Sexuality is not just about being gay or straight. Do you know all 22 types of attraction?
Before we get into the list, it is worth remembering the fundamental difference between sexuality and gender identity. Sexuality (or sexual orientation) refers to romantic, emotional or sexual attraction, while gender identity describes how a person perceives themselves internally - for example, as a man, woman or non-binary person.
LGB in the acronym LGBTQ refers to sexual orientation. T can refer exclusively to gender, while Q (queer or questioning) is flexible and can include both.
22 types of sexuality: an overview that doesn't stop at bi and gay
Alloromantic/Allosexual
Do you experience romantic (alloromantic) or sexual (allosexual) attraction to other people? These are the basic opposites of aromantic and asexual identities.
Androsexual
Are you attracted to masculinity - regardless of a person's gender identity? Then you're probably androsexual.
Aromantic
Don't feel romantic attraction? That doesn't mean you're not capable of deep relationships, you just don't see them as romantic.
Asexual
You don't feel sexual attraction. You can be romantic, sexually active, or not - asexuality is a spectrum, not a unified experience.
Autoromantic / Autosexual
Romantic or sexual attraction to yourself. This is not narcissism, but a form of self-love that can be perfectly healthy.
Bicurious
Interested in sex or relationships with other genders but haven't experimented yet? Bicurious is a space for curiosity.
Bisexual
You feel attraction to two or more genders. It doesn't matter how much experience you have - it's what you feel.
Demiromantic / Demisexual
You develop romantic or sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond. For you, there is no chemistry without a mental connection.
Gay
Are you attracted to people of the same sex? The word "gay" is used not only by men, but also by women who prefer it to the label "lesbian."
Graysexual
Do you rarely experience sexual attraction? You're somewhere between asexual and allosexual.
Gynesexual
Are you attracted to femininity regardless of the gender of the person expressing it? That's what gynesexuality is.
Lesbian
Women or people who identify as women and are attracted to other women. Some of them prefer the label "gay", and that's perfectly fine.
Libido asexual
You are not attracted to other people, but you have a libido that you satisfy by masturbating. That too is a form of sexuality.
Monosexual
You're only attracted to one gender. It can be homosexual or heterosexual - the main thing is that the interest is directed in one direction.
Multisexual
An umbrella term for those attracted to more than one gender. You can be bi, pan, poly or omni - all of these identities fall under multisexuality.
Pansexual
Gender does not play a role. You are attracted to personality, energy, character - no matter who carries it.
Polysexual
You feel attracted to multiple genders, but not all. You may have preferences that determine who you are more attracted to.
Omnisexual
You are attracted to people of all gender identities - but gender remains relevant to you. Not "gender-blind" but rather "gender-aware".
Queer
A broad umbrella term for anyone who doesn't see themselves as straight or cis. Identity for some, protest for others. Either way: queer is in the power of whoever calls themselves that.
Sexually fluid
Your attraction changes over time. You can be gay for a while, then pan, then somewhere else again. Sexuality is more of a movement for you than a fixed point.
Spectrasexual
You feel attraction across the gender spectrum, but see gender as part of attraction. Unlike pansexuality, which tends to be "gender-neutral," spectrasexuality reflects gender.
Heterosexual
A man who is attracted to women, or a woman who is attracted to men. This orientation also has its place in the diverse queer landscape.
Why it's good to know the terms even if you don't use them
Even if someone doesn't identify with a particular label, an overview of different types of sexuality can help you understand your own experiences or understand others. Sexuality is not black and white - rather, it is rainbow, fluid, multifaceted.
Some may find a clear name for it, others may prefer to stick with vagueness. Both paths are correct. Whether you're in the process of discovering yourself, or just looking for a more precise language for your attraction, one thing is true: all identities are valid. And the decision of whether and how you label yourself is yours alone.
