual orientations that feel

a romantic or sexual attraction toward only one gender.

The sexual orientations that come under this term include heterosexuality,
gay, and lesbian.

Multisexual

Multisexual is a broad term that encompasses all sexual orientations in which

people are attracted to more than one gender.
Some sexual orientations that come under this term are bisexual and
omnisexual.

Pansexual and omnisexual

These sexual orientations refer to people who feel attraction toward people of
all genders and sexes.

A typical identifier for people with this orientation is that gender is not a factor
in sexual or romantic attraction.

While there is overlap between these two terms and bisexuality and
polysexuality, some people may prefer to use one term over another.

Panromantic

This term refers to those who experience romantic attraction, but not sexual
attraction, toward people of any gender or sex.

Polysexual

People who identify as polysexual feel sexual or romantic attraction

toward more than one gender.

Queer

People of all sexualities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella may also identify as
queer.

Historically, many people used the word queer as a slur. People belonging to
LGBTQIA+ communities may now choose to use this term to reclaim it.
It is generally not a good idea for people outside of these communities to use
this term.

Sexual fluidity

People’s sexuality can be fluid. This means that their sexual orientation is not
fixed, and they may not define themselves by any particular sexuality.

Skoliosexual

People who identify as skoliosexual typically only feel attraction toward people
who are nonbinary.

Spectrasexual

Spectrasexual is a term that describes those who are romantically and

sexually attracted to multiple sexes, genders, and gender identities but not all
of them.

Sexuality on a spectrum
Some people suggest that sexuality exists on a spectrum or sliding scale.

The Kinsey Scale, first published in 1948, acknowledges that many people
may not identify as heterosexual or homosexual.

The scale has six ratings, with an additional category:

• 0: Exclusively heterosexual
• 1: Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual
 • 2: Predominantly heterosexual but more than incidentally homosexual
• 3: Equally heterosexual and homosexual
• 4: Predominantly homosexual but more than incidentally heterosexual
• 5: Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual
• 6: Exclusively homosexual
• X: No socio-sexual contacts or reactions

Although groundbreaking at the time, the scale now presents some issues as
it does not address all possible sexual orientations and identities.

Learn more about the Kinsey Scale.

The Trevor Project suggests that there are a variety of spectrums focusing on
a person’s:

• biological sex
• gender identity
• gender expression
• gender presentation
• sexual orientation

At one end of the sexual orientation spectrum, a person may only be attracted
to women, and at the other end, a person may only be attracted to men.

In the middle of the spectrum are those who feel a range of sexual and
romantic attraction toward different genders and sexes.

It is important to remember that a person can feel different types of attraction

toward different genders. For example, a person may feel sexual attraction
toward one or more genders and romantic attraction toward different genders.
Also, a person may identify with one sexual orientation and experience
different levels of sexual and romantic attraction within that orientation. For
example, one person who identifies as bisexual may greatly prefer women
over men, and another may experience greater romantic attraction toward
women but stronger sexual attraction toward other genders.

Why does sexuality matter?

A person’s sexuality determines who they feel romantic or sexual attraction
toward. People may feel that labeling their sexuality helps them deal with any
oppression or difficulties they face. It may also help them find a community in
which they can share their experiences.

People may also find it helpful to know the terms describing other sexual
orientations. By knowing the terminology, people can better understand
another person’s sexuality.

Do people need to identify their sexual

orientation?

People do not necessarily need to identify as one type of sexual orientation.

People’s sexual orientation can change over time. They may also sit under an
umbrella term but not find a label that accurately describes their experience.

However, some individuals may find that choosing a label for their sexual or
romantic orientation helps them form communities with others who may share
similar experiences.
Where can a person receive
support?
Some groups and clinics that people can turn to for support include:

• The Trevor Project: This organization describes itself as providing

information and support to the LGBTQ community.
• Audre Lorde Project: Based in New York City, this organization
promotes social justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and
gender nonconforming (LGBTSTGNC) People of Color.
• Zuna Institute: This advocacy organization for Black lesbians focuses
on the areas of health, public policy, economic development, and
education.
• National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance: This organization
states that it “empowers LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders through
movement capacity building, policy advocacy, and representation.”
• The American Institute of Bisexuality: Also known as the Bi
Foundation, this organization supports people who identify as bisexual.
• CenterLink: People in the United States, Australia, Canada, Colombia,
China, and Uganda can use this website to find local LGBTQIA+
community centers.
• Equality Federation: This federation provides a directory of statewide
LGBTQIA+ organizations.

Learn more about mental health resources.

Frequently asked questions

What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?

LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes people of all sexual identities and
gender identities.

LGBTQIA+ stands for:

• lesbian
• gay
• bisexual
• transgender
• questioning or queer
• intersex
• asexual

The ‘+’ refers to members of other LGBTQIA+ communities and allies.

What does ‘closeted’ mean?

The term “closeted” refers to those who have not disclosed their gender
identity or sexual orientation. There are many reasons why a person might not
wish to let others know their gender or sexual identity. For example, they may
fear how people around them will react.

It is important to remember that no one is under any obligation to disclose

their gender identity or sexual orientation if they do not wish to do so. It is also
important never to reveal another person’s gender identity or sexual
orientation without their permission, which is an action that others may refer to
as “outing”.