Sexuality

SEXUALITY describes who you are attracted to physically and romantically. It’s totally different to your gender identity, although sometimes people are confused about this. It can be fixed or fluid and can change over time as you discover what identity and attraction is most comfortable for you.

Because of HETRONORMATIVITY, the assumption is that everyone is heterosexual. This leads to people who aren’t straight having to come out or state their sexuality. People who are same sex or multi sex attracted have always felt that way but because the default has been straight, someone might not come out until they are older, feel safe to do so or have a same sex relationship.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION is one's experience of attraction to others and/or who they want to have relationships with. People can find others sexually, romantically, and/or physically attractive. This doesn't always align with how a person describes their sexual identity or the sexual behaviours they engage in.

Someone’s SEXUAL IDENTITY is how they self-identifies and/or publicly identifies their sexuality.

 

Bisexual Flag

Pansexual Flag

Polysexual Flag

Queer Flag

Multisexual Identities

An umbrella term for identities that include sexual attraction to two or more sexes, genders, gender expressions, or combinations thereof.

  • BISEXUAL - A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to people from two or more genders. This can include non-binary genders.

    BI+ / BI PLUS UMBRELLA - An inclusive term that refers to all people who are attracted to more than one gender. Some common bi+ identities include: bisexual, pansexual, queer, bi-romantic, and fluid. (See also: Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer).

  • Describes the sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Often framed as attraction to all genders, or attraction to people based on specific traits unrelated to gender.

  • An identity that describes sexual attraction to multiple, but not all, sexes, genders, gender expressions, or combinations thereof. This is often confused with Polyamorous, but is unrelated.

  • An identity that describes sexual attraction to all sexes, genders, gender expressions, or combinations thereof, but not necessarily to the same extent or without preference with one over the other.

  • An umbrella term for a wide range of non-conforming gender identities and sexual orientations

 

Straight Flag

Gay Men Flag

Lesbian Flag

MonoSEXUAL Identities

Monosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction to members of one sex or gender only. A monosexual person may identify as heterosexual or homosexual.

Binary thinking of sexuality assumes that monosexual identities are the only ones that exist, like polar opposites that people are only straight or gay which is the main cause of Bi-erasure.

  • Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behaviour between members of the same sex or gender.

  • someone who is attracted exclusively to the opposite gender or sex, also referred to as straight.

  • Sexual identity of individuals who identify as men (or non binary) who are romantically and physically attracted to other men (or non binary people). Most commonly used to described someone who is attracted to someone of the same identified gender

  • Sexual identity of individuals who identify as women (or non-binary) are romantically and physically attracted to other women (or non-binary people)

 

Asexual Flag

Aromatic Flag

AROACE Flag

Demisexual Flag

ace spectrum identities

Lack of or limited sexual or romantic attraction. Its an umbrella term and a broad community of identities that are closely related to asexuality when placed on a spectrum ranging from asexual to sexual Ace-spec identities can overlap with mono or multi sexual identities

  • Somebody who has little or no sexual attraction or desires to other people. They may still experience interest in others and romantic feelings, but does not need to be realised in a sexual manner. This exists within a spectrum and does not necessarily imply a lack of libido or sex drive.

  • Someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction to others – this exists within a spectrum.

  • is a term that refers to a individual who is both aromantic and asexual

  • a person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional connection with a partner.

BISEXUAL ERASURE / BI ERASURE - The tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or re-explain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, the news media, and other sources.

HOMOPHOBIA - Used to describe a whole range of negative feelings or behaviours towards anyone who is same sex attracted people and people who are attracted to more than one gender. Homophobia can lead to discrimination or abuse, and can be as small or throwaway as using the phrase “that’s so gay.”

HETERONORMATIVE - The assumption that everyone is straight. It is also a social model privileges heterosexual relationships as the only natural, normal and legitimate expressions of sexuality and relationships which is damaging to queer people and means they have to come out multiple times in their life.