The ABCs of LGBT Sexuality Romance and Sexual

The ABC’s of LGBT+ Sexuality, Romance and Sexual Orientation

Prelude These labels are all self-identifying labels, which means that they mean very different things to different people and that is good. The world allows for variation and it is beautiful, but labels sometimes make people feel comfortable, so they are lifted here.

Romance and Sexuality ● Romantic: able to feel emotional attraction in the form of romance ● Sexual: able to feel sexual attraction and desires. See this as who you would like to date versus who you would like to have sex with. Some people NEVER feel the desire to do one or both.

Aromantic/Aro ● is unable to feel romantic attraction

Asexual/Ace ● Is unable to experience sexual attraction. ● There a three types of Aces: Consensual: like to have sex Repulsed: hate having sex Neutral: do not favor either side ● Being asexual is different than celibacy or chastity. Those are choices, asexuality is a personal obligation.

Heterosexuality ● attracted to the opposite gender Example: A boy attracted to a girl, a demiboy attracted to a demiboy.

Monosexuality ● attracted to one gender ● This is different from heterosexuality as it doesn’t necessarily have to be the opposite gender, it can be any. Example: a demiboy attracted to an andro, a neutrois attracted to a genderfluid.

Homosexuality ● attracted to the same gender Example: a man attracted to a man, a demiboy attracted to a demiboy, an andro attracted to an andro.

Bisexuality and Ambisexuality ● attracted to two genders (most often man and woman) ● Many people view bisexual as meaning attracted to both men and women. This is a fine definition, but many other people see the prefix as inherently meaning “two”. This means that a person may like men and demiboys or andros and genderfluids. ● A related title is ambisexual, which means “both genders. ” This is often offensive in the LGBT+ community as it makes the assumption that gender is binary.

Trisexuality ● attracted to three genders. Example: a person attracted to demigirls, women andros.

Polysexuality and Multisexuality ● attracted to many (2+) genders ● This can be a person who picks and chooses which genders they like; who can blame them! Gender is a magnificent thing and if you find yourself attracted to different, varying ones, you may be polysexual/multisexual.

Pansexuality and Omnisexuality ● attracted to all genders ● This means that a person is attracted or can be attracted to THE ENTIRE gender spectrum, not discluding even one gender.

Gender Blind ● Gender does not play a significant role in who this person is attracted to.

Gender Attentive ● Gender plays a significant role in who this person is attracted to.

Queer ● This is often an ambiguous term, meaning “middle of the spectrum” or “unusual/different” ● Many non-binary people identify with this term.

Skoliosexual ● attracted to transgender or non-binary people ● This means that these people are attracted to queers and non-cis men and women.

Heteroflexible/Homoflexible/Biflexible/ Skolioflexible/etc. ● has an ultimate preference (as indicated in the prefix) but allows for possible exceptions.

Demisexual/Demiromantic ● Demisexual: does not feel sexual attraction without a strong emotional bond ● Demiromantic: does not feel a romantic attraction without a strong emotional bond

Sexual and Romantic Preferences don’t have to Match ● Consider a man who is panromantic heterosexual. This means that he can be attracted to anyone but only sexually favors women.